by Peter Nelson
After working in Hobart for 9 months, we heard that ole siren song of the open road again. But we’d fallen in love with this island state, so after leaving Hobart, we hitched around for a few days, saying goodbye to Tasmania. We found a tiny little fishing village in the northwest called Boat Harbour, and liked it so well, we rented a cottage for a couple of days, a real treat after tent camping for three weeks.. The cottage was high on a green hill over the sea, with a large sun porch on which to have breakfast and morning tea.
All very civilized. Inside was a small stone fireplace for a bit of cheer on chilly evenings, and a complete set of Blue Willow china. Nice to build a fire in the evening and listen to the wind and the sea.
And just before we left, we did the Cradle Mountain Trail. Most people do the hike in 4 – 5 days. We took 2 weeks. What’s the hurry? Let’s enjoy this gorgeous scenery.
Eerie shot, eh? Very dramatic, haunting.
Finally, we hitched up to Devonport to catch the ferry back to mainland Australia. Sad to say goodbye to the island state of Tasmania, our first home together. As we stood at the stern of the ferry, just like a scene out of a Bogart / Bacall movie, like a receding memory, like a curtain falling, Tasmania slowly faded into this huge cloud of murky mist, while the seagulls following us squawked and wheeled across the lowering sky.
So long, Tasie. See ya later.
