Wine Glass Bays and Wallabies

Tasmania Blog Four

Wombats and roos -- I was over the top down under. Still no Tasmanian Devils but no worries. There were many critters I had yet to see and others I was about to see that I didn't know existed.

Awesome license plate. 

I was forever thankful that Greg could drive on the left, I had to repeatedly remind him, however, that he wasn't driving his Subaru. Just because the camper van could peel out and go around curves with speed and panache didn't mean we should. One paid the price in shifting cupboard contents. BAM, olive oil fell from a top cupboard and dented the table top. Crash, two wine glasses were down to one. Such were the realities as we shifted into mosey-mode and talks that ranged from chit-chat to heart-to-heart. It was special getting to know Greg. Montana born and raised, he'd served in Viet Nam and had migrated to Australia not long after. He'd sacrificed his US citizenship to become an Australian and long regretted being forced into the decision to chose countries (dual citizenship wasn't an option back then).  He was finishing a book on PTSD. The book had stalled; I was intent on a jump start with queries and conversation.

We continued north through miles of sheeped-out hills and rock. Sheep are big in Australia, good for the economy, not so much for the land grazed down to the nubbins. Our destination was the Freycinet Peninsula, the location of Wine Glass Bay, repeatedly voted one of the world's top ten beaches. The National Park also boasted numerous bush walks (uh, hiking trails) and who could resist the "sugar white beaches and gin-clear water." The books didn't mention the remarkably stunning trees that held sway over lands.

The National Park spaces were taken. We didn't know if we'd find an RV space on the weekend and lucked out when I entered an office that boasted a huge "No Vacancy" sign. The friendly, harried man magically found us a spot for the night. Coles Bay it was. It was our first RV park and hook-ups on what proved to be the hottest day of the trip. We napped with the air conditioner.

Wine Glass Bay

We left early the next morning to complete the 800-steps to Wine Glass Bay Lookout, ahead of the throngs soon to follow. Wallaby's abounded -- okay, bad pun.  We also hiked down to a stunning cove and headed up high to the original cloud-shrouded lighthouse. As with all parks we would visit, including Maria Island, several day bush walks were an option for those who wanted a deeper wilderness experience. Freycinet lived up to its billing but was too peopled for me. I was ready to continue north toward a place that had captured my imagination: Bay of Fires.

Nice place to get married!

And there they were ...

Our secret cove ...

Momma and her babies inside a cave

Spellbound

RV Neighbor

Lighthouse in the clouds

Ghost Islands

Perfect dinner. Sorbet and cider. It's a long story.

Whad'ya gonna do when they come for you?

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