Hobart, Australia

Well I made it Tasmania and have spent a few days here. Hobart has not been as enchanting as I expected it to be - perhaps it's the victim of too many rave reviews. It puts me somewhat in mind of St. John's with its hills tumbling into the harbour and its history which reaches farther back than virtually any other city in Australia. But it is certainly lacking the charm and quality of inhabitants that St. John's boasts. It also doesn't have those beautifully painted houses :-). It does have a huge harbour and lots of old buildings, and certainly a very interesting history.

The weather has not been great here and is also reminiscent of St. John's. There is lots of wind, it is usually overcast and we've had some rain. It's also a lot cooler than I've been used to (other than those weird spells in Melbourne) which is actually a bit of a blessing. I have been exploring the city and the surrounding area, but have yet to get to the top of Mt. Wellington which apparently offers the best views of the area. Even on the rare occasions that Hobart sees blue skies, the top of the mountain is still shrouded in cloud and I saw the peak for the first time today. Hopefully I'll get a clear day to climb it when I'm back in Hobart again.

I took a little side trip yesterday to a town about 20 kms away called Richmond. It is rife with history and is part of the "Convict Trail". It is a quaint little tourist town full of souvenir shops and cafes, and hosts busloads of grey-haired tourists on a daily basis. It was the first time on this adventure that I've actually felt out of place because of my youth :-). That said, it was still a nice day and I learned a little about the history of the area and lifestyle of the convict settlers.

Interestingly, on my first day in Hobart I bumped into a guy in the street on a bicycle loaded down with paniers and a trailer. He was sporting a Canadian flag and had MEC rain covers on his gear so needless to say I engaged him in conversation. He, Curtis, is from Calgary and is four years into an eight year cycle around the world. He covers between 150-200 kms per day and is camping the whole way. Every once in a while he treats himself to a hostel in a larger centre, so he can store his bike for a few days and rest. It sure makes my efforts seem inconsequential by comparison. We didn't talk for too long but I can't even begin to imagine what he has experienced along the road - he did allude to the hardships he has faced in the third world. I can't say I envy him (other than the 8-year part).

I have spent a lot of time here getting myself ready for my treks. I have had to purchase some camping equipment as renting would have been more expensive. I'll likely donate it to my friends in Sydney when I'm done with it. I am leaving tomorrow for Devonport on the north shore of the island, and from there on Tuesday to the trail head for the Overland Track. This goes through a couple of national parks and will last about 8 or 9 days. You can actually do it in about 5 days comfortably, but there are a bunch of side treks I'd like to do along the way so I'm taking a bit longer. I am really looking forward to getting out into the "wilds" again as it's been awhile since I've really been away from civilization. And before anyone starts worrying about me trekking alone (you know who you are), rest assured that this is a well-maintained and well-travelled track and there will be lots of people out there with me. I will likely be sleeping in huts along the trail, but will be carrying a tent in case of emergency or if the huts are full.

I am actually looking forward to doing the trek as I think it will afford me an opportunity to meet some people and enjoy some new company. I have to admit to being a bit lonely since I left Brisbane as it's the first time I've been alone in about two months. I'm curious to see if this is just an adjustment phase or if my days of living solo are behind me. Wouldn't that be weird after 18 years of guarding my solitude so fiercely? I guess only time will tell.

I had bit of bad luck today which I'm hoping won't have lasting effects. I was eating my lunch on the steps of the supreme court building beside the weekend market, and some kids were skateboarding down the railings of the stairs above me. One of them lost control of his skateboard and it flew into my elbow. I have a fairly large bump there now which is turning a beautiful shade of purple. I am slowly regaining mobility in the joint but it is still very painful. I'm hoping that it is just a bump and that it won't affect my trekking too much. I can't imagine needing my left elbow to walk, but it will be useful for packing and unpacking, cooking and dressing myself. I have a full day in Devonport before I leave on the trek, so if it becomes problematic I'll have it checked out there.

That's it for me. I'll have access to e-mail until Tuesday (February 27), but don't plan to blog again before the trek. I'll be back in Hobart by Thursday March 8 and will try to blog shortly thereafter. Keep those e-mails coming - they're always so welcome.