Tuesday 1st May 2012 Coles Bay to Bicheno 40 km

We had the unfortunate luck to arrive in Coles Bay on the only two days of the year that the local fire brigade had planned to close access to Wineglass Bay for preventative burning. We were able to visit Sleepy Bay and Bluestone Bay though, but still disappointing.

Our ride to Bicheno was flat and easy. Bicheno is nothing special and our accomodation is below average. Tomorrow we have a big 76 km ride to Saint Helens.

Sunday 29th April 2012 Swansea to Coles Bay 60 km

We had a nice tailwind for most of the day. The road is mostly flat with only one big climb. The east coast just keeps getting better.

We came across two cyclists heading for Swansea just doing a day trip, and they kindly offered to take a picture of both of us for a change.

I spotted a group of birds in the bush which I couldn't identify.Maybe someone can enlighten me from the photo. I thought at first that they may be guinnea fowl, but they seem to be too big. They sounded a bit like turkeys.

Sasturday 28th April 2012 Triabunna to Swansea 50 km

Fairly flat ride with just a few hills. The southwesterly winds blew all day which was good, but then we had sudden big gusts from the northwest which were strong enough to push the bikes right into the middle of the road.

Just after we checked into our motel a rain storm came in for half an hour, so our timing was perfect. We are finding the Tasmanians very friendly and seemingly genuinely good natured people.

Friday 27th April 2012 Copping to Triabunna 45 km

We stayed in an appartment underneath the Copping Museum. The owner told us that Copping is experiencing very economically challenging times.

Our ride to Triabunna was mostly on dirt roads which got increasingly rougher and steeper as the day progressed. It was very peaceful and scenic, though. Triabunna is very nice.

Thursday 26th April 2012 Nubeena to Copping 54 km

A couple of very big climbs, but at long last we had help from a tailwind. The west coast is ancient and spectacular, but the east coast is more open and developed which we find interesting.

Wednesday 25th April 2012 Dunally to Nubeena 49kms

Today was a tough ride with two major climbs and a steady headwind. Port Arthur was a disappointment - too much of a tourist trap and not really a town.

Nubeena is a very nice little village. Tomorrow we start heading north, and hopefully the wind will be a help for a change.

Tuesday 24th April 2012 Richmond to Dunally 53kms

Tasmania keeps surprising us with its great scenery. We had another good ride through beautiful countryside.

Route: Richmond - Sorell - Dodges Ferry - Connollys Marsh - Dunally.

Monday 23rd April 2012 Hobart to Richmond 28kms

Lovely ride 16 kms up a long hill, and then 12 kms down. Richmond is a very nice small village with Australias oldest bridge (1823), and beautiful early 19th century buildings.

Route: Hobart - Glenorchy - Risdon - Grasstree Hill - Richmond.

Sunday 22nd April 2012 Hobart

We have cycled about 200kms as we explored the city and surrounds. The Intercity Cycleway has made it easy to get around. The Tasman Bridge has a very narrow cycle path which allows very little opportunity to get past oncoming cyclists. You have to almost stop and then squeeze past eachother. There is a nice cycle path which takes you all the way down to Bellerive Oval and beyond.

We liked the route which takes you past the Salamanca Markets, through Battery Point (where Errol Flynn was born), and along past Wrest Point Casino and on to Sandy Bay. We also cycled past the University and up Mount Nelson.

Tomorrow we leave Hobart and start making our way towards Port Arthur, and thereafter we will be riding up the east coast.

Wednesday 18th April 2012 Hobart.

Hobart is a most charming little city (pop. 150000). It reminds me somewhat of an upmarket Capetown, with Mt.Wellington sheltering it from any westerly winds, and a very impressive calm harbour.

There are lots of beautiful old homes in the city which would seem to indicate that Tasmania is not as impoverished as some would say. The property here is much cheaper than the other capital cities though, and there are lots of small cheaper basic houses too. The weather has been perfect, but we've been told that March and April are the best months for Tasmania, and that during the other months it can get very windy.

Tuesday 17th April 2012 New Norfolk to Hobart 38kms

The A10 motorway out of New Norfolk was quite busy and narrow for the first 5 kms, but thereafter not too bad. After 20kms we were able to get onto the intercity cycleway, which took us all the way to Hobart.

I spotted an old english sportscar parked in front of an old house of about the same vintage.

Targa Tasmania starts today, which is a rally of some of the worlds best vintage cars. Should be interesting.

Monday 16th April 2012 Ouse to New Norfolk 55kms

We had a headwind today as we followed the Derwent River down to New Norfolk. Scenery very good and spirits up, looking forward to Hobart.

Route: Ouse - Hamilton - Gretna - New Norfolk.

Sunday 15th April 2012 Lake Saint Clair to Ouse 82kms

A very enjoyable ride which was mostly flat or downhill (with some notable uphills), and also with a pleasant tailwind. The countryside is becoming more open and spacious as we head south east. I hit a record 70.95 KPH on one of the big downhills! We came across a canal which was reminiscent of NZ and Europe.

Route: Lake St. Clair - Derwent Bridge - Laughing Jack Lagoon Road (C601) - A10 to Ouse.

Saturday 14th April 2012 Lake Saint Clair

Lake Saint Clair is the deepest lake in Australia and is the headwaters of the Derwent River which flows down to Hobart. We went for a 4 hour walk up to Shadow Lake which is 924m a.s.l. It was a nice sunny day with beautiful scenery, but we were both feeling a little worn out by all the hills and perhaps the high altitude to really be very enthusiastic.

In the evening, we heard a rustling noise outside our cabin and went out to discover a very large possum investigating our bikes. Most possums I've seen have been the size of the average domestic cat, but this one was as big as a large dog.

Thursday 12th April 2012 Strahan to Queenstown 42 kms

Nice ride from Strahan through the rainforest to the starkly bare hills of Queenstown - it was 22 kms uphill to 700m a.s.l., and then 20 kms of downhill.

Queenstown is a pretty town nestled in a big valley surrounded by mountains. It reminds us a little of Umtali.

Tomorrow we make our way by bus to Lake St. Clair.It is a 90 km uphill road which will be difficult to do in one day.

Tuesday 10th April 2012 Rosebery to Strahan 71 kms

The ride to Strahan was pleasant, but we're finding 70 kms a bit too much here in the hilly west. I think that 50kms or 60kms is about comfortable.

Strahan is a delightful place! We were surprised to find it to be so still and sheltered, and not cold. We went on the cruise around MacQarry Harbour, out through Hell's Gate, and onto Sarah Island which has a very unusual and puzzling history. We also cruised up the Gordon River.

Route: Rosebery - Zeehan - Strahan.

Monday 9th April 2012 Cradle Mountain to Rosebery 70 kms

We were delighted to wake up to a big snowfall, and decided to cycle to Rosebery as planned. Everything was covered in snow, which continued to fall for the first couple of hours of the ride. Fortunately some 4wd cars had left tracks for us to follow on the road.

As we were riding along in the falling snow, two young ladies in a car came past us and stopped to film us, and declared us to be "mad but amazing". Les said that riding in the snow was on her bucket list, so that was ticked off. It was quite an experience.

Route: Cradle Mountain - Tullah - Rosebery.