Devonport to Heybridge

Thar she is...10 hours on that boat and I'll be in Tasmania!  Plus her neighbor ship, puffing out fumes, in case I needed reminding of why I was traveling by bike.

The perfect cake eating spot.  Leith, Tasmania.

Wouldn't it be impressive if I could remember the names and types of all the rare and fantastic rock and lava formations at Sulphur Creek?

Journal from 14 March:

Heybridge, Tasmania!  Woohoo!  I made it!  47k or so from Devonport.  Ferry got in at 6, spent about 30 minutes organizing my stuff and then hit the road.  Felt awesome to be moving and covering so much distance again.  Stepped in Leith to check out the beach, stretch, and eat some of the cake Tash had packed away for me (mm, thank you thank you).  Saw some molting splendid fairy wrens.  Also road through Penguin and got on the coastal road - stunning!  Stopped at Sulfur Creek for a quick look at the unique rock formations and also a pee break.  Made it into Heybridge a little after 10.  Had 2nd breakfast (or 3rd if you count the cake): homemade yogurt and peaches from the tree in Michelle's backyard.  Yum!  Michelle has done lots of bicycle touring and was a part of the 5 month cycling for sustainability trip from Brisbane to Hobart.  Tomorrow is Burnie's Big Bike Day, so it'll be fun to check that out.  There was no rain on my ride aside from some mist, but an hour after I settled into Michelle and Nick's place: massive downpour / thunder and lightning.  So phew for getting here before any of that.

6:30pm

Amazing!  Brilliant!  Fantastic!  So many words to describe Tasmania day 1.  How I am lucky enough to have all these opportunities I continue to have, I don't quite know.  I've spent the day with Michelle here in Heybridge, once again being stuffed full of amazing, delicious food - pure Otesha style.  We spent a couple hours visiting with her friend, Fiona, down the street.  Eating chocolate cake and talking about all sorts of fascinating stuff:  how we came to be where we are, living the way we choose to live.  Michelle said that someone described her life as "hippy" which isn't really accurate.  "I think its living authentically.  Questioning how every action..." [affects the earth and other people and our bodies, etc. etc.]  I like that way of looking at it.  Because that is the very core of it, being conscious of why we do what we do.    We spent an hour or so this afternoon picking blackberries with a gentle, post rain sun shining down on us.  So many ideas in my head.  This gigantic need to have community, support, a place to share our stories.   I'd like to create a space for kids where they could have all those things.  Get in touch with nature, out of the mainstream, and connect with themselves and other people too.  I am so happy to be here.  In Tasmania.  In Australia.  On a bike.  Even by myself.

Devonport to Heybridge

Total K's cycled: 46.98

Avg Speed: 18.4km/hr

Max Speed: 51.5 km/hr

Hour on bike: 2:33

Kilo Mike's scary hill rating: 0/10 (I suppose Tasmania was giving me an easy intro into the state so as not to scare me off. I appreciated this.)

Total Tasmanian K's: 46.98