Will we make it in the end, through all the twists and bends? (Hobart - Strahan)

This title could have easily been used yesterday after wending up and down the goat track that is the road to the summit of Mt Wellington. However, we saved it for today and the lengthy drive between Hobart and Strahan. For those of you too lazy to Google the lyric it is from Weir, a song by (former) Australian band Killing Heidi. Believe me my dedicated reader it was a very twisty bendy road. 

It is a common misconception that travelling through Tasmania is relatively expeditious experience. After all it is a island, how long can it take to get around? The answer is a sarcastic "As long it takes." We travelled form Hobart to Strahan today with only minor breaks in travel and it consumed the bulk of the day. We left Hobart before 10am and arrived in Strahan around 4pm. Any thoughts of doing anything significant in the area went out the window a long way down the road. The problem isn't the distance per se, it is the roads and the bendy, twisty, serpentine nature which requires a more measured approached. Unless of course you are from NSW driving a Mercedes sports something or other. Dickhead.

I'm sorry dear reader I have taken us away form the events of the day. Hobart dawned spectacularly with an amazing red sky, followed quickly by rain, which had cleared at 8am to a beautiful morning. We checked out of Sullivan's Cove Apartments and commenced the drive to Strahan. The first stop was Derwent Bridge, specifically the hotel, for lunch. I remember this place fondly because it was where Marilyn, Wayne and I had out first real meal after completing the Overland Track back in 2009. I was a little disappointed that the Sunday lunch menu was nothing like the dinner offerings because I was hoping to relive some of the magic. That said, lunch was fine, the service was friendly and it was a good break in the journey. Moreover, we got there just before the coach load of retirees arrived for their pre-packaged lunch, thus avoiding a long queue to order our meals.

Following lunch we drove down to Lake St Clair. Again this was more for me to reminisce than anything else. I was surprised by the crowds of bushwalkers compared to when we came through all those years ago. Clearly walking in summer is much more preferable. The Visitor's Centre is largely unchanged and I resisted the temptation to purchase anything.

Nelson Falls

Back on the long and winding road we kept nosing towards Strahan. We "totally paused" (film reference) at Nelson Falls because I was yawning way too much to be driving and I can't resist a waterfall. It was a 20 minute return walk. I'm not sure that I would classify 20 minutes as a walk, but that was about how long was required. The walk itself was nothing remarkable but the falls were quite pleasant. There were brown trout fingerlings in the ponds below the falls.

The pictures of Queenstown don't do it justice

The serpentine nature of the road continued as we made our way to Queenstown. Wow. If we are going to talk about the impact of people on the planet, Queenstown would be an excellent place to start although, as some 'tourist' brochures pointed out, mother nature is slowly eking her way back into Queenstown. Way too slow for my liking. It is almost an apocalyptic landscape, best viewed from the rear view mirror. The drive down the mountain was harrowing, especially when you are being followed by a local. The Tasmanian government is intent on not squandering the GDP on wasteful things such as signs posting the recommended safe cornering speed. Such signs were obvious by their absence.

Despite the government's attempt to send me over the edge, I safely negotiated our way down the mountain and once again pointed the car at Strahan. More sinuous curves on a much less populated section of road and so we made Ormiston House by 4pm.

Ormiston House is a B&B that has been restored to the grandeur of yesteryear - well mostly, it has ensured that it includes some mod-cons like ensuite bathrooms and air conditioning. It is a short walk from Strahan village - maybe 10 minutes - and has five suites available. We had a tour of the house complete with a brief history. After a hasty bag dropping we walked into the village to book tomorrow's river cruise. In our wanderings we also discovered the pub which has a lovely bar and grill with seats overlooking the main street for people watchers, well, to watch people. So we ordered a bottle of wine while we were waiting for the bistro to open and sat and people watched.

Curiously, the bottle of wine for which I lauded the good people of Sullivan's Cove for not inflating their mini bar prices ($28 remember?) cost me $52.50 at the pub in Strahan. I assume the (bullshit) reason for the extra charge will be the cost of transport. So, if that is case then why isn't petrol almost double the price of Hobart? Anyway, it's a good wine and it went well with dinner.

That's about it for the day. I'm not sure how regular the posts will be over the next few days. My phone has turned into a paper weight because Optus have no network down here, so it might not be until we return to civilisation (Launceston on the 12th) that I am able to load my posts.

Until next time.