Chris L
12-21-03, 10:08 PM
"Watch out for that guy, we're still trying to suss him out. Just let us know if he gives you any trouble."
That was what I was told last night after returning to the campground at Triabunna. The manager was referring to someone who seems to have taken up semi-permanent residence in the area. This guy is actually a cyclist "because there's no taxi service in this town." As it turned out there was no trouble. There were also two other cyclo-tourists who arrived late on in the campground. Today's quiz question: if you took a cyclist from Austria, and stuck them in a Tasmanian summer, what comment would you expect from them? The answer later.
Today I took the ferry to Maria Island (pronounced "Mariah Island" for some bizarre reason"). The island is a national park, and has no electricity, cars or shops. There is plenty of wildlife, and quite a few interesting places to ride, if it isn't too sandy. Not the sort of place you're going to chalk up massive distances, however.
I got off the ferry and rode south - away from the popular campground. A pleasant ride through some native bushland, passing by some beautiful bays. There are also quite a few old convict ruins. The Island has a varied history, having been used initially as a penal settlement, then for sheep and cattle grazing, concrete production, and even mining at one stage.
It rained steadily all day, not really a huge concern to me as rain doesn't bother me a great deal. I had planned to ride to Macrae's Isthmus, further south from French's Farm (where I camped). However, the track was covered in sand. I walked instead. After that, I basically enjoyed the solitude and took it easy, having been on the back of four consecutive 100km+ days.
In answer to the quiz question, those who guessed "Why is it so cold here? It's supposed to be summer!" are correct.
That was what I was told last night after returning to the campground at Triabunna. The manager was referring to someone who seems to have taken up semi-permanent residence in the area. This guy is actually a cyclist "because there's no taxi service in this town." As it turned out there was no trouble. There were also two other cyclo-tourists who arrived late on in the campground. Today's quiz question: if you took a cyclist from Austria, and stuck them in a Tasmanian summer, what comment would you expect from them? The answer later.
Today I took the ferry to Maria Island (pronounced "Mariah Island" for some bizarre reason"). The island is a national park, and has no electricity, cars or shops. There is plenty of wildlife, and quite a few interesting places to ride, if it isn't too sandy. Not the sort of place you're going to chalk up massive distances, however.
I got off the ferry and rode south - away from the popular campground. A pleasant ride through some native bushland, passing by some beautiful bays. There are also quite a few old convict ruins. The Island has a varied history, having been used initially as a penal settlement, then for sheep and cattle grazing, concrete production, and even mining at one stage.
It rained steadily all day, not really a huge concern to me as rain doesn't bother me a great deal. I had planned to ride to Macrae's Isthmus, further south from French's Farm (where I camped). However, the track was covered in sand. I walked instead. After that, I basically enjoyed the solitude and took it easy, having been on the back of four consecutive 100km+ days.
In answer to the quiz question, those who guessed "Why is it so cold here? It's supposed to be summer!" are correct.