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Long story short the Customs here have been a nightmare. They will not give you an estimate of when they can inspect the bikes. The said they would do it finally March 20 after 2 weeks waiting , “but did not get around to it”. What happened next was the shipping agents had the bikes moved to a second quarantine facility where an agent was scheduled to arrive already March 21. That meant we could go over to get them March 22.
We took an Uber to the Chelsea train station, the train to Southern Cross station and another Uber over to Arrow Services. The bikes that were to be “roll on” have been crated and the luggage separately and hence a 500$ extra charge. The warehouse guys were very nice to us and fork lifted the pallet with the luggage over to where the bikes were parked. Orvar had been charged for crate disposal, but we luckily were not. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4782/...f3797675_b.jpgAustralia_-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/804/4...95221db2_b.jpgAustralia_-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/787/4...c465ccf4_b.jpg You know your bike has been in the warehouse too long when it has spiderwebs! https://farm1.staticflickr.com/900/4...be9a31a7_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/868/4...6f14a161_b.jpgIMG_2364 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We remounted the windscreen and mirrors and hooked up the batteries and we were off to get fuel by 330. This was just in time to hit the early rush for the bridge and then the tunnel, that said we made good time after that and were back in Chelsea by 5. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/798/4...681ccf2b_b.jpgAustralia_-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Ian booked off work early to check out the bikes and meet us for a farewell dinner. We can not say enough about how much Ian did for us picking us up at just before midnight from the airport 2 hours from home, moving out of his bedroom to the spare room, loaning us his V Strom, setting us up with transit cards, maps and routes, and making us some very good meals!!! We only hope to return the favor one day in Kamloops. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4773/...85efa8cd_b.jpgAustralia_ by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We set off from Chelsea and headed back towards the Dandedong hills at Emerald. Here we continued north and made our way to Noojee and Mount Baw Baw. The road is curvy and sealed except for 35 km between Noojee and Rawson.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/882/4...4a9fb755_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-03-23 at 20.23.54 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/910/2...5884a4f0_b.jpgFILE3550 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/842/2...cb406d2f_b.jpgFILE3562 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/867/4...64830148_b.jpgFILE3569 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/815/4...db08a52e_b.jpgFILE3580 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/928/4...da8a4cb8_b.jpgFILE3582 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/920/3...291f10e1_b.jpgFILE3585 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
This is good gravel, but some of the corners are a bit slick with mud.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/801/4...19e11a13_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-03-23 at 20.24.34 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/857/2...266a43b2_b.jpgFILE3593 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/925/4...cbce132d_b.jpgFILE3594 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We made it to Traralgon about 330 and stopped for a nice cafe lunch. We had another hour and 15 min to Bairnsdale, but this was on the A1 highway. This is mostly single lane. Here we had booked to a small motel and rain was forecast. |
As promised it was raining at 8 am , but was better by 10 when we left to start the B500 or the Great Alpine road.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/866/2...41dd857e_z.jpgScreen Shot 2018-03-25 at 15.35.22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/924/2...7b913242_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/811/4...6c59d7bb_b.jpgAustralia by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr This route rises slowly and constantly towards the Alpine national park. Watch out for Wombats! https://farm1.staticflickr.com/856/2...6406a6fa_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/794/2...be076d4e_b.jpgFILE3645 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/808/2...68a26fba_b.jpgFILE3663 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/826/2...4c9c93fa_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/872/2...15a7c17b_b.jpgFILE3687 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We did have to put on the rain suits about half way to the summit. The section from Hotham almost all the way to Hariettville was in very dense fog. We were going 20 km per hour and still could barely see where we were going. It was pretty treacherous.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/883/4...951e2343_z.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/869/2...caefb513_b.jpgFILE3695 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/843/4...aa227519_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/794/4...88595eb4_b.jpgFILE3706 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/878/4...79d4578c_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/840/4...5d1e1751_b.jpgFILE3725 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
There is then a rapid descent thru the forest to the Village and we were met by the Swede! We had though he would wait in Bright on his way south, but he rode the last 25 km to meet us. He did not like the food options here and so we went back to the Bright Brewhouse.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/903/4...12f835dc_b.jpgFILE3743 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/842/4...0bd49067_b.jpgFILE3752 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/800/4...453d840e_b.jpgFILE3775 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We have now met Orvar on 6 contents! While we were eating lunch at 330 it started to pour torrentially. It would be an unsafe ride over the mountain and at least 4-5 hours to Bairnsdale to arrive after dark. He has to catch the ferry to Tasmania tomorrow at 8 pm and will now retreat with us to Wodonga and go to Melbourne on the freeway tomorrow (4 hours direct). https://farm1.staticflickr.com/805/4...60f0a763_b.jpgAustralia_-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We are headed to the home of our great friend Deb Hewson’s parents. We go way back with Marg and James as they were there when we started. They were in BC to accompany in a car Deb on her trip from Vancouver to Prudhoe bay in 2012! They welcomed us and the Swede into their home and fed and hosted us all.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/791/3...04ab2d3b_b.jpgAustralia_-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/787/3...79e4b619_b.jpgAustralia_-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/798/3...c71f8c01_b.jpgAustralia-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Orvar set out in the rain but after an hour it cleared and the boat was an hour late so he could get off the main road in the end. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4781/...2524074d_b.jpgAustralia_-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We managed to get out after the rain stopped in Wodonga and hike up the hill. We spotted quite a few grey kangaroos and several wallaby as well. Deb has been at the folk festival all day and came home with pies from the famous guy there in Yackandandah. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/802/4...d7fa4d88_b.jpgHewsons by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/872/3...6c6149af_b.jpgAustralia-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/896/4...2e3d72f7_b.jpgAustralia-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We have decided to go to Tasmania after all. We “wasted" 2 weeks waiting for the bikes, but we still really want to go. The problem is again the ferry. There are booking for 2 bikes to get over this week, but no return booking for weeks. The car bookings are full for until June already. So to go we will have to fly. Which for hiking and camping and spending time with Deb it will work out just fine to travel by car without all our gear. This means that we will get up at 530 am, catch the train 3 hours from Wodonga to Melbourne, get the bust 20 min to the airport, and then fly 1 hour to Hobart.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/790/4...6c79e2ff_b.jpgAustralia-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/899/4...fd8ca01c_b.jpg We had a bit of a rocky flight, but arrived and headed to Deb’s house chauffeured by her aunt Lynn. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/933/4...9d075f54_b.jpgIMG_2386 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/829/4...7bc74c0f_b.jpg We picked us the Swede from his hostel and drove up the mountain for a 360 degree view. We headed back to Debs for another of her amazing dinners. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/888/4...ca02de21_b.jpgTasmania-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/822/4...e07b1944_b.jpgTasmania by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
The plan today is to head out on the Tasman Peninsula.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/787/4...5ba0a848_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-04-05 at 09.20.30 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We managed to get ourselves organized by 1130 and headed out. We stopped for some "cray rolls”. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/844/3...2846b281_b.jpgTassy by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr On the route out we made a few scenic stops for views of the Cape Raoul and the Tesselated pavement. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/841/2...fe7154a8_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/905/2...6256d503_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/833/2...d9e8dc2f_b.jpgTassy-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/839/4...ceddc9ac_b.jpg From here we detoured to the blow hole and then to the Remarkable Cave. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/844/2...d57dfb5f_b.jpgTassy-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/875/4...c8860b93_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/880/2...b12fd59f_b.jpgTassy-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Finally we made for the car park for the cape hike.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/870/4...8a29481b_b.jpgTassy-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/788/4...85b52202_b.jpg We set out from here after 430 with all the gear for the 40 min walk up hill to where we planned to stash most of the gear for camping later. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/872/4...3498b980_b.jpgTassy-25 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr From here you walk 90 min to arrive at the cape for views of the sea cliffs and the sun set. We saw a few Wallabies along the way as well and an echidna. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/791/4...8066d79a_b.jpgTassy-30 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/856/4...35370516_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/796/4...7836c934_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/867/4...f41b2690_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/906/4...fa2c4411_b.jpg |
We cooked our dinner at the end of the point and then walked back in the dark to set up the tents on the edge of the cliffs.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/873/4...9ec2f17b_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/905/4...47ed8bf5_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/934/4...deb1a302_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/874/2...2e828f36_b.jpg |
It was almost a full moon and so no good for star shots, but we could see pretty well with out lamps.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/844/4...643fb840_b.jpgTassy-55 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/926/2...c1caca7a_b.jpgTassy-56 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/873/4...faa4809e_b.jpgTassy-57 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr It was not too chilly in the night because of the cloud cover and we woke and made our breakfast on the cliff side. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/913/2...55e5f571_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/843/2...1851df9b_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/826/2...10dcceab_b.jpgTassy-63 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Here we only had a 30 min walk down to the car for the trip back to Hobart. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/840/4...ba5d4bc9_b.jpgTassy-73 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/796/4...1b544918_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-04-05 at 09.24.33 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We set out to do some mushroom picking/photographing of the non-edible ones in the nearby forest and the guys went to a local Whiskey distillery.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/898/2...97f59fc8_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/882/2...f3ee0aea_b.jpgTassy-74 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/919/4...aff3d184_b.jpgTassy-75 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We went back to the blow hole as they have a good fish and chip place here. While we were on the shore harvesting mussels we saw a penguin clinging to the rocks. This is a very strange time of day for it to be on shore and he did not look well. We called animal rescue and they advised if it did not resist being picked up in a towel then it was likely in trouble. We returned with the car and we had a spare towel and a very conveniently Penguin sized box from the groceries. He barely moved when we picked him up. We had 50 km to drive with him to Sorell Tasman animal hospital and he barely moved in the box. We dropped him at the vet and then headed home. We had a call 2 hours later to say he was doing better, was very under weight, and dehydrated. Life event= Penguin rescue=check! https://farm1.staticflickr.com/916/2...3b576ee9_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/936/2...4a14323b_b.jpgTassy-82 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We had a nice evening at home with the Swede before he heads out alone tomorrow since he has to be on the ferry again in 3 days time. The three of us packed up all the gear again and headed to the east coast (where the sun is almost always shining). We made for the Freycinet National park.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/866/2...8e65185d_b.jpg We stopped for lunch of oysters and pizzas before parking in the Freycinet car park. From here we started uphill to the Wineglass Bay lookout an then down hill to the Bay itself for a swim in the crystal clear water. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/831/2...9a7fdccc_b.jpgTassy-86 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/815/4...e0497097_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/804/3...c09aca2c_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/789/2...1837152d_b.jpgTassy-89 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Then we walked across the Ishmus track, along Hazard’s beach and then back to the car on the Hazard’s beach trail. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/886/4...40a0204d_z.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/931/3...ed9ca13b_b.jpgTassy-90 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/842/2...48137002_b.jpg |
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