Tasmania 2023

Day 1

After much patience, and a little anxiety about Covid-19 again scuppering our plans, we are at last setting off on an adventure to Tasmania. Plans have changed since our original plan to fly from Sydney to Launceston. With flight costs escalating post-covid and car hire much scarcer we have decided to take our own car across the Bass Straight on the ferry Spirit of Tasmania.

We were well organised and set-off at 8am. Traffic was good. We had a good run around the airport and out to Goulburn. Christina enjoyed driving her new Pajero Sport for the first 2 hours but was ready to stop for refreshments. We found a great cafe / greengrocer / cycle shop for refreshments and also stocked up on sandwiches and wraps for lunch.

After coffee it was my turn to drive. Traffic was lighter as we travelled past Lake George, by-passed Canberra and out over the Snowy Mountains to Cooma. Contrasting with our stop in 2021, Cooma was warm and sunny. We enjoyed a picnic in the park and then had a walk around town. The girls were pleased to find new sunglasses in the outdoor shop.

In good spirits we set off towards the coast. Christina happily resuming driving duties. High-up on the mountain roads beyond Rock Flat the weather changed to torrential rain and by Nimmitabel there was hail on the ground. Outside temperatures still 18c. Christina let a few impatient cars past and we continued on our way.

A few km’s down the road we stopped behind those same cars. Passed by a hurrying ambulance and then safely warned by Waze that there had been an accident. Sure enough, a truck was on its side and the driver had been helped to clamber up and out.

Wet weather accompanied us all the way to Merimbula, although we were glad to emerge from cloud having descended Brown’s Mountain on a very windy road.

Settled comfortably in our room at the Ocean View motel, I struggled to get in the driving seat for our drive out to deliver our sold cello to Anna, the cello teacher and then to find food in Merimbula. No, the problem wasn’t Christina clinging to the keys, but a very carefully berthed boat and trailer.

After climbing across the cab we were able to complete our errand and park in Merimbula. Unfortunately Tuesday is not a good night for eating out – most establishments closed and the others very busy. We returned to Ocean View to enjoy supermarket microwave meals, which at least satisfied our hunger.

After a fleeting visit to ACT, we slept well looking forward to crossing another state boundary tomorrow – into Victoria.