08/01/12
Went and picked up the car while Alanah was still asleep. 0830 from Hertz.Then loaded everything into it except the bike gear. We left the trailer locked up in the hotel compound. At least it was safe there. We headed for Coles Bay which was south of Bicheno and arrived there early enough to set up our campsite and go for a bit of a walk along the beach. It was a good 2 hour walk so Alanah is keeping me fit :-) It was still too early for the kyaking so Alanah decided to jump into the ocean. (In reality it was a sea of ice blocks). I put a toe  into the ice slurry for the briefest of moments and had to spend the next 15min chipping my toe free !! It had frozen to the slurry that they had the gall to call an ocean !!

Set up ready to go !!

See the ice ??

Looking back to the boat ramp

We wandered back so that she could defrost and then back down to the water all eager (?)  for the kyak trip. I looked at the chop that had sprung up along with a strong wind and was very happy when the young lass told us it had been cancelled because to was too rough. Alanah was disappointed of course ...

We went to the office and  found that the next morning was booked out but we could get on the following morning.

09/01/12
What to do ?? Go to Bicheno !!! So off we went. Alanah slept most of the way (as usual). What a great spot Bicheno was !!  We went along the foreshore, a walk of ONLY 6km. A short one for a change. To the blow hole and back. I was amazed at the size and thickness of the seaweed. Then for lunch, some scrumptious sangas with cheese, Magic bread and a shop bought chutney, which was nice, but not a patch on Kates chutney or Moma's pickles.

Along the walk on the Bicheno foreshore

Flower photography

The colour is in the rock and is everywhere

A cray boat in the tiny bay near the processing plant

More of these colourful lumps of granite

Alanah being cool :-)

Then off to the "Bay of Fires" we went with Alanah sleeping most of the way waking up with motion sickness at the Bay of Fires. We went for a walk amongst the rocks and thought  that they were not as nice as the rocks at Bicheno.The beach however, was fantastic. Very fine crunchy white sand, That was too much temptation for Alanah and in she went again. She took much longer to get totally wet as the ice slurry was thicker and colder (if that was possible) I attempted to go into the water again but my feet refused to move more than ankle deep, When a wave splashed up my leg that was it. I had visions of brass monkeys !!!














On the way back to Coles Bay we stopped at Bicheno for one of their (we were told) fantastic pies. The pie shop had closed 5 min before we got there!!!!! So next door for a pie


BIG MISTAKE !! The only resemblance to a pie was it's shape. The rest was crap !! Alanah commented that the person who served her was a grump and was very rude. (Chalk one up for public non-relations !!).  He would not let us eat the pie inside as it was a "take away" (??)

Anyway, it was back to Coles Bay for our kyaking trip the next morning.

I received a call to say that the fuel pump had to be replaced as the old one had died and that the part would arrive the next day.

10/01/12
We're down to the beach early !! Bloody wind was up and the sea was choppy !! Grrr. The fellows were hoping that it would calm down a bit before everyone arrived. We were to leave at 0800 but due to several late arrivals we did not get kitted up until 0830. Still choppy.

Frozzled

Kapitan Nemo and First Mate

Out we went with Alanah in the front seat. Into a head wind !! Who got wet ?? Not me :-).  I was the one in control of the rudder and someone tried to change direction with her paddle. We won't say who. Actually, we made a good team. We stopped for a hot drink and biscuits. Milo, Tea and/or coffee. After a short break it was Alanah's turn in the back seat. Man !! We had a great time. This time I was getting wet from the runoff  from the paddle as well as Alanah. As I dipped one side into the sea the other sprayed both her and myself with heavy droplets. I was soaked but with the effort to keep the thing headed into the waves I didn't have time to dwell on how cold it was :-)

On the final run back we finally  had the wind and waves pushing us and we were able to get a bit of speed up. What a fantastic morning. Something that has to be done again...

Cold Cold Cold and waiting for a hot Milo

Kapitan Nemo (alias - Smee0

We then headed back to Launceston via Bicheno and St Marys. We sat in the bakery and each had one of their delicious pies along with a much needed hot drink !!  I recieved a call to say the bike was ready so a change of plan was required. The drive through the hills  to St Marys went though some of the most beautiful forrest and the sharp curves put the Great Ocean Road to shame. Down to 15km curves !!

Plenty of these curves !!! :-)

 We unloaded eveything back into the trailer at Launceston and just our motorcycle gear and headed for Devonport, arriving there about 1900hrs. Tea was the Noodle Box and we went to the foreshore and watched the Spirit of Tasmania leave,

11/01/12
After breakfast (??) at McDonalds of McMuffins and a hot coffee that Alanah managed to spill some of on herself (bought up a red welt on her chest which she cooled down by holding a bottle of cold water to the site) we went to Hertz, dropped off the vehicle and were picked up and after a 20min drive were at the Shearwater motorcycle shop. It had warmed up to just over 7.4c by this time !! As we were about to leave I noticed the RHS mirror was cracked and after they replaced it (at no charge) we headed back to Launceston.

After a snack of baked spud with chilli con carne in Launceston we were on our way to Hobart HOORAY !! The bike ran like a charm. Idled perfectly, which it had'nt since Adelaide. After a freezing run (cloudy) we refuelled about 70km out of Hobart and the woman there said that it was raining with a chance of snow in Hobart. Snow !!! On went my rain pants, neck warmer and an extra shirt (had 3 on already).  Alanah put on my rain jacket over her bike jacket to keep her warmer. It was only a few clicks down the road and into the rain we rode !! Talk about cold !! It was COLD !! Did I say it was COLD, it was freezing !! Positively FREEZING !! 40km later my gloves were soaked. Some water had dribbled into my jacket and I could only imagine what Alanah was feeling !! Man it was cold and wet !!

We stopped at some small shop to set up the GPS after calling "The Organiser" and found that I could not get my phone to work !! Either it had frozen or my fingers were too numb to work it. Gave it to Alanah to operate but after a stubborn refusal to work figured it too was feeling the cold :-)

Alanah finally relaxing

FINALLY !!! Found the caravan park, booked in, had a hot meal of bog-log then set up the tents.  It had stopped raining and we had to peel of a multitude of clothing, shower and start this blog before sliding into a sleeping bag.

All set up for the night.

  What a busy day it had been !!