THE RaTTAToT TOUR
(Ramsay's Terrific Tag-a-long Adventure Tour of Tasmania)
For 19 November 2001
Report by Syd and Alan.A
Monday morning - after a couple of days in Hobart, it was
time to do the impossible - pack our large amount of belongings,
market and winery purchases into the incredibly small Sportie
luggage space. Before leaving, Liz drew the results of the
2nd knowledge quiz which was won be the intellectual giants
of Syd and Alan.A (me). By the time we left all cars except
ours has been cleaned. Syd said he wanted Tasmanians to know
that at least HIS car was capable of non-bitumen driving.
As a momento. Michael enscribed the words "Happy - Not
Gay" in the dirt on the back of Syd's car, which he must
have liked because they stayed there until washed off by rain.
A decision for the day - what to do - where to go. One group
visited the Tasmanian Devil Park and saw the Devils being
fed and watched a bird show. They were surprised to see that
there were other devils in Tasmania besides the Ramsay kids
(sorry girls). A friendly cockatoo took a fancy to Megan and
held her captive in the birdcage for about 10 minutes until
she could be rescued.
The group that we were in returned to the summit of Mount
Wellington, which was now covered in snow - cold enough to
freeze the walls off a bark humpy. The men had their throats
develop lumps and the women put on their headlights. We refuelled
and headed for the Port (Arthur that is) to our accommodation.
Our afternoon was spent at the historic Port Arthur site
where we were able to explore the ruins and take a ferry trip
to various points of interest in the Harbour. Each of us was
allocated a convict identity, most people having been convicted
of steeling some small item (or even being innocent). But
Anne-Marie got much enjoyment about having been deported for
buggery!
Dinner was at the motel and during the meal we were presented
with another set of questions. We also presented a thank-you
gift to the Ramsay family for their much appreciated work
in organising a wonderful 2 weeks, (because, even though we
had only had half of it, the fun we had had to date was worth
two weeks !).
After dinner we returned to the ruins for a ghost tour around
the site. The guide requested volunteers to carry the lamplights.
People were selected to take up the fairly 'safe' positions
at the back and centre of the group. Then the guide asked
for a REALLY BRAVE person to lead the group into the darkness.
Without a moment's hesitation, Syd leapt forward and was duly
selected. Cecil admiringly said "OOOOH Your so brave
Cyril". Everyone laughed, but André was already
in stitches having been responsible for Cyril's 'bravery'
in the form of a firm 'shove' in his back !!.
Despite wandering around the eerie ruins for a ghost by lamplight
and listening to some great stories, we encountered no spirits
until our bedtime nightcap.
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