Red Brier Happiness, Richmond, Tasmania

(lest I confuse anyone, this is an old post... We're in the Barossa Valley in South Australia, but I'm going to try to catch up chronologically)


We haven't stumbled on somewhere this magical since the House Hostel in Sokcho, Korea.  Our host, Vianne, was concerned that we might not immediately fall in house love with the 1834 cottage that she rented out in historic Richmond village.  I'm not sure what wouldn't be to love about wide plank floors, huge fluffy beds, and nearly 200-year-old details including an old bread stove in the living room. 

Vianne has 2 other well established accommodations on the property; one an old school cottage and the second a contemporary villa.  Judging by the interiors mags overflowing from the magazine racks, I'd say the whole complex is her creative playpen.  The main house (where we stayed) is her newest addition.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I may yet be cutout for small town life.  After an unbelievable Italian dinner at Anton's our first evening, I wasn't even angry to find it randomly closed when we tried to go back a couple of nights later.  Know why? Because that's what people in small towns do.  They close their shops so they can pursue their hobbies and see their friends and maybe their kids instead of grinding it out making pizzas every night of the week.  Someone remind me of this when I start interviewing, kay?

But I digress.  The cottage, the town, the magic.  The view out our bedroom window.  When we had the window cracked the smell of lavender filed the room.

The 3rd bedroom in the little cottage, which Vianne had converted to also be used as the breakfast room.

Each time I slide the automated key into the slot of another crappy Australian motel room, I momentarily squint in hopes that we're back at the Red Brier.  Sadly, once I take in my surroundings, very few places we've stayed since have come close to being as lovely.

Are we empty nesters?

I've noticed in the last couple of weeks days, as we tour around Tasmania and stay in caravan parks that we are, on average, the youngest people in any group by approximately 20 years.  I'm not sure what the other 20s & 30s aged travellers are doing, but I'll tell ya, they are not following our itinerary.  I think the Australian tourism machine should recognize and start giving us the pensioner's discount at attractions.  We're clearly the demographic.

A few examples from recent outings:

Historic Richmond Town & Gaol (that means jail in olden times language)
There was a group of fleece-clad photography enthusiasts who had traveled there to take photos of the 17th century prison.  They were probably in their 70s and concerned about the dust mites impacting their photos.  Also complaining about the cold.

Berry picking at the Sorrell fruit farm.  The dining room occupied by a bunch of ancient ladies woofing down scones.  We had the whole strawberry patch to ourselves.  Due to the windy conditions, the rest of the older folks stayed indoors. We were strawberry millionaires.

Ghost Tour of Historic Port Arthur.  We were in a group of about 20 people, the next youngest probably in their late 40s.  I think the scariest element for most of them was the uneven steps at the various historical homes.  I, however, saw a ghost.  For real.

Stops at the rock & water features on the Tasman Penninsula.  A woman tapped on my window in the Tasman arch parking lot who had mistaken me for another woman who was approximately 65. 

Port Arthur Historic Village.  This is where the really really bad convicts went.  The ones who got sent to Australia first for being criminals, but then additionally did something bad in Australia to warrant being locked away with the worst criminals.  Its one of the first prisons in history to test out the theory of reform through limiting contact with other humans.  The walking tour was about a mile, total, and people had to sit down.  No further explanation necessary.

We're back in Hobart now, and I feel like we should go out and do something rowdy, just to re-establish our youth.  Maybe go to a discotheque or a dive bar.  Maybe stay out past 10.  Or maybe not.