Day 12 Maria Island

Woke up to rain again. Thought I had escaped getting wet but I seem to be having issues with my tent. It's beginning to wear me down and frustrate me. Misti came up with a solution to water proof the bottom of my fly sheet. Hoping it will work. Today the forecast was for thunderstorms and heavy rain in the afternoon and evening. Spent most of the day in the mess hall. Met a couple who were from Nailsea (about 20 miles from where I live in the UK) they have been cycle touring for 9 months have 3 months to go and will head to New Zealand after Tassie. At around 5 the weather cleared up so headed to the painted rocks with M&C, the sun actually came out for a while which was great. The rocks were great too. Thankfully the thunderstorm didn't happen, sometimes it's nice when the forecast is wrong. Lots of pictures today, thanks to Courtney and Misti for some of them. 

Day 11 Swansea to Maria Island 52.1km

Slept well in a warm dry bed. The weather forecast for today is dry and cloudy until 5 when there is a chance of rain. We set of with Janine just after 9. She was heading North we were heading south. Was relatively clear but about half an hour in it started to rain. Undulating hills most of the way. There was a relatively big one in the middle but coped with that ok. Stopped for lunch at 12 ish. I had a cold tin of baked beans and a wrap mmmm tasty. Then it tipped down with rain again for about 30 minutes. We certainly are cycle tourist now, powering on threw the rain. Pretty impressed with our progress. We got joined by a couple of older guys travelling super light that chatted with us as we rode along. One from Australia the other the USA. Which kind of motivated me to cycle a bit harder. That's what I have enjoyed about travelling with M&C it has challenged me to push myself a bit harder. Get to the top of the hill without stopping or pedal harder to keep up. My bike and luggage are quite a bit heavier than M&Cs which means Iam slower on the up hills faster on the down hills and can usually hold the same pace on the flat. So over the course of a ride I would say we go the same pace which is good. After riding 52km we arrived in Triabunna although the weather isn't looking great for the next couple of days we decided to go to Maris Island. There are no shops or cars allowed on the island so did a grocery shop before getting the ferry at 3.30 and 30 minutes later we were there. The crossing was a bit rough. Got set up at the camp site and had a nice hot shower. Great to be clean. Decided to pool our food and cooked a delicious bean and vegetable curry. So far have seen, wombats, wallabies and possums, no Tasmanian Devils yet though. Planning to stay for two nights possibly more if the weather gets better. 

Day 10 Swansea

Was awoken at 3 am by a huge thunder storm and torrential rain. Which continued till the early hours. Pretty obvious I wouldn't be doing any cycling today. Was getting ready to get up and it started tipping down with rain again. When once again the water started rising. So as before I packed up everything into my panniers to make sure it didn't get wet. Just as I was about the get out of the tent an almighty thunder and lightning happened at the same time. It was pretty close! Headed into the backpackers hostel. M&C made pancakes for breakfast which were delicious. As the thunder storm continued for most of the morning just hung out in the lounge. Chatting and when there was a break in the rain going out to sort my stuff out. Decided to take a dorm bed for the night. Just after lunch another cycle tourist arrived, Janine from Germany. She was travelling with a couple of guys to Coles Bay but decided it was too dangerous to continue. Probably a good idea as some roads were being closed due to flooding. Nice to relax somewhere warm and dry. Later in the evening watched Andy Murray win his semi final match at the Aussie Open which was great. Tomorrow the pack of three will continue cycling.

Day 9 Bicheno to Swansea 43.5km

Was woken just before midnight by a torch searching for a mosquito in M&C tent. It was tipping down with rain. Slowly the water rose until it became apparent that I needed to get out of my tent as I was beginning to float. There was about 4inches of water flowing threw. I packed up all me electrical stuff put my sleeping bag in its stuff sack. Made sure everything else was in my waterproof panniers and headed to the camp kitchen/games room. Where I slept on a couch. It rained most of the night! Woke up at 5.30 and headed to see if my tent was still standing, it was but inside looked very messy. See picture. I took out the air bed and the fly sheet and headed back to my temporary home. Washed out the fly sheet and hung it on the line. Pointless really as it was still raining. I had breakfast and when M&C got up asked for help in lifting up the tent without getting too dirty. Then I put it all in the dryer. Forecast was suppose to be for sunny skies till 12 then rain. But the forecast was wrong. After sorting out my stuff and getting it loaded I decided that I would ride in the rain. But not to Coles Bay as planned but to Swansea. M&C also decided to head to Swansea. So we decided to ride together, better to ride as a pack in the rain. Me and my hi vis jacket at the back. The first hour it rained then it cleared up. One big hill, the rest of the ride was either flat or undulating. Oh and the down hill after the big climb was thrilling. Arrived in Swansea at 2. Staying in the courtyard at the backpackers. Hoping that there isn't a repeat of last nights rain! Although the forecast doesn't look good. The bad weather is coming in from the East, it usually comes in from the west and by the time it gets to the east it has dissipated. Bizarrely they are having bad bush fires in the west and no rain to help get them under control. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Day 8 Bicheno

When I woke up I checked the weather forecast. With gusting winds and rain forecast decided not to set of. So got up late, M&C also decided to stay but Cornelius set of for Swansea around 9. It started raining at 11. I had a look around town then walked out to the blowhole again and walked back via the rocks. Although it was wet it was very pleasant. Spent the afternoon reading and to bed early ready for an early start tomorrow. 

Day 7 St Mary's to Bicheno 44.26km

Had a great sleep and up out of bed at 7 getting everything packed away and organised. Was on the road just after 9 and ready for the climb up the hill threw elephants pass. Meeting M & C at the pancake house at the top. It was only 8 km but climbing most of the time. Managed to make it up without getting of to push, my lungs and legs got a very good workout! The prize a lemon and sugar pancake and a coffee. Ready for the downhill now. Was waiting for MC to arrive checked my messages they had taken the wrong road and headed to St. Helens. So would go up the coast and then come back down. I began my decent 12km of pure bliss. Although my brakes got a lot of use, obviously. It was pretty cold at the top I had to put on my jacket and buff. The weather is set to get wet in the next couple of days. Which is good for the bushfires and the farmers but not so nice for cycle tourists. Iam not a big fan of cycling in the rain especially on narrow winding roads. So the ride now is on the east coast and was suppose to be flat to Bichino. But my flat and Tasmanian flat aren't the same thing. Tasmanian flat means undulating. Stopped to chat to two Aussie guys who decided that the best way to celebrate Australia Day was to sit by the side of the road drinking beer and waving flags!! It was a good ride to Bicheno headed to the camp ground, showered did my washing and started cooking my tea early. Then Courtney walked past the door. They decided to skip the free camping as they were worried they didn't have enough food. They had also bumped into Cornelius a Dutch cyclist who they had met on the ferry. So we all piled onto one site to reduce costs. Which I think campsites should do more often. Especially for those travelling solo, it can be expensive paying for a site for two people when you are only one. Mind you I have found that some of the sites in Tasmania charge per person. Just before 9pm we headed down to the sea to see if we could see the Penguins coming in. We were lucky saw quite s few. It's raining now so who knows what the plan for tomorrow will be. 

Day 5 Fingal to St. Marys 21.32km

Had a lie in this morning as I decided to only ride 21km to the next free camping in St Mary's. So no hurry to get going. Chatted with Courtney and Misti over breakfast about their mega day yesterday. They got to the free camping at sunset after a long day of cycling. They decided to go on the back road which was sealed most of the way then turned into a private road. They said they had never seen so much road kill. Then they passed the people whose road they were cycling on who refilled their water bottles and had no issues about them using the road. They did get offered a lift but decided to carry on going to see if they could do it. Very impressed, they ended up cycling over a hundred kilometres. By the time I was all packed away and ready to go so were they. So I ended up tagging along with them. Which I really enjoyed, was good to be on the road with other cyclist. It was a pretty easy ride relatively flat and got there in about an hour and a half of cycling. Stocked up with some food at the supermarket and then headed to the free camping. All set up by 2 pm chatted for most of the afternoon. Shower, tea and in bed by 9. Lovely. 

Day 6 St.Marys

It rained most of the night. I woke up early and checked the weather forecast. A high of 16c brrrr and south easterly winds between 15 and 25 kmph. Lay in my sleeping bag thinking about whether I really wanted too cycle or not but after popping outside for a while decided just to hang out at the free camping for an extra day. Courtney and Misti came to the same decision also. So after breakfast I went into St Mary's to have a look around. I would describe it as a mini Glastonbury. I think they should get together and twin with each other. Also had a lovely health food cafe, where I got a tofu vege wrap. Spent the afternoon relaxing then had a cup of tea with my neighbours M and C chatting about this and that ended up staying for tea of quinoa spaghetti and nutritional yeast which was delicious. To bed late! Didn't take any pictures today so here's a cute one of a koala!

Day 4 Longford to Fingal 52km

Up early a long day ahead. The nearest campsite on the route Iam taking is 97km away. Suppose to be flat but flat and Tasmanian flat aren't the same. Started with a 12km ride to the no.1 highway. On nice quiet back roads. Then 31km on the very busy highway with the temperature rising. Got what I call, "hooned" by a car full of young adults of the male variety, or what I call, "tossers." Think it's amusing to swerve towards you and toot their horns. So they can watch you jump! Luckily nothing was thrown from the window. That was the only incident, most of the drivers today were very considerate. Just before the turning to Fingal I stopped for lunch and a rest in a rest area. Not much there except some benches and a free BBQ that had seen better days. It was good to get into the shade. The decrease  in traffic after I turned onto the B road to Fingal was a relief. This first stretch of road was a bit more undulating than I expected. Any who I was taking a little rest in a layby when a ute pulled over and Elwin popped out and asked me if I wanted a lift. I did think about it for a little while before saying yes. It's amazing how quickly your brain works to make a decision. Before I said yes I had done a for and against in my head and the for came out on top. I don't know I just think that he stopped because we were suppose to meet our paths were aligned to cross. I mean I could of carried on cycling wrapped up in my own thoughts or as I chose to do meet an interesting chap who I learnt a lot from in the short time we spent together.  Elwin was bought up in Avoca Tasmania so has lived in the same area all his life. Now lives in a house by the river up a track of the main road. Also told me that he can't remember a time when the land has been this dry at this time of year. The river that runs threw the valley is also the lowest it's been for a long time. He was a great guy and I enjoyed spending time with him. I think I should rename my blog the accidental hitch hiker. Anyway I got to the free camping a lot sooner than I anticipated, which was nice. Lovely little site with a BBQ, toilets and a shower. Spent the afternoon relaxing and reorganising my stuff. 

Day 3 - Deloraine to Longford 45.5km

Managed to get up pretty early the tent was covered in a thin coating of ash. The sky is still smoky bit clearer than last night. Checked the Tasmanian fire alert website looks like they are still burning and advising to be aware in areas west of where Iam. Was on the road at 8.30 and heading east, as I left town saw a sign for emergency evacuation center so I guess they must be preparing just in case it heads this way. Iam riding on the B54 today which is adjacent to the Bass highway. This means less traffic and hardly any trucks. Pretty good undulating road, easy for me to ride. At the hour mark I reached Westbury a nice little village so treated myself to a coffee and sat in the park. Took me a while to realise that the entrance was two huge cricket wickets! Still pretty chilly at 9.30 hope it warms up a little bit. After looking at the map and the live fire alerts decided to head the quicker way to the coast as there is a fire alert on the road I was going to take to Scotsdale. That and the new route is flatter and I enjoy it so much more. Want to get my cycling legs back before I take on too many hills. The first day knocked me of balance really was having second thoughts about the trip. But after the joy of today's ride I feel much better. The traffic on the B54 was pretty quiet but when I turned off that road onto the B51 to Longford the traffic increased as did the number of trucks. Arrived at the only caravan park in town, right on the river. When I arrived sent the American couple a message letting them know I decided to head the same way as them and that it was a great flattish ride. Set up my tent and got organised and then had a look around town. Very nice lots of old brick buildings and friendly people. The council also provides free wifi throughout the town. Courtney and Misti arrived at six and I chatted with them in the camp kitchen till 9.30. Tomorrow heading to the free camping at Fingal!! A 97km ride, but suppose to be flat most of the way. Google maps says it will take 4 hours and 58 minutes so an early start. It's a long holiday weekend for Australia Day so hoping that there won't be too much traffic and the campsite won't be too packed. The sky is also less smoky here.