Day 1! Feels like I’ve only just touched down in Hobart and I’m already on my way outta here… oh wait.. that’s exactly what’s happening!
After a horrible nights sleep in a 12 bed (mixed) dorm with no A/C – I am up at 7am, trying to get my shit together and my backpack sorted to store for two weeks and making sure I have everything I need packed in my bike bags for the next 14 days. Definitely not feeling very organised but here goes. My morning in the hostel is very slow, After waking up constantly last night I am not feeling energised!
A quick note on the weather.. It’s suppose to be half of what it was yesterday… so only 21 degrees today… horribly muggy and stupidly windy. And East winds too. Ugh!
I checked out at 9, and loaded my bike up. Pretty much ready to go… then realise hang on.. I never replaced the space Inner tubes I had. I had just had to replace the back tyre as I snapped the valve whilst dismantling my bike in Perth before I shipped it over here. (and boy am I grateful for this realisation later!!!)
So first things first a detour to Bellerive where there is a bike shop – pretty much on the way and keeps me off the highway for a little bit. Two inner tubes later I am good to hit the road! Probably worth to note that I am loaded up with snacks too… just in case anyone was worried about that. The ride to Sorell is easy, and I rode almost adjacent to the horrendous and not bike friendly Tasman Highway!
After Sorell my next break point was to be Buckland. This took me up some good elevation and then back down. doing 400 metres up and then straight back down. It was a hard few hours on the bike, especially with the head front wind and the constant spitting of rain. By Buckland I was glad of a gas station, to fill up with water, sugar and chocolate. I was crashing pretty hard at this point. The ride had been hard. The wind had been harder and the tiredness was really kicking in. My face was on fire and my head was feeling like it was going to explode. Popping some migraine tablets and downing a bottle of coke in the hope of curbing the impending migraine.
Back on the road to Triabunna! I had about an hour for this leg of the journey. This turned into almost 2.5 hours. At this point I have called my accommodation to say I wont make it to the 6pm check in! Why 2.5 hours… well the wind is shit. The rain is shit. My body has had enough. and my morale is low. Oh, and POP. good bye new back inner tube that I just put in. Hello being grateful for that stop this morning in Bellerive to get new inner tubes. Luckily Im right on the coast and can stop along the water away from the road to change the tyre over.
The positives… Yes there were some, despite the gloomy and hard weather and the popped tyre. Tasmania is a beautiful country. I am constantly surrounded by mountains, biking through beautiful countryside and vineyards! And I’ve met a few other cyclists on the route and like most places I’ve cycled they are very friendly and always give a wave!
Okay, So popped tyre was in Orford! I’m just 20 minutes from Triabunna. I was planning on getting food from the IGA here, but that closed 10 minutes before I got there. Well shit. Snack dinner I guess!
1 more hour till Gumleaves holiday park, the place I’m staying tonight. at this point the wind has calmed down a little but it’s still in my face. The ride is pretty flat for the rest of the way which is a blessing, but the amount of roadkill I’m having to avoid – and see is quite sad! I don’t even know what some of these animals are! I’ll just assume the Tasmanian Devil – so there you go I’ve seen the devil.
So I get to the entrance of Gumleaves and its not really the entrance. it’s another 2km ride UP a dirt road. I might be a little over today, and a little ready to just lay down and sleep. Luckily I have an awesome person at the end of a phone to give me plenty of encouragement and distraction for the last 2km. There are also a shit ton of kangaroos everywhere that makes me very happy!!
I check in at 7.30pm, buy a can of soup from reception which I am SUPER excited about. Then head another 1km through the property to get to the ‘Backpacker lodging’. Wow… its definitely in the bush! Glad to have a room to myself even though it feels like Im back at summer camp! The mattress is terrible but I don’t care. glad for the cooler evening too!! The toilet and shower is in a different ‘hut’ and the kitchen too. I shower, unpack, warm up soup and hit my bed all within an hour. I am ready to pass out. My migraine has hit like a train, Im happy to have no lights around, no noise and just cockroaches and spiders… yup. I’m all good. Today took way longer than expected… thanks for the kick up the butt Tassie. I need some better sleep before tomorrow!
Tomorrow is another day.
