Three weeks in ...

... and I am finally updating my blog! Let's just say internet access in rural Tasmania is hard to come by! Let me update you all as to my travels.

Things have basically been going as planned, with only few minor hiccups along the way.

I arrived in Melbourne on Feb 6th after a long but tolerable flight. The first portion of the trip was out and out enjoyable thanks to the enthusiastic company of two sweet old ladies heading to LA for a week on one's daughter's airmiles. They were going to get on the price is right! So cute. I hope I'm as spunky as them at 70! Spin that wheel!

While in Melbourne I've been staying with my friend Amy at her company's amazing condo! The location is great, really close to the city center. There's a swimming pool and comfy clean beds which I now appreciate so much more. Rock on Amy rock on!

On Feb 7th I celebrated Chinese New Year with Amy in China Town. At dinner with us were a couple of Amy's friends, Penny and Paul from Toronto -what a weird coincidence mom and dad?! Dinner was spectacular and it was a great experience.

Exploring Melbourne proved interesting as well. I went shopping at the Queen Victoria market, visited a couple of museums, sat by the Yarra River and watched row boat teams practice, and just walked around. I want to check out St. Kildas tomorrow.

My first weekend in Melbourne marked the start of the Great Ocean Road trip. Driving on the other side of the road is almost a nobrainer now. Just remember look right THEN left when crossing the street. Backing up still causes me some confusion, and after reverse it's all a little bit of "which side is the right side again?" but there have been no major mishaps.

The Great Ocean Road has spectacular views of ocean cliffs. In Anglesea I took a two hour surfing lesson and even managed to stand up on the board once! We saw koalas in the trees - mom and baby. Awwww! Took so many awesome photos by the clifs and played in the surf. I have a thing for ocean - I think I kninda love it. Just a little you know. :)

Feb 12th marked the next phase of Amy and my adventure. We departed Melbourne for Hobart, Tasmania. As I arrived I couldn't believe how priveledged I really am. Like sometimes dreams really do come true. I am so lv

That same day we drove six hours of lonely roads through Tasmania's center to the North West corner of the island. The purpose of the drive was to visit Geoff King, a cow farmer turned natural activist who leads small tours on his property to witness Tasmanian Devils feeding in the wild. Check out this article if you're interested. http://www.leatherwoodonline.com/index.php/weblog/comments/a-devil-of-a-time1/
Unfortunately no devils came out to feed on the freshly split open wallaby road kill carcass that he dragged behind his ute (utility vehicle). Amy came back the next night and saw 4, but I opted to stay in a nearby town called Stanley and saw a Ferry Penguin up close. Even withouth the anticipated devil sighting the experience was amazing. I have never seen colours like those on Geoff King's coastline - brilliant pastels, rugged and powerful and yet somehow soft. Words will not do to describe the colours in Tasmania and I don't think pictures will do either. Scattered on the hills next to the coast are 200 year old piles of mutton fish shells left by the now extinct aboriginals that once flourished here. We also walked through the bush on his property and saw a number of wallaby and a wombat. It was so cool. Geoff was so cool. Riding in the back of the ute looking up at the southern cross that night joy bubbled over in giggles. Wow! And before the night was over I did catch a glimpse of a rare and illusive devil's backside as he crossed the road we traveled.

The next day Amy and I did a three hour walk on the north coast in Rocky Cape National Park. Again the colours are psycho beautiful. This walk was in preration for the next five, because on Feb 14th we set off on the Overland Track carrying 25kg packs with all our camping gear. Highlights from the track include climbing Cradle Mountain, drinking spring water stright from the streams which intersected the track, splashing around in a freezing cold water fall, and watching the sun rise after spending on night on Mount Ossa. The weather was perfect - someone told me Tasmania had like 30 sunny days a year and we had 5 of them! No rain for the tack, a rare and precious blessing kept my feet dry. Thighs of steal baby!

I also spent a couple of days in Eaglehwak Neck and Port Albert, rode a boat on the Tasman sea and went snorkeling.

Well, I'm back in Melbourne for a couple of days before heading to Sydney. As you can tell I've been having a fantastic time. Part way through last week the adventure itch actually subsided and I began craving an easy going mundane day. Yesterday and today I basically crashed and now I'm beginning to itch again!