MELBOURNE TO HOME - 16 TO 25 APRIL 2022

 16 APRIL

MELBOURNE

We arrived at Melbourne on the ‘Spirit of Tasmania’. The journey was overnight and we had a cabin.

After stopping for breakfast, we drove to Marty and Suzie’s home.

It was a fun day drinking good wine and eating nibbles.

Marty had to visit friend.

17 APRIL

MELBOURNE TO ANGELSEA

After breakfast, we drove to Anglesea and settled into Nick’s house.

Marty and I had a surf on a beach break west of Anglesea and the girls went to another beach for a swim. The surf was okay with a very strong wind.

We had a relaxing afternoon and ate pizza for dinner.

18 APRIL

ANGLESEA TO ALBURY

 My birthday! 66^th year!

We said our goodbyes and left Anglesea for Albury.

It was a long drive in off and on rain and some traffic.

19 APRIL

ALBURY

It rained all day.

20 APRIL

ALBURY TO WAGGA WAGGA

We woke to sunshine.

I had a mountain bike ride at Nail Can Hill. It wasn’t that good as the tracks were heavily eroded and there was a need more directional sign.

Later, we sat at park on Murray River. It was very pleasant in the sunshine, watching the river meander along.

We parked in town to see the Mama Art Gallery. There wasn’t much on display.

We drove to Wagga Wagga and settled into a camp beside the Murrumbidgee River.

21APRIL

WAGGA WAGGA

An easy day.

22 APRIL

WAGGA WAGGA TO SUTTON

In the morning, we left the camp area and we had a fun cycle around Lake Albert.

After that, I had a mountain bike ride at Pomingalarna Mountain Bike Park and Jacinta had a walk. The tracks were very good and the ride was heaps of fun.

We left Albury and drove to Sutton. We stayed at Mark’s new home.

23 APRIL

SUTTON

We had a tour of parts of Canberra.

Later, we had a big dinner and a fire afterwards at Chris and Matilda’s place.

24 APRIL

SUTTON TO KIAMA

We said our bye byes and left Sutton.

It was a wet drive and a steep and windy road to the Jamberoo Pub where we met long time friend Beacon and Meryl. It was a great venue and a great afternoon chatting and enjoying each other’s company.

We drove to Kiama to stay with other long-time friends, Grotty and Helen. It was a fun afternoon of chatting, drinking and lots of board games.

25 APRIL

SUTTON TO HOME

After a leisurely breakfast, we farewelled Grotty and Helen and drove back home.

The end of another road adventure. Time goes by so fast and it seems the trip was a blink of the eye.

TASMANIA - NARAWNTAPU NP TO DEVONPORT - 13 TO 15 APRIL 2022

 13 APRIL

NARAWNTAPU NATIONAL PARK

We left Ranson Beach and stopped at Bridport for water for the van and coffee.

Drove to Narawntapu National Park. We settled into a powered site near the ranger station.

We were going for an afternoon beach cycle when we noticed that Jacinta’s bike had a wheel nut missing. Jacinta had a walk and I cycled along Baker Beach.

14 APRIL

NARAWNTAPU NATIONAL PARK

We drove to Latrobe to get a wheel net for Jacinta’s bike. We also  got food supplies and had a great coffee in a café/art shop. Very cool.

Back at camp we had an afternoon hike to Archers Knob. It was a bit further than we thought but it had great views over the park and along the coast.

15 APRIL

Narawntapu NP to Devonport

Our last day in Tasmania.

We woke to light rain.

After breakfast, we drove to Latrobe and walked around Pig Island. A nice pretty walk though a little damp at times.

After a break at a café in Latrobe, we drove to the waterfront on west side of Devonport. The rain was off and on. When it was off, we had a wandered around.

Late in the afternoon, we visited Annie, who we met at Ranson Beach. We had a nice afternoon and dinner.

Time to bid our farewells and board ‘The Spirit of Tasmania’ for the mainland.

TASMANIA - BRIDPORT TO RANSON BEACH - 10 TO 13 APRIL 2022

 10 APRIL

BRIDPORT

We camped at Bridport next to a small and pretty beach. I had a cycle along the foreshore which led past a number of small beaches and one long beach. The tracks detoured into the hinterland making this another fun bike ride.

We made a fire for the night.

11 APRIL

BRIDPORT TO RANSON BEACH

Last night the hatchet broke when I was chopping firewood. We left Bridport and made a detour to Scottsdale to purchase a new axe.

The drive to Ranson Beach was along a long straight road past grazing farms. Probably the longest straight road we drove along in Tasmania.

The turn off for the beaches was along a long-corrugated gravel road. It was a bit tricky in parts but we eventually made it to Ranson Beach free camp.

We settled into a nice camp site under a wide pine tree. A short walk and we were on the beach. The beach was long with a boulder point at the eastern end.

We walked along the beach once we were settled.

Later, I had a cycle along beach and the next long beach.

A fire that night where were joined by Annie, who was camped next to us.

12 APRIL

RANSON BEACH

In the morning, I had a cycle along the hinterland and beaches to the west. There was one good view spot and lots of beaches and other camp areas.

In the afternoon, I had a kayak along shore towards west. The ocean was calm and there were a number of rocky outcrops to paddle around. The water was crystal clear.

Another night fire with Annie.

13 APRIL

RANSON BEACH

The morning sunrise was beautiful with a fog over the ocean.

We packed and said our goodbyes to Annie.

Going westwards.