Tas-mania

I felt like a little kid getting on an aircraft for the first time in over a year. Overseas for Melburnians is only an hour away and, Covid or not, we're pretty lucky to have one of the more beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Wildernesses so close. We had lunch at MONA, and went through the gallery which has grown impressively since we were last there.

Then a two hour drive to Lake St Clair and the fabulous hotel at Pumphouse Point, which has been fitted into an abandoned 40s hydroelectric facility at the end of a long jetty. Lit up red at night against the mist and bleakness of a Tasmanian early winter, it really is incredibly atmospheric. Whilst it's quite communal, with shared dining, we were surprised to find that we were the only real walkers in a place where there's not much else to do unless you're there for the trout.  

We caught the ferry to Echo Point on the second day and walked all the way back through the amazing primordial lakeside forest trail to Cynthia Bay with a beachside picnic halfway in pretty feral weather. However we were luckier the next day and climbed up high alpine moors to Mt Rufus for lunch on the early winter summit snowdrifts, then back the long way along the lesser walked path, down to Shadow lake through glacial tarns of cushionbush, snow-gum and pandani communities, and the most incredible cloud forests, which almost felt like we were walking though an ocean of coral gardens, with single ancient myrtles carrying entire ecosystems of species. A very big day out, but one of the more incredible day-walks I've ever done in Tas: it would make an insanely beautiful ski tour in the right conditions. I even got Marie-Laure trail running over the last ten kilometres to ensure we were back in time for sunset and dinner. 

A good warm up for the Western Arthurs in November with Balti!

Apologies for all the photos, it was too beautiful.

Easter DP

The only thing more extraordinary than the weather this Easter was the traffic. On good Friday, we got diverted by Google Maps along dirt roads in conga lines of dust out of a city of 5M to avoid freeways that were in complete gridlock. Once out on the freeway, it was still a carpark, and we averaged 50kph all the way to the Glenrowan turnoff. But then a very relaxing lunch in 32 degree of autumn sunshine at Sam Miranda, followed by a swim in Bright with Balti and his friend as the girls continued up the mountain. 

The next 6 days were calm, warm and sunny. The Omeo rodeo was an eye opener for the kids who learnt their first words of 'Ucken' as well as some interesting fashion and tat tips.

We got some nice fish on a few hikes down to alpine streams, also a few trail runs with Chockie, and lots of flow track action on the Yeti. Cool nights beside the fire, lots of nice cooking, and even a frosty morning. I sold a few works at the DP art expo, and we met and shared some drinks with friends and some nice new locals. Property at DP has suddenly gone bananas.

On Sunday we hiked out to Feathertop with some very uninspired and whiney kids who only got whinier as the day dragged on and we ran out of water. Next day there was further whining as we dragged them on the 25km bike trail down to Cobungra, stopping at the Black Sallee Lake for lunch. 

Cleaning out the man-shed on Tuesday was almost like an archeological dig. I found prehistoric bindings, a bird's nest in an old ski helmet, and even evidence that I once fancied tuning my own skis on a custom made bench. Oh, and it turns out that I have more skis than I really need.