Little Beach, East Coast, Tasmania, AU
After 3 nights on my brook, I packed up and continued eastward on gravel roads all the way to the coast. Sure glad someone had mentioned I could take this fire road that cut over because it wasn't on Google Maps although the it was on Komoot, my new app I use for touring. It gives me profiles and I can drop way points telling it what route I want to take. Also when it's giving voice navigation, after a turn it tells me how long I'll be on the new road before I turn again. Love that. Just wish it would tell me during a tour I'm following, how much distance remains until I reach my destination. I don't know why that's lacking. So this day was Sunday and my new air mat was expected at the post office in the morning. I decided I'd continue on into St Helens and be a good girl and go to the campground. That way I could charge up all my devices and my power bank and get a shower (not that I needed it:)). So after stopping at the grocery store to get some dipper, I cycled through town and up the hill to the campground. $44 discounted to $35 for an unpowered site and 1 person? Are you kidding me?!?!? No thank you. I'll find some place to bush camp. And there were showers and power at the toilet block near the pier. All for free!
Check out where I got to sleep that night. Better then any campground!!
It was just outside of town up the lagoon. I found it on my way to the sports oval, always a good camping spot. So sweet!!
And then the next two days were so full of serendipity that i still get goosebumps thinking about it.
In the morning, I had a list of town chores to get done. One of them was to drop off a couple of books at an op shop and get a new one. I was camped near an op shop, but as I cycled by I heard someone say it was closed. So I continued down the street towards the center of town. There's another one, so I pull up onto the sidewalk. As I'm getting off my trike a gentleman comes over to chat with me. Turns out he's a trike rider! He's thrilled to hear of my adventure and asks when I'm leaving town. Today. Oh:( I'd love to have you come stay with me. At this point his girlfriend joins the conversation. As we continue to talk, I'm thinking, why not? Where am I going in such a hurry. When someone is eager to listen, I'm eager to talk. Besides, what were the chances of us meeting on the street at that moment? So I make plans to go there after my chores. It's up a hill. No worries. I'm tough. See ya later. Then I get my new mat, a gas canister, another power bank, etc. and stop for a coffee. And there I meet Michelle and Noah and dad (can't remember his name). Noah's about 10 and a great little talker. I share with them my belief about how good most people are in this world.
Then off I go to Robert and Vickie's place. When the street is named View Street, you know there's a reason! What a hill, but what a view!
And these folks are artists in fact Robert used to teach art at a University and there was art in all media forms throughout the house. But I love his self portrait the most! (I will post photo separately if I can...)
Not a good photo, sorry.
And Vickie made Spanakopita, my favorite Greek dish, for dinner with a trike on it:)(I will try and post photo separately...having upload issues...so what's new?!?!?)
I even got up my nerve to show them my drawings, as beginnerish as they are. They were so kind, but Robert also gave me some good advice to think about as I go forward with my art. I took notes, Robert. Your words did not fall on deaf ears:)
Robert was recently in a serious, nearly fatal, traffic accident so unable to ride with me. But Blaze ground a new boyfriend!!
Ok, I said two days of serendipity, so I'll continue. I cycled back down the hill on Tuesday after great conversations, a shower, clothes washed, and bags restocked with salt, vinegar, sugar, and freshly made apricot jam. (I failed to mention the result baked bread and freshly made yogurt...that's when I get homesick...I miss doing those domestic things...ahhhhh...thank you!)
So I went to the IGA for done grub: that $50 worth...one plastic bag...expensive, huh? It's got veggies, fruit, bread, peanut butter, butter, yogurt, and chocolate.
And then I hemmed and hawed about whether I'd go back up the street to the pharmacy for ibuprofen. I was getting low and hate to be without. Ya never know. So I did. Then hopped on Blaze and headed south out of town when this lady jumps out at me yelling " Do you know Paul Carr?" I had to think for a minute. I think I met him in a small town in the Outback one day months ago. We're Facebook friends do he'd sent me a note to say his in-laws were tea ruling around fine here. He'd tell them to look out for me. Sure, like we'd ever connect. This was them!!!! Tony and Helen! Can you believe the found me. And they weren't looking either. We could have do easily mussed each other. What if I hadn't gone for ibuprofen? What if they had been in a store when I passed? Creepy, huh? What fun folks? We hit it off instantly. So I suggested we get a coffee and chat. I found out they were camped in there caravan in a park about 20 kms south. My plan was to cycle up into the forest again and camp before this town. I said I'd call them in the morning, maybe we could meet up again.
So off to the woods I went. I love the forest roads. They take me longer, but they are so much quieter and so much more enjoyable. I was going to be back on shoulderless A3 soon enough. The next day on my way out of the forest, Blaze was dropping her chain off the back to the inside. I adjusted the limit screw as much as I could and couldn't stop it. I had to set the shifter and the chain off by one click and then remember not to push it all the way to the last click and everything worked okay on the low end...on the high end it now was stopping in the third to last gear. Not optimum. I wonder if Tony and Helen would be able to take me back to St Helens to have this dereilleur looked at. I've learned to at least ask the question. They can always say No. And if I can't get it adjusted I could ride it like I'd set it up. Next bike shop was probably Hobart, 200 kms away.
I called. They said Yes. Thank you!! So they picked me up by the bridge and back to town we went. And Mathew, owner of the new cycle shop Break O'Day Cycles, was ever so helpful in getting the dereilleur re-aligned and working smoothly. That's it. Before my next tour I'm getting a Rohloff hub...no if, ands or buts about it! This dereilleur rides just too low and hits every rock I encounter. I he's nothing but great things about them. I want one!!
And then Tony and Helen took me back to their place where we yakked some more. Helen loves hiking! And has a special love for Mt Everest although she's never been. I loved sharing my stories about when Bluebearee, Apple Pie and I trekked there.
Oh, and Michelle and Noah? Ya, I ran into them again the next day too on my way out of town! So kind! And giving!! Have fun in Japan you guys!! And thanks for the gifts!
Their bears wanted to take a spin.
Thanks Helen and Tony, for all the kindness and especially the laughs!!!
So I took off just after noon and pedaled further south until I found this free camping spot on the beach. Lots of various vehicles here but not too crowded. Have decided to stay an extra day and get my blog updated, get some sun (like I don't get enough)
Hard to time a jump when your self timer doesn't clue you in to when it's finishing:) Gotta love a biker tan!!
and do some painting...gotta go get they done. Robert told me to paint every day and write a poem to go with it. If I did it once a week I'd be way ahead of what I'm doing;)
From my New Years campsite:)). Grandma Moses had to start somewhere!!
Livin' the dream!
BagLady
