Our “Travel to Tassie” plan has finally come together. Jayne flew back from Melbourne to Newy for some “appointments”, which was her way of saying “I don’t want to go on that boat”. She will then fly back to Tassie in a couple of days once I’m there with the van.
With a day or two on my own to explore the Torquay/Bell’s Beach region I managed the last of my warm surfs (16C) for a while at Winkipop (next to Bell’s).
Bell’s Beach
After that, with the van hitched up, it was off to Port Melbourne to board the Spirit of Tasmania II for the overnight voyage to Devonport in Tassie.
See that ramp into the pointy bit, top left.
On the ramp about to board SoT II
Once onboard it’s always handy to know where the lifeboats and the depth charges (really just inflatable rafts) are stowed.
Conditions were relatively favourable with light winds & a 2 metre swell.
There were no shortage of paper bags on board, they had been left all over the place in neat little piles for some reason.
We left dock about 7:30pm & it wasn’t long before a few green faces appeared that resulted in more than just a few bags full. Some greenies decided not to use the bags (to save a tree) & just threw up on the outside decks. Note to self: careful where you walk on outside decks & don’t stand/sit too close to anyone.
I’d opted for an ocean recliner instead of an overnight cabin. As a sleeping area the recliner arrangement doesn’t work that well. They are a bit like Business class airline seats with Economy class legroom. Unless you’re in an aisle seat the person next to you has to get up to let you in or out. Some adopted the “Ninja” style entry/exit climb over the top of people & risked the odd rude/entertaining awakening mid straddle. I had developed a bit of a cough and decided to leave the rest of the recliners in peace & so wandered about the decks looking for a spot to rest, cough & not disturb too many people. One of the bars (now closed) had music videos playing all night so this is where I spent most of the night with little/no sleep occasionally coughing in tune to the music.
Access to vehicles started at 6:30am & it took a couple of hours to unload vehicles & clear quarantine & security (they minded my gas bottle, hand spear & spear gun for the trip) before hitting the road to Beauty Point in the Tamar Valley region. Once unhitched a couple of hours of much needed sleep was had before heading to Launceston to pick up Jayne.
The drive to the airport passed about a dozen vineyards. These will require a more detailed look a bit later.
On the way back to camp we stopped at Legana to get some provisions arriving back at camp just on dusk with a few rabbits admiring the results of my reversing skills. A celebratory G&T, “Here in Tassie at last, Cheers”, followed by a dusk walk along the water’s edge, dinner & and after much talk of an early night we turned in exhausted about 11pm. Our first night in Tassie.
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