It has only been three weeks since we were last in Tasmania, pounding along the track that is known as the Three Capes Walk. In between, Christmas and New Year celebrations have come and gone and (for some) work has filled in the subsequent waking hours.
This morning has been busy – packing, clearing perishables from the fridge, garden watering and a quick online chat with Max in Chicago where it was -5C. We then drove to the airport, where we parked Simone’s car and took a photo of its location to make it easier for Simon and her to find it when they return to Melbourne on Sunday. A quick check-in and security scan then followed, before we grabbed a drink in the Qantas lounge prior to departure.
The flight from Melbourne to Hobart is one of the shorter flights within Australia, at a little under an hour’s flying time. The views from our starboard window confirmed that our flight path took us over Portsea, with the heads to Port Phillip Bay in clear sight. Pleasure craft were leaving white trails in the azure waters up and down the heavily patronized beaches and camping areas around Rye and Sorrento. Our last view of mainland Australia was as we passed over Flinders.
Land was next in sight as Tasmania approached. The green pastures, fields and forests had turned decidedly brown in the few weeks that have passed since our previous visit towards the end of December. Dust and smoke haze made it difficult to see any great distance. We subsequently learnt that vast areas of the island were under a total fire ban – temperatures were high, the wind was picking up and it hasn’t rained for a while, leaving everything quite dry.
Simone, Simon and Eliza arrived to pick us up at Hobart airport as we made our way to the baggage carousel. We were soon within the air-conditioned confines of our Prado with luggage safely stowed away in the back.
The Tvan was dropped off at a safe storage location not too far from Bellerive cricket ground on the northern side of the Derwent River before we drove into town and checked into a two bedroom apartment in Sandy Bay, on the edge of the Hobart CBD.
Drinks with Paul Burnell followed, then Simon and Simone headed into Hobart for an early birthday dinner, while babysitting duties commenced for us. Paul had been the sailing coach for the Australian team when Max, Simon and Tim had competed internationally and it was good to catch up. Despite a recently diagnosed ear infection, babysitting Eliza was no trouble and she settled quickly when it was time to go to bed.
The doors and windows of the apartments are open, with a mild breeze blowing through to cool the place down. The clear skies to the west are silhouetting Mt Wellington as the day draws to a close.