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Wednesday 23 May - Wednesday 13 June

(Note: full details of Tasmania camps to ERC members)

G’day everyone! I know it’s been a long time since I last posted out the news.

In Tasmania, there are very few internet cafes and they are so expensive, hence I could only deal with important emails. Those of you who emailed me and awaiting a reply, please wait – I got over 60 emails within 2 weeks! Hence, this itinerary would be the longest one of the year (I hope!).

On Wednesday, I kept myself busy doing chores. A DVD was played at the hostel – Notting Hill, starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. It was funny. At night, I met up with Nikolah and we went to a Thai restaurant for dinner. Nikolah did something silly, but I’ll spare her the embarrassment! On my way back to my hostel, we saw Tricia coming back from work. We went to a playground on the way and messed around!

I went to the Olympic Park on the next day. It was a nice sunny day. I was a bit disappointed with the park for a few reasons: as the frequency of trains were low, I either had too much time or too little. It’s best to go there with friends and you could see more. The tours are pricey there; you can only go in by tour. There was work going on at the stadium; the shape is being changed. A DVD was played at the hostel, but I don’t remember what was on!

I did very little on Friday. I saw a notice up at Valhalla Theatre in Glebe. It was an advertisement for a play, ‘The Virgin Monologues’, starring Judy Nunn (Ailsa Stewart) and Rowena Wallace (June Reynolds). I walked past it later in the evening and saw them, and said hello to them. Judy did not remember me, but Rowena did! A DVD was played in the evening in the hostel – ‘Analyse Me’, starring Robert DeNiro and Billy Crystal. It was a very good film and also funny.

The next day, I met up with Declan and Bernie at Glebe market. They were taking so long at the market, as they are both hippies and the market is a hippy one; I did not like the market. We then went to Balmain market before meeting up with Claire at Paddington market. I bought a few things at Balmain. In the evening, I went to Bridie O’Reilly’s for my farewell, as it was my last night in Sydney.

I was up early on Sunday to catch the train to Melbourne. I was waiting in

Melbourne for a pick up but the hostel forgot about it – after waiting a while, I walked a long way to the hostel when the person just remembered. That’s not good service! I met up with Cathy and Kris who turned up five minutes after I arrived at the hostel!

The next morning, I walked around Melbourne and later flew to Hobart (Tasmania). On arrival at Hobart, I found it COLD! Jill and Anthony were waiting for me – they are leaders of Edmund Rice camps in Tasmania. Jill took me for a drive around Hobart town in the evening.

On Tuesday, I walked around Hobart – the town is very small and is close to where I’m staying. In the afternoon, there was induction and training for all leaders. I was taken to see a netball game in the evening.

On Wednesday evening, Jill took me for a drive up to Mount Wellington, which borders Hobart. We reached the top and it was freezing there – you could see snow peaks from a distance. There is a nice view of Hobart city. On the way back down, Jill could not drive, as there was an animal on the road. It ran from side to side so we were going slowly for a few minutes. Even when she stopped and put the lights and engine off, we found it later. We don’t know what it was – perhaps it was the Tasmanian devil! It went off the road at last but we saw another creature a few minutes later – a rabbit! Luckily it only delayed us a few seconds. Before going back to the house, we stopped outside Cascade Brewery.

On Friday, it was the last day of the camp and we had pizza.

The next morning, I walked to Salamanca markets. They are nice and there are a lot of stalls, some selling unusual stuff. I helped the others in the house decorate the house as there was a birthday party (there was no cake…); about 20 people came over.

I missed out on the cleaning from the previous night – I did not have a lie in! The others were up very early. I went to Antarctic Adventure for a while. You can leave the place and return the same day so I left for a while. After the second visit, I walked around Salamanca Square, browsing around the shops.

On Monday, I went to Female Factory – it was formerly a prison for women. In the past, women made things while in jail, hence the name. It is now a fudge factory. I was disappointed, as I could not view the factory; you can only do so on the tour, which was on early in the morning. At least I had free tasting of the fudge, which tasted lovely. Cascades Brewery was nearby so I thought I’d go for a tour. Unfortunately, the tour was 2 hours duration and I had no time. Anthony came to pick me up later and dropped me off in Richmond, where I walked around for half an hour. Richmond is an historic village. We both headed off to Launceston.

There was training and induction of leaders the next day. Over the next three days of the camp, it rained most of the time, but cleared up on Friday. The weather was warmer than Hobart was. Anthony and I had takeaway on Thursday night.

As last Friday, it was the last day and we had pizza. As Anthony had to head back to Hobart, I checked into a hostel in Launceston. It was formerly a canteen for Coats and Patons wool factory across the road – it’s quite an old building which gives you the impression that it’s an institution or hospital but it’s comfortable.

On Saturday morning, I walked around Launceston city, which is quite small. In the afternoon, I went to Cataract Gorge Reserve and walked four tracks. I saw a kangaroo but it skipped off. I saw another one later while on a track, and reached for the camera. It moved off before I got it out. Luckily I saw two later and one stood still and I got a photo! I saw Duck Reach Power Station which is now disused, but the interior can be viewed. One of the tracks had a signpost that was vandalised. I was stuck as to where to turn! I checked to see if it was loose. One of the signs was correct so I followed the other sign. After walking a bit, I was getting worried, as the track was difficult and very narrow compared to other tracks. About 30 minutes later, I saw a sign and was relieved to reach the main walk!

I got a bus on Sunday morning, heading off to Bicheno on the east coast. The bus stopped in St Marys for a break. I stayed in Bicheno Youth Hostel, which is situated at the beach, across from Diamond Island. It is 3km from Bicheno village (township, as it’s called here). I was appalled with the hostel’s low standards (it’s a member of YHA association!), but I had no choice. I walked along Foreshore Footway to Bicheno, and the trail is so damn confusing as it stops and resumes rather than being continuous along the way. When I reached the end, I did not know it was the end as there were no signs. The beach there did not have sand, but pebbles. I gave up searching for the track, and walked to Bicheno village and realised later that I had already reached the end of the track! Doh! I was on my own in the hostel when I returned. A group arrived and the driver of the group offered me dinner – how nice of him. Diamond Island is known for its fairy penguins that come out at night or dusk (I got misleading information). I went to see them but being without a torch, I felt for the track in the dark, making way to the beach. I went off the track and fell! I got back on and reached the beach. I could not see anything. The group came at the right time as the driver brought a radiator and it got warm there. It was a candlelit night and it was homely.

I got the bus the next afternoon, headed for Coles Bay. I stayed at Iluka Holiday Centre. There is a hostel there with caravan park. Just beside it is the supermarket, bakery, pub and the beach is nearby. The hostel was really nice with very high standards and I was glad to have paid the last one for one night rather than two nights. I walked around Esplanade (one of its roads) and around Coles Bay. It is a beautiful area – there are a lot of orangey red rocks on the coastline.

I went to Muirs beach nearby the next day before hiring out a bike. I cycled to Freycinet National Park, which is 6km from Coles Bay. The park is quite large. The road, though smooth, has too many bends and highs and lows, that I was already tired after a few kilometres! I’m not fit then! Richardsons Beach is on the way to the park. There are numerous tracks of varying lengths, taking from 1-hour return to 5 hours return, or even the longer ones you can do over a few days. I chose the walk to Wineglass Bay lookout. It was a warm sunny day. For the first time in over 6 weeks approx, I was able to wear shorts and just the t-shirt (thanks Mam for the Christmas present!). On the track are giant orangey boulders, some of them just balancing – they could move anytime. One of them was hollow and stood like a bus shelter; one of the broken pieces was on the ground nearby. It was very interesting. When I reached the lookout, I could see Wineglass Beach on one side and across from there is Hazards Beach which was a pleasant view. I did not walk down there due to limited time. I cycled to Sleepy Bay; the road is quite rough: the feeling on the road while riding is like feeling the drilling into the road. There is another track there but I only walked a small bit. I cycled back to Coles Bay and cycled around the area thoroughly! I was exhausted after being out for about four hours!

Yesterday, I caught the bus to Bicheno, but the connections are not immediate – I was there for 90 minutes! It was warm and sunny. I arrived back in Hobart at 4pm and it was cold! I was still wearing shorts even last night! I was OK – I did not get goosebumps!

The next time you hear from me, I’ll be in Melbourne – in a house, not a hostel (hurray!). I know some of you may be tired of hearing about Home and Away – now that I’m out of Sydney, you will hear little or none!

Bye!