The East Coast and back again to Hobart

The comparison with Scotland goes on, with the wild wilderness of the west contrasting with the rolling farming country of the east. Our 10-day trip up the east coast took us to many delightful holiday spots and miles of white sandy beaches although there were some stunning mountain areas also. As often as possible we have been walking some of the trails in the National Parks, mostly sticking to the reasonably level ones but now and again we tackled a more strenuous one, always worth it for the ensuing views. Thus we ended up at a lookout over Wineglass Bay on the Freycinet Peninsula (above)








The Foreshore Walk at Bicheno took us from the blowhole over red lichen-covered rocks to a bay where we were entertained by a school of dolphins happily swimming among the boats. An intrepid swimmer, having just got out of her wet suit, went out in her swimsuit to swim with them. She said later it was well worth it but she was blue by the time she came back! This water may be beautiful but it's icy!








Note the absence of swimmers on a fantastic beach. We had it all to ourselves but did not swim either!  











Moving inland we were pleased to visit "The Pub in the Paddock", the pub that Karen, Neil and Chrissy were on the point of buying when their financial backer had to pull out and then died. It is a pleasant place, although definitely seasonal, with the added attraction of a pig that drinks beer! It is quite a money-spinner, using up the beer slops from the bar, considerably watered down and sold "for the pig" at a dollar a bottle. She scoffs it in seconds.

Aw thanks, mate

Back in Hobart for the new toilet to be installed in the Winne, we could have been forgiven for wondering if we had somehow jumped a couple of seasons. At the weekend we had -2 degrees  and snow on Mount Wellington, which looks down on Hobart. This is not a high mountain -- 1270 metres -- and the snow would have been down to about 800m. This is the second time we have seen snow during this visit. 

It was fun to catch up with friends of Karen and co from Queensland, Polly and Gerry, who were touring Tasmania in a "Wicked Camper" and turned up out of the blue. Wicked Campers are a relatively cheap camper van hire option and the vans all have graffiti all over them. They are fun. Polly and Gerry really know how to live and to party. We met them a few years ago in Queensland when they took us all, including Derek, Gillian and the kids, out on their boat. It was great fun to see them again, if a tad exhausting!

We also went to see Billy Connolly at the Entertainment Centre. He was his usual outrageous self and we enjoyed him despite the very cold draught coming through the building.

So now we are ready to move on -- with a new toilet and a new tap in the kitchen sink -- hoping to have no leaks anywhere. Again I am not holding my breath. We will go north, "do" the north and north-west coast and then cross back to the mainland. The blog should be more regular at least until we get to Sydney.