Frozen Tents and Cosy Cabins

Hello everybody, we arrived safe in Hobart Airport and managed to assemble our bikes. Our first trip was only a short one to Hobart City where we spent the first night on a childrens playground hidden underneath a tree. The views from the plane onto tassie and the impressions from Hobart were already very exciting and the people very friendly. So we didnt want to wait for long and kept going the next day early towards the central plateau, uphill of course, George loved it! The weather was nice for half of the day, about 3 Celsius but the sun turned into rain in the afternoon and we ended up staying in the lovely Town of Bagdad, on the cricket ground of the community centre. Wet but happy we started our pasta and tomato diet this evening before we peeled our 5 layers off to go into the tent early at 8 o'clock. On the next day were more hills, but a very beautifull landscape up and higher towards the great lake, about 1100 climbing meters, the last 20km on snowy and icy roads, yipieeehh! Along the way often drivers stopped and asked us if we need help, and when it was dark, the temperature dropped to -5C, George was getting no further up the hill we gave in and got a lift the last kms to Miena. This was the highest point of our trip, snow everywhere and he dropped us off the only known establishment...the pub! This 4 people there thought we were crazy that we are going to camp in the snow on the lake, because the temperature dropped the night before to -11c...after a beer Tim invited us to stay in his 'small' hut for the night. Delighted and excited we of course said yes and once we had finnished our beer from infront of the open fire off we peddled behind him inthe snow to find our bed for the night! wow, what a supprise, we definetley had landed on our feet and the small hut actually was a tidy,cosy and warm cabin with a kitchen, bedroom and a sofa.....wahoooo! Thankyou so much Tim for your hospitality and kindness, we couldnt of asked for better, it was so nice we asked to stay an extra night with the magnificent views of the lake and beautiful landscape, who wouldnt?! we spent the day walking to the only general store in the area, 4km away, and in the evening we were invited to tims for scallops of which he had dived for himself..yummy. reluctently, we woke early the next day to start our next adventure, stopping along the way to Duncan and his wife (an English couople who has found solice at the lake side), who convinced us to stop for a morning coffe and home made scones again thankyou and they were beautifull, although leaving later than planned well worth the hour and some great advise.

In this great landscape we decided that we will extend our trip a little bit, and cycle up along the west coast, through the Wild Rivers National Park. The sun was out for us and the drop down from the great plains was breathtaking. We had a great ride and finnished on the beautiful Lake St Claire for the sunset. A possum kept us up this night trying to steal our food, whilst everything froze over. The sunrise again was a sight out of the tent, with all the sparkling frost and the morning mist over the lake.

This day was to be the most memorable so far, as we rolled down into the national park through the forests and along the snowy topped mountains. we had the sun bursting down, no cloud in the sky and beautifull views onto King William, Mount Gell, Frenchmans Cap, and Mount Olympus. very nice winding, and hilly roads, many with the hidden black ice and it didnt take long before George and Nils were on the floor because of it! luckily just the once and both partys were not injured!

At sunset we had already cycled about 70km and were planning just another couple of easy kms to the next village on our map to tuck into a well deserved meal, however when getting here we were presented with 1 street lamp and 4 houses! No general store open at 5 o clock or at all infact. Because we havent had any food left we had to cycle up and down another big hill to Queenstown, which filled George with deepest joy, after the speedmeter showed already 95kms for the day and the temperature foggy -3 C. But we made it anyway, the downhill luckily much longer than the uphill and nearly no car on the road like all the time. So we rolled down into this Queenstown, were probably no Queen would like to stay in winter, because it is a dead little Town drowned in fog and the smell of coal fires. But we managed to find a pizza place, after waiting for only an hour we got the luxury of some nice pizzas (+free garlic bread) and a little campground which was just as nice as the town! So we pitched our tent on the only 2 meters of lawn and while showering George started to feel her toes and fingers again...

Now we are sitting in the National Library of Tasmania in Queenstown and it is bloody expensive but warm and have been given free coffee and biscuits.

We hope you enjoyed our little report, we enjoyed our trip so far, below some pictures for you!

Hobart..childrens play ground night 1.
Mount Olympus and the 2 pumpkins!
Mount Gell.
frenchmans Cap.
On the road to Queenstown at sunset.

Good Morning!
Frozen bags aside Lake St Claire
Our morning view from tent on Lake St Claire
Frozen Road at W. R.National Park
we were sad seeing more echidna on the signs than for real

another lake st. Claire picture

WaWaiting for the pasta to boil Lake Burbury
A frozen morning view.

George testing the ice on Pine Lagoon
Rolling hills on the National park

Franklin River and a perfect stop for lunch
photochromic lenses make you look so good!

Snowman on the Great Lake
Tim in front of his hut!
Dirt Roads down from Miena towards the West Coast

This lovely hut saved us two freezing nights
View onto Great Lake from hut in the Morning
Great Lake

Hobart Harbour and great Fish'n'Chips

First views of Tasmania from Hobart
A parrot, coloured

Bowen bridge

Richmond
The roll down from the first big hill and the cricket ground camp
A funny looking tasmanian cow
Nice trees!!!