Well Folks

As promised here it is Part II of the blog. After a night in the local at Bicheno drinking from thimble sized glasses we headed North West across to Tasmania's 2nd biggest city of Launceston. By now we were dab hands with the campervan lifestyle and had a everything packed away so it didn't rattle while we drove along but more importantly nothing went flying around in the back.

Launceston is Tasmania's 2nd largest City buit only has around 70,000 people living there so it was a breeze getting into the city centre and Mel's navigating was second to none,our stop for the day was Richardson's Harley Davidson dealership which also had a museum and a diner attached.We got chatting to the owner and stayed for lunch before browing around the museum and checking out a few bikes then Mel guided us right to our caravan park easily. After checking in with a slightly drunk owner we found our spot and plugged into the power for the evening. It was another early start on Thursday morning and after a bracing shower in the slightly dated shower block we were careering our way towards a date with the finest brewery in Tasmania (or thats what they tell us.)

We pulled on our hi visibility coats and safety goggles then set off for a walk around the plant learning all about the brewing process and what make J Boag and Son the premier brewer in Tasmania, at the end of the tour we matched up beer with Tasmanian cheese (well Mel did as I was driving us further North to Devonport)

After a great day in Launceston we took a drive up to Devonport, which is where the ferry from Melbourne arrives each day from across the Bass Strait,we were still unsure what we would get up to so while we had a think we went for a game of crazy golf right by the water and had a chorus of frogs for company.

Our site for the evening was right on the beach and as it was out of season we nearly had the whole place to ourselves so got a great vantage point of the ocean,As dusk fell the wildlife started to stir and we had the plovers sqwauking at the rabbits and the wallabies bouncing around,it seemed fitting to have fish and chips for dinner as we were on the beach so thats exactly what we did.

Mel took us on a walking tour of the town the next morning taking in the foreshore and several points of interest along the way which was good fun and we got to try out the outdoor exercise machines on the way,watching Mel trying to work the butterfly press was hilarious.

After a spot of lunch Mel found a little side trip for us to the small town of Penguin,yes you heard it right Penguin. This small town is just well known for being called Penguin but what excited Mel was the fact they had a 4m high penguin on the beach so we had to go and get a photograph!!!

While we were in Penguin I finished off the chilli we had left from the other day and enjoyed the views into the ocean. The weather changed dramatically that evening and after a week of sunshine a storm hit us and we were rocked to sleep by a wild wind and the rain battering the van. Saturday morning was no better when we woke up and just as we were packing up to leave the news came across the radio that Christchurch had been hit by a massive earthquake,but we couldn't get anymore news at that point.

We had all day to get back to Hobart and we rattled along the A1 South with just the rain for company,we made a quick stop for a pee then kept on trucking,with the reality that we would have to hand back the beast shortly getting closer by the minute. Hobart was shrouded in fog when we drove in down the Brooker Highway and our last chance to get up Mount wellington was gone. But we did have the Warriors game to look forward to. It was a great way to round off a fantastic week in Tasmania and a great experience being in the van waking up to a different view each morning.

We finished the holiday on a weird but funny note,I set the alarm for 7.15am so we could have breakfast but I had forgotten to move it back 2 hours for Oz time so we were up at 5.15am and after a minute or two it clicked what had happened,in this time Mel had already washed, brushed her teeth, got dressed applied her creams and was ready to go out the door and I was still in my pyjamas, she was on autopilot and I was just tootling around,needless to say we went back to bed until the real 7.15 arrived and geared up for the 12 hour journey back home to Auckland.

Now we are back home in Auckland and Mel has already done the laundry and we are enjoying a glass or two of wine and catching up on Coronation Street!!!!!!

Lots of Love

M & M