Day 13 Mt Field National Park to Hobart

Date: 18/JAN/2010
Route:Mt Field National Park - New Norfolk - Hobart
Distance:80 km
Accident: 0
Puncture: 0
Weather: Fine with light shower
Accommodation: Central City Backpackers ($23 / Dorm)

みなさん、日本は梅雨で蒸し蒸しみたいですけど、最近どないですか。

The last day of this touring trip. I was not able to sleep well last night, as I was too excited about the fact that I was going to complete my trip. It was long way to come here.

I finally fall asleep around 3am and work up at 5am.

Today's goal was the starting point of this trip, Hobart.As soon as I got up, I had breakfast, packed up, said good bye to Michelle, my neighbor camper.

When I left the park, it was sunny but raining. That strange weather made a beautiful morning sunrise. It was a good start.

Rainfall in the Sunshine - Mt Field NP

The ride today was basically flat with one hill (400m) in the end. I stopped at New Norfolk for morning tea. I don't mention the name but a cafe I stopped by was one of the worst cafes I've ever visited. I ordered bacon and egg breakfast. What I got was 2 pieces of bread, 2 PRE-COOKED poached eggs and some slices of bacon. No tomato, hollandaise sauce or harsh brown on side. When I asked for sauce for eggs they said, "20c for Tomato Sauce". Fine, I will never come back there again.

How much for a bunch? - Flower on sale on the side of the road

After the cafe break, I climbed up today's only hill. From the top of the hill I could see Derwent River far under the hill.

From the top - Near Molesworth

Hobart was very close. Just 15km to go. From the top of the hill I had a long decent to the river level. 10km from there to Hobart, there was a cycle path all way down. Too easy mate.

When I was riding in the cycle path, I hear someone calling me and he said "Are you Yohei?" It was Mike! He was from Perth working in Tasmania. He was having his morning ride toward the hillside and I was riding into the city. He was one of very few Tasmanians I know. It was a total coincidence wasn't it!? It made me think how small the world was. We had a brief chat and decided to ride up to Mt Wellington tomorrow. it is one of the highest mountains in Tassie and it's just 20km out of Hobart.

No Polo Players, No Dogs, No Cats on this path - Intercity Cycleway

Great ,there will be another ride tomorrow!

Getting into Hobart, I checked in Central City Backpackers. It's so different from campsite, many backpackers and very noisy. Now I feel like I am survived back to CIVILIZATION!


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Day 12 Mt Field National Park (Rest Day)

Date: 17/JAN/2010

Route:Mt Field National Park
Distance:0 km
Accident: 0
Puncture: 0
Weather: Land of the Giants Campground ($10 / Unpowered)

Today was a rest day, so the day has passed in a very simple way with, sleeping, reading, walking and eating.

I woke up at 7.30am. I saw a blue sky. Thanks to the tiredness from yesterday's lengthy and demanding ride, I had one of the soundest sleep in this journey. Feeling fresh made me walk for a while. I went to the Park's famous Russel Fall. The walk was about 30minuites return from the tent. The fall was nice as usual.

Russel Fall - Mount Field National Park

Back to my tent, I took shower and went to the information centre to get some water and information of the Park.

At the information centre, Mark was having a cup of coffee wondering what to do next today. He had packed all his stuff by then so I said bye to him and I went back to the camp. I had another sleep till 1.30pm.

Then, I wrote yesterday's diary, read lonely planet and a novel, Songlines, one of the books I brought for this trip.

I had coffee later afternoon as I haven't had anything hot since yesterday's lunch. Unfortunately, the coffee was not hot enough but the staff at the cafe was warm enough.

Now, its about 5.30 in the afternoon. I will have dinner shortly and get ready for tomorrow.

It's been a nice rest day.

There are heaps of them in the Park - Tasmanian Podemelon

Today's Route



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Day 11 Lake St Clair to Mt Field National Park

Date: 16/JAN/2010

Route:Lake St Clair - Derwent Bridge - Tarraleah - Ouse - Westerway - Mt Field National Park
Distance:123 km
Accident: 0
Puncture: 0
Weather: Land of the Giants Campground ($10 / Unpowered)

Today, I had a lazy morning with a dash of hangover as I had some drinks with the guys who had done the Overland Track to celebrate their compilation of the Track plus the strong wind did not give me a sound sleep. Therefore, I work up around 9.00am.

The deepest lake in Australia - Lake St Clair

Before I start riding, I wandered around the Lake. I did a walk called "Platypus Walk". This easy 20 minutes return walk took me to some of the beautiful viewing spots for the Lake and the point you would get some possibility to see platypus. I went to the spot where platypus might appear and waited, waited and waited. After 15 minuets of patience nothing showed up.

Platypus info 1

Platypus info 2

I left the lake about after 10.00am saying good bye to Dermot, one of who I met at the camp.

Near Darwent Bridge an Austrian cyclist, Max, found me and talked to me. He told me that he was heading to Hamilton toady. Since I was heading the same direction, I said that why didn't we go together. Then he said why not. I got a company toady.

Max was from Vienna, the second most livable cities in the world (Perth is 9th btw,). He was way too fit. He rode very fast and he didn't stop. So consequently toady's ride became a very speedy and long ride.

As Max found out the fact that was no proper accommodation in Hamilton, we decided to go to Mt. Field National Park, which was south west of Hamilton.

The general trend of the day was decent, we had a massive descents today. Because some of them were so long down, I felt like I was being dragged to the hell, but it was great fun going 40-50km/h with no effort. On the other side there were some demanding hills as well.

The area we rode today had a number of dams around so we saw quiet a few number of water pipes, rivers, lakes and something watery.

Massive Water Pipes - Tarraleah

We got to the National Park at 7.00pm. The last 40km was crazy fast as we were afraid of getting to the bed too late and ended up with not finding a place to sleep. When we get to here he went to stay in the backpackers hostel in the national park and I went to the campground. So we said good bye and wish our luck and left each other. It was great to meet you Max.

Nice Weather - Near Ouse

At the campground, I met a South Australian bloke (meet so many people these days somehow.) He was a sommelier, who chooses the best suited wine at a restaurant. Since I was a bit interested in wine, it was interesting to make a chat about wine. Although there was no alcohol involed tonight, the Park's beautiful setting made me feel like drunk.

It was a long day with lenghthy ride but its was a very productive day as well.

Today's Route

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