Last Week in Tasmania

May 14, 2016

I have to apologize for dropping the ball on my blog. When I left Tassie the end of February, I flew to Sydney to visit friends before exiting Australia all together. Then I flew to San Diego where I spent a month with my daughter catching up. Then to fill some time I pedaled from San Diego to Albuquerque which I'll post a blog about shortly. I'm currently back in San Diego house sitting for a couple of weeks for my daughter and her hubby while their off touring Vietnam. (One day on the phone with her from Australia, before I had my plans firmed up, she told me they were going to Vietnam. " Great! I'll meet you there!" Silence. "Mom....we travel in different ways." Gotta love her!!!)

So here's the update without pictures becaus, of course, business as usual, they wouldn't upload. Gotta love technology! But only when it works...which is about 50% of the time. I'll post pics afterwards if this darn thing uploads.

February 20, 2016

The Highlands, Central Plateau, Tasmania

This is a countdown ride. I fly out from Launceston airport on the 24th but I have to get there first. I couldn't find anyone to host me in Launceston. Three options all failed so I decided to just ride directly to the airport picking up a box on the way. Sure hope this works! My plan is to arrive the evening before and camp out at the airport. It's a rural area so that should work. But I'll be a bit shower-less with in unlaundered clothes. I hope I don't stink too badly.

But between here and there is a big hill. And I climb it today:). My legs haven't been cooperating lately. Yesterday was a bit of a steady climb and I had leg aches and pains all afternoon. Muscle fatigue. Couldn't find my rhythm?

The first night out of Hobart was memorable. I found a park next to a church and cemetery with a picnic table...always nice. Yes the grass seemed a bit green but I couldn't find any sprinkler heads. I thought maybe they use a manual sprinkler system. So I set up my tent. Sleeping every so nicely I was awakened at 12:30 by a torrential downpour that stopped as suddenly as it started. Silence. Looked out. Starry night. Hmmm? That was odd. And I'm all wet: wet bag, wet clothes, wet iPhone. Yuck. And again! Oh no! SPRINKLERS! No sound. No rhythm. Just a deluge of water. Then it stops. Quick. Gotta move. And now! Just pull the tent with everything in it. But where? Into the parking lot. Oh I hope this doesn't damage the bottom. Stop thinking and MOVE! Dang. I'm pulling and the sprinkler soaked my thermals! Now I'm really drenched. Over there next to those shrubs looks dry. Hope it stays that way. Now to try and mop things dry. The wet bedding is the worst. Find something dry to put on. T shirt and capris. Towel iff my sleep sac, my air may, my bag, and my phone. Now try to get back to sleep. I can't. I'm shivering. The damp everything is seeping in. Add your down jacket and a hat. Legs and feet are cold. Socks. Now throw your fleece over your legs. That's better.


I can't believe I got suckered in by green grass again. This happened on my first tour on Blaze in Oregon. Thought I learned then. Never again green grass!

The following evening I saw a family at their gate and pulled up to ask them about solace to camp. "Were you at the church last night?"

" Yes, and I got drenched by the sprinklers!"

"Camp on our property."

" Thanks!"

"You can sleep inside if you wish. We have an extra bed."

"No thanks. I'm happiest in my tent. But I appreciate the offer."

"A shower then?"

"Yes! That would be fabulous!"

And that's how I met Steve and Sarah and their boys Max and Harry (pronounced "Howie"...I kept getting corrected. Oh accents. I love the Aussie one!)

The boys got to ride Blaze and helped me pitch Spacey. Full of questions! They were 6 and almost 8. I love these interactions and connections. So special at the end of a lonely day riding. Thank you, Steve, Sarah, Harry, and Max for a special evening!


Off again in the morning. Up and up. To Bothwell, a "one horse" town. But they had a grocery store. And I needed one. There won't be one for 3 days and I hadn't planned ahead.

Coming down into town cold winds brought in quite chilly air. I layered a coat, beanie, buff, and socks on. Wish I could have gotten my gloves but they were buried deep. This is the coldest I've been in over a year! Summer in Tassie is colder than winter in the Outback:))

Stopped for a pie at a cafe and met Annie.

She was a rip! She had nothing good to say about America although she'd never been. But she slowly softened. Said her husband used to say "The best and the worst comes out of America." Well said, I agree. By the time I left she told me I was a good ambassador for America. She changed her mind a bit. But Donald Trump has her worried. He's getting all the press over here and it's scaring people that he might be elected. I'm sure the rest of the world is feeling the same way. Are we that f**ked up that we don't realize the impact even this election process is having on our reputation around the world? We're looking like flaming idiots. Perhaps we are...

Shoulda packed while the sun was out. It goes under and get COLD! I'm in my fleece and down jacket. Brrr!! Luckily no rain/snow in the forecast.

I write the above this morning. Today's worry was water. I passed a farm early in the day and opted to wait to get water. Then I cycled up into no man's land and began to fret that I wouldn't find another water source today. Creeks are dry. No farm houses. Woods only. Tried waving an empty water bladder at every car and caravan. Everyone waved back:/. Yikes. This could be bad. Sipping lightly on the liter I have left. Don't know how long it may have to last. Gets pretty scary, that's all I can say. I'm sure it will work out ok, I tell myself...but I'm not. I'm worried. Not panicking. Not yet. Later in the day I would be. Came to an old homestead that had been donated to Parks and Wildlife for a Reserve. Is there a tank? Yes. Is there an outside tap? Yes. Is there water. YES!! I'm saved!!!!

February 23, 2016

Launceston Airport

Haven't had the most romantic camping spots these last few days but cycling through the mountains was delightful, as usual. Four nights ago I camped next to a large hydro electric water pipe that pulls water out of Lake Arthur and pumps it up to the Great Lake where they then run it downhill to create electricity. They do that a lot in Australia. Other than this massive silver pipe running through my backyard the spot was delightful. I passed up going all the way down to the lake to a campground with hot showers. On hind sight I probably could have used that shower. I'm gonna be pretty grungy getting on that plane tomorrow. I wash the surface dirt off but...but!

The next night I was down out of the mountains onto the agriculture plains and nothing but fenced farmland. The sun was beating me up so I took the first spot that provided some shade: row of trees along a fence line at the end where I could get up close to the fence and a few more feet off the road. The roads all quiet down at night so sleeping isn't a problem.

From there I came into a beautiful village of Longford with its old English styled brick homes with big chimneys and stately gardens. There I ended up next to the dog park under the No Camping picture sign. Give me a break. If dogs can play over there, I can camp over here!
A bit noisy as I was in a V between 2 roads and across the street from a brick factory that went all night. I had met this couple from Queensland in an earlier town at the bakery and we met up again later today at the village green. Shared some carrot cake for afternoon tea and stories of traveling. People think I must be lonely traveling alone. Thus is not the case. I do have days that go by where I don't talk to anyone but that's pretty rare. Downside is it's always me telling my story...over...and over...and over. Getting pretty old. Gals and guys alike tell me they couldn't do what I do...too afraid. Isn't that interesting?

Today was a short travel day but I needed to fill my time somehow. I just had to cycle 7 kms, find a box flattened, figure out how to attach it, then cycle 7 more kms to the airport and find some in to store it until tomorrow because it's expected to be raining in the morning and I sure don't want my fine new luggage to get wet!

I decided to find a cafe for brekkie and hang out there reading to pass some time. Found a bakery, ordered my eggs and latte and sat outside. First there was Bob, a local information dude who shared stories of the motorway that used to circle thus town then he brought out pictures to show me what it looked like. While he was there some senior men on bikes stopped for coffee and joined the table. Turns out there's a cycling track in town and these guys were down there doing laps. A bit later I look up and see my friends from yesterday back in town so I invited them to join us. Lonely?!? I was there 3 hours having a gay old time! And now when I return to see the northern half of this country I have friends in Rockhampton to stay with. Yup. That's how it happens. Gotta love it!

So eventually we all went our separate ways and I pedaled to Perth, the village nearest the airport where I hoped to find a box at the grocery store. Oops. No luck. Nothing. All smashed they said. Ok. Hope I don't have to cycle back to Longford. That would suck. Go to the bottle shop (aka liquor store). Usually their boxes are too small. And they were. But he said he had some smashed out in the orange bin. I go check it out. And voilà! Exactly what I needed! I'm still in awe when things go right. And they usually do. But it could just have easily bombed. And then I would be trying to find someone to take me crack to Longford to get a box. And that doesn't always work. But all was good. No just to figure out how to attach thus monster on the back son the wind doesn't affect it. Flat is good. And I have rope. I had already figured out that puncturing small holes and feeding the rope through to tie it to the bike frame would probably be best. And it was! So easy. Even in the wind and on a downhill it was solid.
Virgin Australia desk said they could store it in the office for me. Good thinking, they said:). See ya in the morning. Now to find a camp spot. Like most airports this area is quite industrial. But across the street I found a large vacant field and set up there. No one pays me any attention. Like I'm invisible. Just the way I like it.
And it is raining. A bit fearful that the water on my tent will put the weight over. Don't think it will be dry by morning. Hope they'll be understanding:/

Not quiet and not dark. Airport lights and traffic. The cars should stop but the lights won't go out. Oh well. Off to Sydney tomorrow to see dear friends Carina and Gaby again. I met Carina on the Camino nearly 2 years ago. Stayed with them in Sydney when I passed through last year. Met them again later in Yamba. I will be great to reconnect.

Then Sunday I fly to San Diego where my older daughter and her husband live. A sweet treat is my younger daughter is visiting her sister that weekend so I get to see them both as soon as I land!! Happy Momma!!!!!!!!! I miss them both so much!

Don't ask me what my plans are stateside. I'm lucky to have made these plans. Going to Denver where younger daughter lives. Then on to Rochester where I used to live. That's all I know for sure.



Livin' the dream!

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