Road trip: Spirit of Tasmania
After checking in to Spirit of Tasmania right on time, there was a lengthy wait in the queue for boarding. Safely stowed on the vehicle deck, BUG10V got a well deserved rest. The cat was not at all impressed with her accommodations, in a cold, noisy cage (she would hate me in the morning).
My first priority was to orient myself aboard the ship and know where the lifeboats were. Though nothing unusual, there was a huge swell and gale force winds awaiting us on Bass Strait. It was a wild ride!
Road Trip: Melbourne at last!
The drive across country Victoria via Bairnsdale, Sale and Traralgon was slowed to a crawl by mile upon mile of roadworks, high winds and heavy rain. Approaching Melbourne, the weather cleared up and we trundled, brakes squeaking and clutch groaning, into St Kilda to meet a friend. There was an adventurous U-turn on Brighton Road, a double-dual carriageway with trams to boot!
After an all-too-brief chat over coffee and cake, it was time to meet the ferry. It was an easy drive around the waterfront to the Spirit of Tasmania terminal. We covered 660 miles (1’062km) in two and a half days and got there with half an hour to spare!
Road trip: day 2
Waking up early to another beautiful day, I discovered that the motel was directly on the lagoon waterfront. After a leisurely start, we set off towards Melbourne. The only requirement was to reach the ferry before 5pm.
Road trip: day 1
Deciding to take the scenic route via the Princes Highway, we followed the coast South towards Gippsland. The plan was to reach Lakes Entrance, some 550km away.
The weather was glorious, as was the scenery along the way.
200 km of National Park between Eden and Orbost with nothing but trees and a road. Dusk came all too soon, by which time the inadequacy of the car’s head lights became apparent. Luckily, we caught up with a truck which could clear the way for us.
Exhausted and sore, we finally reached Lakes Entrance and pulled up at the first available motel. Getting one’s priorities straight, it was high time to make a cup of coffee… then have a shower.
Departure
With the VW packed to the gunwales, the moment for departure had arrived. Final good bye to my darling dachshund, for now anyway, then it was just me, the cat and the road.
Starting with 7347 miles on the dial at Newtown, the first leg of our journey to Tasmania was to take us to Nowra, on the NSW South Coast. Staying with friends for the night, there was the first opportunity in weeks to relax and play some trains!