Tasmania 1

Google Earth
Screen Shot 2015-01-09 at 3.10.51 PM

A 20 hour track, from Melbourne across the Bass Straight to Devonport, then to Strahan
Screen Shot 2015-01-08 at 7.30.08 PM

We’re taking the Spirit of Tasmania across the Bass straight to Tasmania. We’re excited! You’ve probably gathered, if you read between the lines, that the east coast of Australia really didn’t do it for us. The same problem as New Zealand. For riders reading this, with a shorter rtw timeline, my route choice through Oz would be Perth to Darwin. Or Perth to Cairnes. But we haven’t done the middle yet, we’ll see what that’s like.

But anyway Tasmania sounds excellent so we’re down at the boat, reservation in hand 2 hours before the 2 hours recommended before sailing. Keen. So we go down to the beach. That’s our ship
DSC08536

Head over to boarding with 3 hours to go. The boat leaves at 19:30 and arrives in Tasmania at 05:30 in the morning. It’s the red eye
DSC08544

After a while a couple of Aprilia Tuono’s show up. They’re going to Tassie for a riding holiday, but haven’t been before, so can’t recommend stuff
DSC08551

Ride on. Lucinda and I think riding onto a boat is the best thing in the world
DSC08579

There’s a beautiful Harley from the Golden Years, back when they were chopped to perfection. I want this bike. Plus the MV F3 800, the new Africa Twin, plus the new Hypermotard. Lucinda says OK OK, when we’re back, cool your jets
DSC08605

Tie down. The boat guy has to do it. Oh well. I don’t like the straps to the bar-ends but don’t argue and back off the tension when he’s done
DSC08584

We’re off to Tasmania!
DSC08592

Go check out our cabin. There are 4 choices: sleep in a chair, shared cabin, standard cabin (w. two beds), or deluxe cabin. This is the standard cabin. In Latin America I would have gone with a shared. It’s sparkling clean and feels new. We’ve left our camping roll back in Melbourne so we’re down to a duffel, about 30 litres full, and the tank bag. Awesome
DSC08586

It’s a great crossing. we start with a big electrical storm. Then all the bikers get together and drink. The boat is basically a floating bar. The whole top floor, the 10th, is a bar seating hundreds, and 1/2 of the 8th floor is a loungier bar for families. There’s also a shop. But no non-alcoholic seating areas.

StormDSC08589

Bird
DSC08598

We get a few hours sleep and are up at 4:30 for disembark, grab a coffee at a gas station and we’re off. Just out of Devonport it looks like this. Fantastic. A coastal highway to start for a short way
DSC08615

Then south. It starts to rain
P1080689

The trees are very very different. It feels prehistoric
P1080700

Past small lakes
P1080698

The strange trees
P1080696

A shrub in flower, beautiful
P1080711

More lakes, with some peaks in the mist
P1080708

About 150 miles later we approach the coast and the trees vanish
P1080718

Wilderness
P1080720

To the postcard village of Strahan. This was taken the following morning in sun
P1080728

The ride down through the forest was different to any ride so far. It’s very wild, very dense and jungle-like most of the time, and a bit crazy somehow.

Much more on this after we’ve thought about it more, in a following post.

Comments

5 Comments so far. Leave a comment below.
  1. Looks like a gorgeous ride. I will travel there sometime.

  2. Hugh Thomas,

    Always glad to see your next post. Amazing adventure. Glad you are still into it. Tasmania looks interesting. Anxiously awaiting the next post. Ride on. Hello to Lucinda too.
    Hugh

  3. hey nice to meet ya at my barber shop today!
    enjoying reading about your adventures!

Leave a Reply