The people we meet!

We are camped in a little village called Penguin on the NW of Tasmania. Last night we strike up a conversation with a gentleman at the BBQ, a really interesting man who travels with his push bike here in Tassie & his camels on the mainland he has been a true nomad for 18 yrs since 1994..... turns out he is the infamous Klaus Menzel camel man we searched him on Google for a continuation of his fascinating story. What a treasure & delight.

A week in progress

     

Playful buddah's outside Nan Tien Temple

Derrick Rest area outside Goulburn

Hume Lake - low tide

How they got Hume Lake

A lovely lunch & inspirational day at the Buddhist temple on Sunday 20th Jan. Then on to some great camping spots @ Derrick VC, Jugiong, Hume Lake, Everton then to friends @ Arthur's Creek, a day in Melbourne then overnight stop @ Port Melbourne to board Spirit of Tasmania today.

Camp spot at Jugiong

 

Jugiong Pool a cool relief

Camp Everton

Camp Shower @ Everton

The river at Pioneer bridges near Everton

Some shopping in Melbourne

The "Hot Rod" Show Melbourne Museum

The "Hot Rod" Show Melbourne Museum

Annie & I at the Blocks Arcade.... Establishment

Boarding the Spirit

Full Moon at first Camp Wesley Vale

Boarding the Spirit of Tasmania II and leaving Melbourne

After the morning ritual of lemon, goji berries, apple cider vinegar, honey and hot water, then followed by some fruit the van was cleaned and secured for the entry to the terminal.

After being checked by security an the loose gas bottles handed over for safe stowage the fast moving queue to board was joined. Entering the ship we just drove in and then stopped near the back of level G3. Took the backpacks on board and found a place to sit.

The ship is reversing out of the dock and is now on its way to Devonport.

Bon voyage

Final preparations for crossing Bass Strait

Have
Read all the FAQ's from the Spirit of Tasmania website, read many blogs from travellers yet while staying at a friends place near Arthur's Creek just out of Melbourne a question arises, have you cleaned the dirt from the van? Not even a topic on the government quarantine info site about this.

WTF, nowhere has this been mentioned. But it is a valid question as one would not want to take any dirt across a quarantine line. So the van, tyres, mudflaps underbody, were all cleaned in preparation for a spot check.

All fruit and veges and plants have been given away and only what we can eat for a breakfast remain with us. Tasmania is full of fresh organic fruit and veges so is is said that it should be plentiful across in the apple isle when arriving. An update tomorrow evening after arrival will be needed.....

Tassie here we come

Free camping over the past few days, a catch up with friends. Australia Day in Melbourne then Sunday we leave.....

Ovens River near Everton

Water her looks very clean and there is plenty of shade under the tall trees and lots of families and people here resting and some having a swim in the river.

With high 30 degrees temp the water is refreshing....

Lake Hume from the Bowna boat ramp

A beautiful sunset over the dead trees that abound from the water and add great scenery to this spot. the original town of Bowna was submerged when the weir was installed in 1933.

We also stopped at Table Top at the Ettamogah Hotel as it was so hot a beer would have been a welcome relief. But we were only to view the original Ettamogah Pub, as it has since closed and fenced off, probably due to Hume Highway by-pass :0( another classic gone.....

Jugiong pool, a platypus sighting and a rest stop

Quite a warm day here in Jugiong bout 36 degrees with a warm westerly too. But in the town is a
Great little park with some facilities including a swimming pool. The pool opens in the afternoon and has reasonable entry fees too.

Today (Tuesday) all the shops in town are closed but there is so much history on plaques and so on to keep one occupied. Walked across the field to the banks of the Murrumbidgee River and while crossing the little bridge saw a platypus floating splayed out. What a bonus sighting, but where was the mobile phone camera to catch is unique little swimmer.

Travellin to Tassie

Wind generator garden 15 in total on the Hume Hwy from Goulburn to Yass....

Swimming swans on the lake

While having breakfast on this hot morning there were around 30 black swans swimming out the front of the grassed area.

Great view here at Myuna Bay park reserve....