Chips, Fish 'n' Chips
Two distinct schools of thought exist at UMPH House. The first holds that loud is good, louder is better and that exhaust and induction are at their best when combined to produce some form of raucous automotive rock concert. School of Thought Number One also has it that there's hardly a single bit of a car that isn't somehow enhanced by being bigger or smaller, wider, squatter, stiffer, of greater wattage, lower profile, or otherwise different to that which was intended by said vehicle's original manufacturer.
Mrs UMPH does not belong to that school of thought. Not for her the throaty growl of a Weber or two; no snarling or popping exhaust note when she lifts her elegantly clad foot from the accelerator. Strangely, Mrs UMPH doesn't want to test her tyres' limits of cornering adhesion and seems perfectly happy with her compliant, plush even, suspension.
No, Mrs UMPH has a grown-up's car: a Peugeot 206 CC and anything that she might be missing out on is probably more than made up for in terms of comfort and reliability. It's kind of cute in a Frenchy sort of way, too.
And so it was that for this weekend's expedition, the UMPHs set out on the hour-long trip to the Dunalley Fish Market, via the Tasman Highway, in the 206. As roads go - and don't be fooled by the 'Highway' part of its title - the route from Hobart to Dunalley isn't one for drivers to get too excited about. However, it does have a few bends, the scenery's very pleasant and there are a few passing bays in case you get stuck behind a four-wheel drive towing a boat or caravan, which isn't an uncommon experience. The frustratingly vast majority of the route is one lane in either direction only.
A word of warning here: there are some large sections of road surface just past the Primrose Sands turn off, heading towards Dunalley, that have evidentially been ripped up by the council but not yet repaired. Beware of sharp drop-offs, dust, gravel and stone chips!
_______________________________________
Nearly two years ago, vast swathes of Dunalley and the Tasman Peninsula were ravaged by an horrific bush fire. Luckily, no one lost their life but many homes and businesses destroyed. One business that did survive was the Dunalley Fish Market.
The DFM might reasonably be described as a local institution. However, that wouldn't do justice to a place that's not only well known and patronised by Dunalley and Tasman Peninsula residents, but that regularly attracts visitors from Hobart and, increasingly, tourists from all around the world heading down towards nearby Port Arthur.
Sitting like an mollusc on a rock, the DFM is located on a point just past the bridge over the Dennison Canal, overlooking Dunalley Bay. You might not pick the the place immediately; it looks like the fish-processing factory that is still is and the interior does little to allay first-time visitors' concerns that they have just wandered into a fisherman's shed.
.JPG)
But do persevere! Wander up to the counter and order a fisherman's basket. Just tell the staff how many people it's for, pay (you'll be pleasantly surprised how reasonable it is) and find a spot to sit either inside the cafe or, weather permitting, at a picnic table outside. Sitting on the canal side is a real treat and, if you're lucky, you might see a giant skate or two gliding past in the canal's steady current. It's really quite peaceful if you don't mind the World War 2 fighter plane soundtrack that accompanies cars slowing at the end of the bridge.
It's difficult to describe the contents of a DFM fisherman's basket, given that it seems to be based on what's available at the time. It is ample, however, with expertly cooked chips and a tasty selection of locally caught fresh fish. Don't expect cutlery or crockery, though; it's a meal that best eaten as it comes, with your fingers, straight from its newspaper wrapping. Yum!
For those of you not so keen on seafood, the nearby Dunalley Waterfront Cafe` and Gallery looks very tempting (4 Imlay Street, Dunalley). Although the UMPHs didn't dine there on this occasion, it has gone on their list of future venues. The gallery part sells a number of local artists' works and, as of mid-December, 2014, was hosting a stunning exhibition of monochrome Tasmanian land- and seascape prints by Craig Riddington (craigriddington.com).
It would have been nice to have returned via Connelly's Marsh, Dodges Ferry and Lewisham but there are still significant tracts of unsealed gravel on that route. If you're not too fussy about a bit of dust and aren't too proud of your duco, it's a nice way to round off the trip.
U M P H
(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au).
Mrs UMPH does not belong to that school of thought. Not for her the throaty growl of a Weber or two; no snarling or popping exhaust note when she lifts her elegantly clad foot from the accelerator. Strangely, Mrs UMPH doesn't want to test her tyres' limits of cornering adhesion and seems perfectly happy with her compliant, plush even, suspension.
No, Mrs UMPH has a grown-up's car: a Peugeot 206 CC and anything that she might be missing out on is probably more than made up for in terms of comfort and reliability. It's kind of cute in a Frenchy sort of way, too.
And so it was that for this weekend's expedition, the UMPHs set out on the hour-long trip to the Dunalley Fish Market, via the Tasman Highway, in the 206. As roads go - and don't be fooled by the 'Highway' part of its title - the route from Hobart to Dunalley isn't one for drivers to get too excited about. However, it does have a few bends, the scenery's very pleasant and there are a few passing bays in case you get stuck behind a four-wheel drive towing a boat or caravan, which isn't an uncommon experience. The frustratingly vast majority of the route is one lane in either direction only.
A word of warning here: there are some large sections of road surface just past the Primrose Sands turn off, heading towards Dunalley, that have evidentially been ripped up by the council but not yet repaired. Beware of sharp drop-offs, dust, gravel and stone chips!
_______________________________________
Nearly two years ago, vast swathes of Dunalley and the Tasman Peninsula were ravaged by an horrific bush fire. Luckily, no one lost their life but many homes and businesses destroyed. One business that did survive was the Dunalley Fish Market.
The DFM might reasonably be described as a local institution. However, that wouldn't do justice to a place that's not only well known and patronised by Dunalley and Tasman Peninsula residents, but that regularly attracts visitors from Hobart and, increasingly, tourists from all around the world heading down towards nearby Port Arthur.
Sitting like an mollusc on a rock, the DFM is located on a point just past the bridge over the Dennison Canal, overlooking Dunalley Bay. You might not pick the the place immediately; it looks like the fish-processing factory that is still is and the interior does little to allay first-time visitors' concerns that they have just wandered into a fisherman's shed.
.JPG)
But do persevere! Wander up to the counter and order a fisherman's basket. Just tell the staff how many people it's for, pay (you'll be pleasantly surprised how reasonable it is) and find a spot to sit either inside the cafe or, weather permitting, at a picnic table outside. Sitting on the canal side is a real treat and, if you're lucky, you might see a giant skate or two gliding past in the canal's steady current. It's really quite peaceful if you don't mind the World War 2 fighter plane soundtrack that accompanies cars slowing at the end of the bridge.
It's difficult to describe the contents of a DFM fisherman's basket, given that it seems to be based on what's available at the time. It is ample, however, with expertly cooked chips and a tasty selection of locally caught fresh fish. Don't expect cutlery or crockery, though; it's a meal that best eaten as it comes, with your fingers, straight from its newspaper wrapping. Yum!
For those of you not so keen on seafood, the nearby Dunalley Waterfront Cafe` and Gallery looks very tempting (4 Imlay Street, Dunalley). Although the UMPHs didn't dine there on this occasion, it has gone on their list of future venues. The gallery part sells a number of local artists' works and, as of mid-December, 2014, was hosting a stunning exhibition of monochrome Tasmanian land- and seascape prints by Craig Riddington (craigriddington.com).
It would have been nice to have returned via Connelly's Marsh, Dodges Ferry and Lewisham but there are still significant tracts of unsealed gravel on that route. If you're not too fussy about a bit of dust and aren't too proud of your duco, it's a nice way to round off the trip.
U M P H
(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au).
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