I'm home! Will post later with a proper update and some lost long photos!!
The plan is to stay here til I go to Melb in a few weeks.. and from there? Either back to Adelaide? Or back to Tassie? :)
Love P.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Monday, February 5, 2007
Shall I come home?
It's been a while since I've updated.... it's damn hot in New Norfolk today! Even in the library it's hot! Phew!
This morning I decided I might come home. Not for long, maybe just a few weeks. I am missing everyone and missing the city and my life back there. But at the same time, there is so much I still want to see and do here in Tasmania. I decided this morning to maybe come home this week, for a couple weeks, and then come back to Tassie. Will see what happens!
I have been staying at my dad's the past week and it's been mostly cool. Has been a bit hard though.... I have never really gotten along that well with him and to be living with him and his partner and been a bit tough. When mum rang me yesterday I cried on the phone, and then when my sister rang me later, I wanted to cry again! It's not so much that I missed them (haha, don't worry, I DO miss you both!), but more that I didn't want to go back to a house (my dad's) where I felt a bit uncomfortable, and just not being in a positive environment. I really do relish being in a place where I feel safe, comfortable, nurtured... just being in a peaceful environment. Somewhere I can be ME!
Anyway, as I got to my dad's it turned out to be okay. As I wasn't hungry for dinner (had eaten heaps at the raw picnic) I read the newspaper in the lounge room listening to Inka Marka (a traditional Bolivian band with panpipes and such - one of my favourite bands). I felt relaxed and had time to be on my own, time to cry a bit more (just a bit!) and just BE.
So I've been at my dad's place a week or less, and have again helped him with his stall at the markets. I love going to the markets. I'm really keen to help with one of the organic stalls down there, but that required living somewhere. I would really, really love to work in an organic shop too, so I need to find somewhere to live and then start looking for a job!
Before I arrived at dad's, I spent a week in West Hobart woofing. Was mostly sewing, and helped plant some lettuce and did some weeding with Hanna, a cool girl from Sweden. Loved it at Kate's place! Such a warm home, loving environment and just a lovely place to live!! The next door neighbour cat, Jack, kept coming to sleep with me at night... so adorable!! Was nice to have someone to snuggle with! hehe.
Tomorrow I start riding again. I don't know where I'm going. Will either try to stay around Hobart for a few days, or find somewhere else to start Woofing.... or come home? Not sure!
I miss Adelaide! So a big hello to everyone who is reading this in Adelaide! Will hopefully see you all soon!!!!
Mucho cariños! (much love!)
P.
This morning I decided I might come home. Not for long, maybe just a few weeks. I am missing everyone and missing the city and my life back there. But at the same time, there is so much I still want to see and do here in Tasmania. I decided this morning to maybe come home this week, for a couple weeks, and then come back to Tassie. Will see what happens!
I have been staying at my dad's the past week and it's been mostly cool. Has been a bit hard though.... I have never really gotten along that well with him and to be living with him and his partner and been a bit tough. When mum rang me yesterday I cried on the phone, and then when my sister rang me later, I wanted to cry again! It's not so much that I missed them (haha, don't worry, I DO miss you both!), but more that I didn't want to go back to a house (my dad's) where I felt a bit uncomfortable, and just not being in a positive environment. I really do relish being in a place where I feel safe, comfortable, nurtured... just being in a peaceful environment. Somewhere I can be ME!
Anyway, as I got to my dad's it turned out to be okay. As I wasn't hungry for dinner (had eaten heaps at the raw picnic) I read the newspaper in the lounge room listening to Inka Marka (a traditional Bolivian band with panpipes and such - one of my favourite bands). I felt relaxed and had time to be on my own, time to cry a bit more (just a bit!) and just BE.
So I've been at my dad's place a week or less, and have again helped him with his stall at the markets. I love going to the markets. I'm really keen to help with one of the organic stalls down there, but that required living somewhere. I would really, really love to work in an organic shop too, so I need to find somewhere to live and then start looking for a job!
Before I arrived at dad's, I spent a week in West Hobart woofing. Was mostly sewing, and helped plant some lettuce and did some weeding with Hanna, a cool girl from Sweden. Loved it at Kate's place! Such a warm home, loving environment and just a lovely place to live!! The next door neighbour cat, Jack, kept coming to sleep with me at night... so adorable!! Was nice to have someone to snuggle with! hehe.
Tomorrow I start riding again. I don't know where I'm going. Will either try to stay around Hobart for a few days, or find somewhere else to start Woofing.... or come home? Not sure!
I miss Adelaide! So a big hello to everyone who is reading this in Adelaide! Will hopefully see you all soon!!!!
Mucho cariños! (much love!)
P.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Friday
Okay, so I'm here in Hobart.
Have been here for a couple days. Spent 2 days in the forest, in the Florentine, near the World Heritage Area in the West of Tasmania. A group of brave individuals have set up "camp" in the middle of a road, which they want to build to be able to log the Upper Florentine area. They have several tree sits and the whole thing is quite elaborate and amazing.
Sleeping in the forest was absolutely inspiring, if not absolutely freezing!! Oh my god!
The weekend was spent at the Weld Convergence, a festival with many environmental talks and discussions. Met some great people both at the Convergence and in the forest of Florentine.
Anyway, am now in Hobart and deciding... do I stay a few weeks in Tas? Or a few months? I'm leaning more towards coming home.. I think it's time, though there is still a strong pull for me to stay in Tasmania. And there are so many places I still haven't seen here! I could almost stay forever! (If money wasn't running low and I wasn't missing family and friends).
That's it. It's Australia Day and I must go to bed early. Am helping my dad with his market stall tomorrow! Early start!
P.
Have been here for a couple days. Spent 2 days in the forest, in the Florentine, near the World Heritage Area in the West of Tasmania. A group of brave individuals have set up "camp" in the middle of a road, which they want to build to be able to log the Upper Florentine area. They have several tree sits and the whole thing is quite elaborate and amazing.
Sleeping in the forest was absolutely inspiring, if not absolutely freezing!! Oh my god!
The weekend was spent at the Weld Convergence, a festival with many environmental talks and discussions. Met some great people both at the Convergence and in the forest of Florentine.
Anyway, am now in Hobart and deciding... do I stay a few weeks in Tas? Or a few months? I'm leaning more towards coming home.. I think it's time, though there is still a strong pull for me to stay in Tasmania. And there are so many places I still haven't seen here! I could almost stay forever! (If money wasn't running low and I wasn't missing family and friends).
That's it. It's Australia Day and I must go to bed early. Am helping my dad with his market stall tomorrow! Early start!
P.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
It's good to eat fruit!
Today I catch a bus to Hobart, well, Huonville actually. Saves a few days riding! If I'd organised myself earlier I could have ridden down, but alas, I did not! Nevermind!
I stayed at Windermere for four days. Was lovely. Very relaxing compared to the next Woofer! Judy had a lot of Grass Roots magazines. Have you seen it in the shops? I thought it was only a recent-ish magazine... and I was reading copies from the early '80's. Wow. Was very cool to read about all these people's experiences about buying a farm/property out in the country and starting their life there, growing veggies and fruit, DIY stuff, just kinda living the "simple life"! Gave me lots and lots of ideas and some inspiration and some motivation. But even know I still don't know what to do. But I do know that the idea of living in the country, in Tasmania somewhere, in the future, sounds very, very appealing to me!! My Woofing quest/journey will enable me to see how all these different country-folk live and I can add to the list of what would be an ideal home!
I ate lots of plums at Judy's, especially those small yellow ones! Yummo!! Her neighbour had a massive, massive tree full of 'em, all falling to the ground! One night I went for a walk and I was still a bit hungry. I said to myself, "Damn, I wish there was a plum tree right here". A few houses down, and there was a big yellow plum tree!
After I left Judy's place I rode to Hillwood and stayed the night. I camped at a park near the jetty. I was sleeping well until I got woken about 11am by some young guys around my age. They were trying to go fishing but had forgotten their bait. They were a bit drunken and well, didn't make me feel safe at all. I stayed in my tent and quickly messaged my aunt to let her know exactly where I was. I didn't want to get out of my tent so the guys would know I was a female alone. They hovered around a while, and then came back later and were a bit curious as to who was in the tent. I made some noise to let them know someone was in there but didn't talk, to reveal my gender. Eek. I'm sure they would have done no harm, but still, I didn't feel safe at that moment at all.
Prior to setting up camp a local had advised that it wasn't really a good camping spot and had suggested a place further down the road, which was practically in the middle of nowhere. I wasn't about to set up camp in the middle of nowhere where only one man knew where I was! So I had decided instead on the park near the jetty, where at least there would be people around. The young guys left and then I was woken at 3am by a father yelling abuse at his young teenage daughter, who was apparantly doing drugs or something. He was trying to knock some "sense" into her. Damn abusive man!
Makes me feel so grateful for my life. I have the best parents, well, the best mother and had the best upbringing ever. A very safe home, warm, loving environment. The best. I feel so sorry for children who have to put up with some cold, negative parents and you know, basically just feel unsafe.
Left Hillwood and rode up to George Town and spent the day there. Nice town, quite big, lots of tourists around (as usual!). Relunctuntly bought some veggies from the supermarket, and bought some yummy dates and macadamia nuts.
Spent the night down at Batman Bridge. Wow! Beautiful, beautiful location. Gorgeous river, gorgeous mountains, everything was perfect. I met several other people camping there, some families in their campervans, a young guy on his motorbike, all really nice people. There was even a fruit stall there! They had the most amazing apricots ever!!!! Seriously, wow!!
I went to bed and thought, wow, life can't get any better. Went to sleep and was awoken during the night to hear some scrambling about. Someone trying to break into my tent! I soon worked out it was some local possums, trying to get to my fruit!!! Argh! I pulled the fruit into my tent (it was under the cover of my tent) but the possums were still trying to get through my tent, to the fruit. They stayed for hmm, an hour or so possibly... and then left. Damn! Scared me! haha They're only possums, but I was still scared!
A few days before I had bought a copy of Fit For Life, a great book, even though I don't agree with everything they say. I had bought it on the intention of giving it to someone but I couldn't think of who.
So the next morning I bought more fruit at the stall and the lady tells me, "The cherries are really nice! I can't eat them though, cos I'm on a diet". It puzzled me as to why she couldn't eat fruit when she was on a diet, so then I remembered I had my Fit For Life book. As I left the bridge I gave it to her and she was surprised but thankful. Yay. I hope she reads it and learns lots from it! And starts eating some fruit!!
Okay, I wanna talk about the organic farm I went to at Yorktown but I have to pack my things and get the bus down to Huonville. Yay, I can't wait!! There's a festival of sorts I'm going to. Check it out at http://www.huon.org/
Eat fruit!
P.
I stayed at Windermere for four days. Was lovely. Very relaxing compared to the next Woofer! Judy had a lot of Grass Roots magazines. Have you seen it in the shops? I thought it was only a recent-ish magazine... and I was reading copies from the early '80's. Wow. Was very cool to read about all these people's experiences about buying a farm/property out in the country and starting their life there, growing veggies and fruit, DIY stuff, just kinda living the "simple life"! Gave me lots and lots of ideas and some inspiration and some motivation. But even know I still don't know what to do. But I do know that the idea of living in the country, in Tasmania somewhere, in the future, sounds very, very appealing to me!! My Woofing quest/journey will enable me to see how all these different country-folk live and I can add to the list of what would be an ideal home!
I ate lots of plums at Judy's, especially those small yellow ones! Yummo!! Her neighbour had a massive, massive tree full of 'em, all falling to the ground! One night I went for a walk and I was still a bit hungry. I said to myself, "Damn, I wish there was a plum tree right here". A few houses down, and there was a big yellow plum tree!
After I left Judy's place I rode to Hillwood and stayed the night. I camped at a park near the jetty. I was sleeping well until I got woken about 11am by some young guys around my age. They were trying to go fishing but had forgotten their bait. They were a bit drunken and well, didn't make me feel safe at all. I stayed in my tent and quickly messaged my aunt to let her know exactly where I was. I didn't want to get out of my tent so the guys would know I was a female alone. They hovered around a while, and then came back later and were a bit curious as to who was in the tent. I made some noise to let them know someone was in there but didn't talk, to reveal my gender. Eek. I'm sure they would have done no harm, but still, I didn't feel safe at that moment at all.
Prior to setting up camp a local had advised that it wasn't really a good camping spot and had suggested a place further down the road, which was practically in the middle of nowhere. I wasn't about to set up camp in the middle of nowhere where only one man knew where I was! So I had decided instead on the park near the jetty, where at least there would be people around. The young guys left and then I was woken at 3am by a father yelling abuse at his young teenage daughter, who was apparantly doing drugs or something. He was trying to knock some "sense" into her. Damn abusive man!
Makes me feel so grateful for my life. I have the best parents, well, the best mother and had the best upbringing ever. A very safe home, warm, loving environment. The best. I feel so sorry for children who have to put up with some cold, negative parents and you know, basically just feel unsafe.
Left Hillwood and rode up to George Town and spent the day there. Nice town, quite big, lots of tourists around (as usual!). Relunctuntly bought some veggies from the supermarket, and bought some yummy dates and macadamia nuts.
Spent the night down at Batman Bridge. Wow! Beautiful, beautiful location. Gorgeous river, gorgeous mountains, everything was perfect. I met several other people camping there, some families in their campervans, a young guy on his motorbike, all really nice people. There was even a fruit stall there! They had the most amazing apricots ever!!!! Seriously, wow!!
I went to bed and thought, wow, life can't get any better. Went to sleep and was awoken during the night to hear some scrambling about. Someone trying to break into my tent! I soon worked out it was some local possums, trying to get to my fruit!!! Argh! I pulled the fruit into my tent (it was under the cover of my tent) but the possums were still trying to get through my tent, to the fruit. They stayed for hmm, an hour or so possibly... and then left. Damn! Scared me! haha They're only possums, but I was still scared!
A few days before I had bought a copy of Fit For Life, a great book, even though I don't agree with everything they say. I had bought it on the intention of giving it to someone but I couldn't think of who.
So the next morning I bought more fruit at the stall and the lady tells me, "The cherries are really nice! I can't eat them though, cos I'm on a diet". It puzzled me as to why she couldn't eat fruit when she was on a diet, so then I remembered I had my Fit For Life book. As I left the bridge I gave it to her and she was surprised but thankful. Yay. I hope she reads it and learns lots from it! And starts eating some fruit!!
Okay, I wanna talk about the organic farm I went to at Yorktown but I have to pack my things and get the bus down to Huonville. Yay, I can't wait!! There's a festival of sorts I'm going to. Check it out at http://www.huon.org/
Eat fruit!
P.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Golden Brown!
The song is on the radio in George Town!
Okay, this is short. I left my first Woofer, at Windermere. Did some weeding, painting (!), carrying, sawing, and some other stuff I can't remember!
Tomorrow I arrive in Yorketown, can't wait. Big kinda organic business, should be good. They have the best tomatoes!
There are tonnes of fruit farms up this way, especially cherries!! Yummy! Passed a big strawberry farm yesterday but they didn't appeal to me, so on with the cherries!
Okay, nice and short.
P.
Okay, this is short. I left my first Woofer, at Windermere. Did some weeding, painting (!), carrying, sawing, and some other stuff I can't remember!
Tomorrow I arrive in Yorketown, can't wait. Big kinda organic business, should be good. They have the best tomatoes!
There are tonnes of fruit farms up this way, especially cherries!! Yummy! Passed a big strawberry farm yesterday but they didn't appeal to me, so on with the cherries!
Okay, nice and short.
P.
Monday, January 8, 2007
Off tomorrow.
Have been hanging out with my aunty for the past hmm, week and a bit. My sister departed this morning after spending the weekend here. Was awesome to see her again! Felt like we somehow got a bit closer to each other. Love you sis!
We have been eating heaps of cherries and berries! So delicious! I have never really eaten blue berries before, and we bought some from a man on his farm yesterday. He said, "I'm warning you! They're addictive!" And they were indeed! I ate the half a kilo I bought straight away in the car and was then wishing I had bought more!
Going to Salamanca Markets on the weekend was cool. I might be helping out at one of the organic stalls sometime in the near future! Yay! I have never worked in a fruit shop before, but it's something I really wanna do. To be surrounded by fresh, organic fruit and veg all day... wow!
We had our raw picnic last week, also, in Hobart and that was great fun! So many yummy meals, including my aunts raw pizza and my raw macadamia/date cake. So much durian! And it was great to meet the raw crew in Tassie. Not many, but very beautiful people!!
NY was spent camping alongside the Derwent River (I think!). Anyway, rode 30km up from Launceston and spent the night there. I had a nightmare that these local people had mutilated my bike! Not my precious bike! Lucky I was woken by a nearby shack-occupant, whom I chatted to for a while. Beautiful location.
Tomorrow I ride to my first Wwoofing host. She has a berry farm, so I can't wait!!
Probs won't have a heap of Net access from now, until whenever, but I will try to post occassionally! :)
Hope everyone is having a great time wherever they are right now!!
Much love,
P.
We have been eating heaps of cherries and berries! So delicious! I have never really eaten blue berries before, and we bought some from a man on his farm yesterday. He said, "I'm warning you! They're addictive!" And they were indeed! I ate the half a kilo I bought straight away in the car and was then wishing I had bought more!
Going to Salamanca Markets on the weekend was cool. I might be helping out at one of the organic stalls sometime in the near future! Yay! I have never worked in a fruit shop before, but it's something I really wanna do. To be surrounded by fresh, organic fruit and veg all day... wow!
We had our raw picnic last week, also, in Hobart and that was great fun! So many yummy meals, including my aunts raw pizza and my raw macadamia/date cake. So much durian! And it was great to meet the raw crew in Tassie. Not many, but very beautiful people!!
NY was spent camping alongside the Derwent River (I think!). Anyway, rode 30km up from Launceston and spent the night there. I had a nightmare that these local people had mutilated my bike! Not my precious bike! Lucky I was woken by a nearby shack-occupant, whom I chatted to for a while. Beautiful location.
Tomorrow I ride to my first Wwoofing host. She has a berry farm, so I can't wait!!
Probs won't have a heap of Net access from now, until whenever, but I will try to post occassionally! :)
Hope everyone is having a great time wherever they are right now!!
Much love,
P.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
The trip!
Okay, where do I begin?
Friday morning I set off early. As I climbed upon my bike, I almost toppled over! The weight! I had weighed my "luggage" whilst in Adelaide, but just before I was leaving the house I had quickly added all these extra things I forgot I would be taking. It all added up. I guess it would have been close to 20kg. Two rear panniers and a handle-bar bag.
Left the city (Hobart), rode past North Hobart, rode past Moonah and bam! Two flats! Had trouble, can't remember what the trouble was, but had to walk back to Moonah to the bike shop to get new tubes.
* Leaving Tassie behind, on Bowen Bridge
Set off again and rode up to Richmond. Nice small town. Bought some apricots and other fruit at the supermarket, only later to find a huge apricot farm. The irony! The apricots from the supermarket weren't very nice (imported from Victoria, non-organic), but these ones on the farm... yummo! Whilst at the apricot farm all I could think about was the injustices of the world. Well, that was my interpretation of it anyway! An abundance of apricots. Many, many trees with perfectly ripe apricots. Mountains of apricots covering the grass..... all going to waste. The lady said it happened every year. Why can't they take the apricots to the local towns to sell? Is that too hard?
* Apricot farm! Apricots - yum!!!
Friday: rode 28km.
In Richmond I stayed at the local caravan park, which was nice, as it had a real "bush" feel to it, it, it was in the bush! Was surprised to find they had a pool (seems most caravan parks do). Ate dinner and rested up, was given the newspaper by another traveller who was very interested in my riding tale.
* Camp at Richmond
* A happy me on the road!
Saturday morning set off hoping to make it to Orford, but had another puncture in the day.... and took me an hour or more to fix. Well, the tyre was so damn hard to take off and put back on. Later someone said the only way to "fix" that would be to get lots of punctures, and well, that, it happened! On the side of the road trying to remove my tyre, I think I swore a few times. Then I wrote this in my diary:
I am capable of removing a tyre.
I am confident.
I can remove my tyre.
I will remove my tyre.
I am confident I can repaire my tube.
I will be guided by God/Mother Nature to repair my tyre.
I WILL REPAIR MY TYRE/TUBE AND CONTINUE RIDING NOW!!
GOD IS WITH ME. I AM WITH GOD.
About five minutes later, I was able to remove the tyre! Phew! Fixed the puncture, then had trouble replacing the tyre. A few swear words later and who comes riding up the hill? A nice young chap offering a hand. He had a crew of four, they were riding for 5 days.
Now, this "story" is gonna talk a lot about punctures, because well, it was only a week or less before I left for my trip that a mate, Lars, showed me how to fix a puncture! Argh! I know I shouldn't have left it to the last minute, and I should have had more practice, but that's me. Every time I decide I want to wear something that needs repair (ie, sewing done to it) it happens to be right when I'm about to go out. "Yes, I must wear this! Oh, it needs to be repaired!"
I made it to a little "town" called Runnymede and slept down this side street, on the side of the road behind some trees/bushes, along someones fence. I kept waking during the night to every sound. I think that was my first time sleeping out on the "streets", ie, outside with no tent, no nothing, just out in the air. Well, a sleeping bag, yes! At one moment during the night I heard a noise, opened my eyes, and a possum was climbing the fence. It stopped dead in it's tracks when it saw me and froze. Eventually he/she scrambled away. Wow.
Saturday: 18.53km
Friday morning I set off early. As I climbed upon my bike, I almost toppled over! The weight! I had weighed my "luggage" whilst in Adelaide, but just before I was leaving the house I had quickly added all these extra things I forgot I would be taking. It all added up. I guess it would have been close to 20kg. Two rear panniers and a handle-bar bag.
Left the city (Hobart), rode past North Hobart, rode past Moonah and bam! Two flats! Had trouble, can't remember what the trouble was, but had to walk back to Moonah to the bike shop to get new tubes.
* Leaving Tassie behind, on Bowen Bridge
Set off again and rode up to Richmond. Nice small town. Bought some apricots and other fruit at the supermarket, only later to find a huge apricot farm. The irony! The apricots from the supermarket weren't very nice (imported from Victoria, non-organic), but these ones on the farm... yummo! Whilst at the apricot farm all I could think about was the injustices of the world. Well, that was my interpretation of it anyway! An abundance of apricots. Many, many trees with perfectly ripe apricots. Mountains of apricots covering the grass..... all going to waste. The lady said it happened every year. Why can't they take the apricots to the local towns to sell? Is that too hard?
* Apricot farm! Apricots - yum!!!
Friday: rode 28km.
In Richmond I stayed at the local caravan park, which was nice, as it had a real "bush" feel to it, it, it was in the bush! Was surprised to find they had a pool (seems most caravan parks do). Ate dinner and rested up, was given the newspaper by another traveller who was very interested in my riding tale.
* Camp at Richmond
* A happy me on the road!
Saturday morning set off hoping to make it to Orford, but had another puncture in the day.... and took me an hour or more to fix. Well, the tyre was so damn hard to take off and put back on. Later someone said the only way to "fix" that would be to get lots of punctures, and well, that, it happened! On the side of the road trying to remove my tyre, I think I swore a few times. Then I wrote this in my diary:
I am capable of removing a tyre.
I am confident.
I can remove my tyre.
I will remove my tyre.
I am confident I can repaire my tube.
I will be guided by God/Mother Nature to repair my tyre.
I WILL REPAIR MY TYRE/TUBE AND CONTINUE RIDING NOW!!
GOD IS WITH ME. I AM WITH GOD.
About five minutes later, I was able to remove the tyre! Phew! Fixed the puncture, then had trouble replacing the tyre. A few swear words later and who comes riding up the hill? A nice young chap offering a hand. He had a crew of four, they were riding for 5 days.
Now, this "story" is gonna talk a lot about punctures, because well, it was only a week or less before I left for my trip that a mate, Lars, showed me how to fix a puncture! Argh! I know I shouldn't have left it to the last minute, and I should have had more practice, but that's me. Every time I decide I want to wear something that needs repair (ie, sewing done to it) it happens to be right when I'm about to go out. "Yes, I must wear this! Oh, it needs to be repaired!"
I made it to a little "town" called Runnymede and slept down this side street, on the side of the road behind some trees/bushes, along someones fence. I kept waking during the night to every sound. I think that was my first time sleeping out on the "streets", ie, outside with no tent, no nothing, just out in the air. Well, a sleeping bag, yes! At one moment during the night I heard a noise, opened my eyes, and a possum was climbing the fence. It stopped dead in it's tracks when it saw me and froze. Eventually he/she scrambled away. Wow.
Saturday: 18.53km
* My bike!
* A lovely sign! Ha! The hill wasn't really scary at all!
Sunday started riding, what else? :) Rode through Orford and Triabunna. Was hoping to get to Maria Island National Park, but the last ferry for the day had already left. Damn. Spent some time at Orford beach - beautiful, absolutely beautiful.
* Orford Beach
Along the way riding up to Orford I was riding alongside a river, I think it may have been the Prosser River? Soo beautiful! I wanted to take more photos, but the rode was so narrow so didn't have much of a chance. The last part of the river came up to a hill. Love those hills!
* Beautiful river
Didn't want to stay in Triabunna, although they had a caravan park, so I kept riding. Hoping to make it to Boltons Beach Conservation Area, but never found it, so it was off to the side of the road again.
I found a nice spot beneath a big kinda pine tree. Seemed "shady" from all the branches and thought I would be safe just in my sleeping bag. Ie, safe from what appeared to be a rainy night ahead. I didn't want to set up the tent, as I wanted to stay "inconspicuous", ie, from the cars riding along the highway. Went to sleep, but a few hours later found it was raining! I quickly tried to set up my tent in the rain, and subsequently didn't get to set it up right, so contended with a very wet sleep!
* My tent and I in the morning!
Sunday (Xmas Eve): 40.21km
Christmas morning arrived and I set off about 7am. I must have only ridden about 10km when I had another puncture. But this time.... my pump was broke! Ie, this rubber attachment that attaches to the valve had fallen out. Damn!!! Wasn't sure what I was going to do, but before I could even decide what to do, two ladies walked by. One lived a few km's away and said she'd be happy to bring back a pump, and if it didn't work on my bike she would bring me back to her house and work out what we could do. Lovely! So I watched her walk away, and began to take my tyre off. Upon her return, it turned out her pump was also a bit screwed, and wouldn't actually be able to fit onto my valve. Hmm! More trouble! At just the right moment a couple were riding by and asked if we needed help. "Yes, we do!" They helped us repair the puncture, and thankfully did have a pump that worked! They happily rode off and I stayed chatting with Cynthia for a while. Lovely, lovely lady! She gave me a big hug on that Xmas morning and I was so thankful for her genorosity.
* Mayfield Conservation Area, on the way to Swansea
Made it up to Swansea, where I had been told there was a shop that sold bike pumps. Alas, it wasn't open. Bought some fruit, mangoes!!!, and ate them by the shop and then decided what to do. Very, very cold!!! It's right on the beach, and that night turned out to be soo damn windy! As I rode by this information stand, trying to decide what to do with myself, I heard a "Hey!" I looked around but didn't see anyone, then a few minutes turned around again and saw the couple whom had helped me out that morning. The bike couple!
I rode up and they were also deciding what to do, ie, they wanted to go over to Freycinet National Park, but the guy who ferries people over was not going, as it was too windy that day. It was late in the arvo and they didn't know whether to begin the 50km ride over there. We all decided it would be best to do the ride the next morning, so I followed them to the local caravan park where we set up our tents.
Carl wanted to set up tent right next to the beach, but a local warned us it gets pretty windy at night. Lucky she did, and we camped further away from the beach. But still! I thought I was gonna get blown up into the air! Windy as!! Wow. I had some clothes on the makeshift clothesline and I didn't even care if they were going to get blown up into the air. Ie, it was too windy for me to go outside my tent. The wind might have taken me to the next town!
Monday: 62km
* Swansea Beach
* Swansea Beach again! We can see Freycinet National Park across the water!
* Anyone who knows me well, knows I love swings! Most are a pair of swings, but this was a first for me! 6 swings!! Heaven!
Tuesday morning and I woke up to feel soo incredibly sick. I think it was from the overdose of sunflower seeds I had eaten the night before. I got up, and felt all dizzy and queasy. I also didn't drink enough water the day before, so I was a bit dehydrated. I vomited also, and just had to lie down. Carl and Claire began getting ready and I hoped I would be ready, too, by the time they were leaving for Freycinet, but unfortunately every time I got up I would just feel awful. Even lying down I felt terrible. They left without me, and I rested up for a few hours and then packed up tent and ventured out into the town.
I finally met another cyclist who had been lurking around town the day before, a Swiss guy. Didn't catch his name but we chatted for a while. He had been riding/travelling Australia (Sydney and Tassie) for 2 months and was ready to stop! He had had enough! I told him I had been riding 5 days and felt the same. Ha! The night before all I wanted to do was go into someone's house and be in the warmth, a nice warm fire to sit by. He was riding back to Orford to hang at a guy's house for a few days and just chill out by the fire. I didn't tell him that I would have loved to have joined him, as from feeling sick in the morning, I just wanted to go "home". Any home! Just someone's home! Nice, warm comfort.
Tuesday: 22.39km
I really wanted to go to Freycinet, or at least keep heading up the east coast through to St Helens and St Mary's, but without a working pump, all I could do was head towards Launceston earlier than planned.
I slept alongside the road again, and this time was beautiful. Slept soo well. The sunset was amazing!
* The sunset!
Wednesday rode through Kalangaloo to get to Campbell Town. Bought some beautiful TASSIE (almost my first Tassie food!) olives at the local shop in Kalangaloo (it's only just being put on the Tassie map!) and was able to pump up my tyres full. Met this beautiful, black dog called Kaye. Soo adorable and loveable.
* My bike and I!
Stayed in Campbell Town that night at this lovely kinda campervan overnight parking area. Felt safe, only trouble was couldn't get to sleep for a few hours as the family near by were so loud! Ha! Playing board games, watching TV (on holiday!!) and drinking, it seemed.
A couple told me of this lady they met once who was 68 years of age, who was riding over 200km each day! Wow! They asked her why and it turned out her husband had died a few years earlier and she needed something to occupy her time with. Well, let me tell you, touring takes up a lot of time! I secretly, no, not secretly, I OPENINGLY am waiting til I'm, hmm, 151 and riding my bike every day! Yes, 151! I remember telling a friend once and he was like, "What?! That's crazy!" haha No, it's not! It's crazy not to think high and think for the best outcome possible! :)
Met a cool NY guy the next morning at the local park, who came over cos I had brought back memories to him. Memories of when he used to tour!
* Cool country side
I rode about 14km to a park stop, Conara, when.... alas! Another puncture! And no pump! So I walked 12 or so km to Epping Forest in the hot, hot, sun! I kept wanting a car to stop and offer help, yet I wasn't ready to actually ask for help. Must learn that for future. I'm happy to accept help if it's offered, yet need to be able to ASK for help when I also need it. Actually, whilst I walked to Epping Forest with practically no water in the hot sun, I was offered some help, but didn't go far! Ie, this lady was riding my way and stopped but hey, it turned out her pump was also broken! What's with women carrying around broken pumps??! :) She had never used her pump before, because she normally rode with her husband and it was her first trip alone. I advised it might be good to get a new pump, one that worked, so she wouldn't have to rely on her husband if she had a flat!
Also, at one moment, I was starting to lose hope (never lose hope! ever!), and I was sitting along the side of the road in the shade. I was looking to the ground and all of a sudden three guys on racer bikes rode by, and just as they were getting too far, one guy yelled out, "Everything alright?!" And my instant reaction was to reply, "Yeah!" BAM! Stupid reply! Before I could change my reply, they were already too far away. I would have had to have run after them. Before bursting into tears (yes, tears!) I stood up, picked up my bike and began running towards Epping Forest. I was determined to get there!!!
* The shelter station at Conara - these are mostly for mum! How beautiful!
6pm and I finally got to Epping Forest!!!!! Ahhhhh!!! Relief!!! I think I looked pretty wack with my face covered in awful zinc... my face also peeling.. sunburn :( ... all kinda puffed, no energy. Bought some water and bought a rockmelon. Looked a bit, er, wilted... but it was refreshing nonetheless!
Finally got to working on my bike, ie, repairing two punctures, and it was 8:30pm before I had finished! Ha! The sky was getting dark, not just from an approaching night sky, but because a storm was about to settle in. I was on a roll, and wanted to get to Perth or Launceston, so began riding... only knowing I was pinching my tubing with the tyre. I was willing to go as far as I could, so began riding.
* A beautiful sunset as I started to ride, ride, ride!
It began getting darker and darker, so I rode faster/harder. I kept praying and begging my bike to help me make it to the next town. "Come on, bike! We're all in this together! Every part of us! Me, to the wheels, to the handlebar, to the panniers, to the frame, the pedals - we all have to work together!" I offered to show my bike lots of beautiful Tasmania.
We rode.... we rode.... er, we rode slowly, slower.... as my front tyre began losing air.... slowly... I kept pedalling.... the night got darker, I got tired from having walked all day in the hot sun with no water. Sleeping on the side of the highway wasn't looking too appealing, as mostly I couldn't see where I would have been sleeping. I would have been lit up by cars, and well, mostly I don't think it's very safe to sleep on the side of the highway when a car could easily run me over during the night!
I knew my aunt was just a phone call away... and I didn't want to use that option, but eventually, I made the call!
She came picked me up, and it turns out I was only a few kms away from Perth. So I very nearly made it from Hobart to Launceston. Next time! In the next half hour as I walked in the cold, waiting for my aunt, one car stopped to offer a help, and also another cyclist offered help. Where were they in the day when I needed their help? haha :)
Anyway, I smell food.....
That's it for my massive story.
I will post up some photos later.
Rules or tips for the next ride:
1) Drink as much water as I can possibly stomach next tour.
You never know when an "accident" might happen and leave you with no water, so make sure you're always hydrated!! Also, carry EXTRA supply of water!
2) Actually, what helped me with the water thing was having lots of high water content food, ie fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber, sultanas. So even though I was low on water, I still had lots of high water content food that I could have, that would sustain me and carry me through the hot day!
3) Stretch before and after riding! Stretch like crazy! Constantly! Always stretch! Massage sore knees and muscles, especially the calves. Even though your legs might not hurt, massage them. Show them love. Will help if later they do hurt!
4) And of course making sure you've had a good NIGHT's sleep!!
Patty just gave me a refreshing cup of coconut water. Hungry now! :) Gonna eat some fruit and go for a walk!
Stay tuned for photos!
P.
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