Three Capes Track - the Day Before and Day 1
Okay. . . so somewhere along the line, I decided I wanted to hike the Three Capes Track in Tassie.
It was an early start on a Tuesday morn and after a Monday filled with shopping and packing it was quite an achievement when the straps were tightened on my rucksack.
My companion and I arrived to a pleasant Hobart day - with our rucksacks in company with a happy looking seal perched upon the arrivals baggage carosel. My immediate reaction to Sammy was 'the things people pack' soon followed by a silent acknowledgement of great advertising by the Tassie tourist industry. Car pick up - alas the driver 'namely me' did not actually pack her driver's licence! Great start Juls!
Yes, I did drive to Hobart, but alas we were a wee bit early for check-in. So we parked the car and perused Salamanca Place, filled with creative types and interesting nooks and crannies. We walked to the town centre for yet more stuff which I needed and on the way we were surprised to see men and women in costume and horses milling amongst the green of the park - and just like that we had stepped back in time.
Walking back should have been easy - in future, remember not to give me the map! We did make it eventually. A lucky for us extra, the Tassie Light Horseman and accompanying nurses and their dogs dressed for re-enactment of the 100th Anniversary of the charge of the Lighthorse at Beersheba - more here if you are interested https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Beersheba_(1917)
We snacked on a dinner of burgers and chips,washed them down with a cider or four - yikes!!!
Day 1. What a great morn! Woke to a fresh day. Repacked our rucksacks. Browed more crafty shops. Found an old book store and stores with fresh produce and beautiful turned timber - many tucked away down alleyways, the iron monger was my particular fav.
We drove to Port Arthur. Two pocrastinators - heaven help us! We'd been contemplating changing our meet the boat time on the last day from 2pm rather than 4pm. With our jaunt on we fronted to the checkin counter and were greeted by a less than enthusiastic lady who at our many questions asked "you do know where you are going, don't you?"
The brochure says there's a BBQ on the first night - ok, sounds good but realistically, how do you carry raw meat on a hike!!!
Frozen lamb chops and some fresh produce bought. Car parked. Rucksacks rucked and we were off. Well, actually, very lucky to be off. Whilst purchasing our meaty fare we encountered a less than desirable fellow. I found his calm stare and soft voice disturbing and as it turned out, my companion felt similar trepidation. . . Wolf Creek echoed in our brains and we skedadled out of there quick smart.
An expected boat ride - I really should have read the brochure. Fyn our guide and his trusty offsider shared a great commentary about the wildlife we saw and some we didn't, the ocean and her quirks - the continental shelf and all the sights, including a magestic eagle and her 30 year old nest. We were accompanied by friendly dolphins cresting at the bow and then disappearing into the inky blackness of the Tasman Sea.
The headland looked wooded and let's face it, if that was where we were heading on foot, it was going to be a very, very long walk away. . .
The boat pulled slowly into Denman’s Beach and we alighted to the sandy shore (no not the singer) to begin our four day trek.
We were all smiles but even with the well designed path I found it hard going. Through bushy woodland, scattered with wildflowers - yellow and white. We arrived at Surveyors Hut, our first night's stopover - all happy.
Ken the ranger greeted us with a huge smile and alloted us to Cabin 4 which we shared with Susie and Jenny. Ken's briefing on what to expect on the track, rules of the house, and tomorrow's weather was informative and funny. I may have slipped in a comment about not being aware of the 'bring your own wine' policy.
Dinner was the much procrastinated-over lamb chops, macaroni cheese (with veg) for me and fried rice for my fellow companion. I knew mentioning our lack of wine would pay off . . . Peter, one of our fellow trekker's shared some red with us - what a legend!. Our evening was filled with chatting and card games. We did manage a warm water sluice in the washroom - was that in the brochure? Did I tell you there were no lights in the sleeping quarters, just our headlights to light the way. The amenities were pretty amazing considering we are in the middle of the Tassie wilderness. However, there may have been a bit of a brisk breeze up the nether regions when squatted on the poe. Teeth cleaning was accomplished in the chill of a southerly wind (who am I kidding, I have no idea which direction said wind was coming from) but I know it was cold! And on that note, it was sleeping bags, lights out and bed.
What a great group of people. What a great day. Thanks for your company Sue.
It was an early start on a Tuesday morn and after a Monday filled with shopping and packing it was quite an achievement when the straps were tightened on my rucksack.
My companion and I arrived to a pleasant Hobart day - with our rucksacks in company with a happy looking seal perched upon the arrivals baggage carosel. My immediate reaction to Sammy was 'the things people pack' soon followed by a silent acknowledgement of great advertising by the Tassie tourist industry. Car pick up - alas the driver 'namely me' did not actually pack her driver's licence! Great start Juls!
Yes, I did drive to Hobart, but alas we were a wee bit early for check-in. So we parked the car and perused Salamanca Place, filled with creative types and interesting nooks and crannies. We walked to the town centre for yet more stuff which I needed and on the way we were surprised to see men and women in costume and horses milling amongst the green of the park - and just like that we had stepped back in time.
Walking back should have been easy - in future, remember not to give me the map! We did make it eventually. A lucky for us extra, the Tassie Light Horseman and accompanying nurses and their dogs dressed for re-enactment of the 100th Anniversary of the charge of the Lighthorse at Beersheba - more here if you are interested https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Beersheba_(1917)
We snacked on a dinner of burgers and chips,washed them down with a cider or four - yikes!!!
Day 1. What a great morn! Woke to a fresh day. Repacked our rucksacks. Browed more crafty shops. Found an old book store and stores with fresh produce and beautiful turned timber - many tucked away down alleyways, the iron monger was my particular fav.
We drove to Port Arthur. Two pocrastinators - heaven help us! We'd been contemplating changing our meet the boat time on the last day from 2pm rather than 4pm. With our jaunt on we fronted to the checkin counter and were greeted by a less than enthusiastic lady who at our many questions asked "you do know where you are going, don't you?"
The brochure says there's a BBQ on the first night - ok, sounds good but realistically, how do you carry raw meat on a hike!!!
Frozen lamb chops and some fresh produce bought. Car parked. Rucksacks rucked and we were off. Well, actually, very lucky to be off. Whilst purchasing our meaty fare we encountered a less than desirable fellow. I found his calm stare and soft voice disturbing and as it turned out, my companion felt similar trepidation. . . Wolf Creek echoed in our brains and we skedadled out of there quick smart.
An expected boat ride - I really should have read the brochure. Fyn our guide and his trusty offsider shared a great commentary about the wildlife we saw and some we didn't, the ocean and her quirks - the continental shelf and all the sights, including a magestic eagle and her 30 year old nest. We were accompanied by friendly dolphins cresting at the bow and then disappearing into the inky blackness of the Tasman Sea.
The headland looked wooded and let's face it, if that was where we were heading on foot, it was going to be a very, very long walk away. . .
The boat pulled slowly into Denman’s Beach and we alighted to the sandy shore (no not the singer) to begin our four day trek.
We were all smiles but even with the well designed path I found it hard going. Through bushy woodland, scattered with wildflowers - yellow and white. We arrived at Surveyors Hut, our first night's stopover - all happy.
Ken the ranger greeted us with a huge smile and alloted us to Cabin 4 which we shared with Susie and Jenny. Ken's briefing on what to expect on the track, rules of the house, and tomorrow's weather was informative and funny. I may have slipped in a comment about not being aware of the 'bring your own wine' policy.
Dinner was the much procrastinated-over lamb chops, macaroni cheese (with veg) for me and fried rice for my fellow companion. I knew mentioning our lack of wine would pay off . . . Peter, one of our fellow trekker's shared some red with us - what a legend!. Our evening was filled with chatting and card games. We did manage a warm water sluice in the washroom - was that in the brochure? Did I tell you there were no lights in the sleeping quarters, just our headlights to light the way. The amenities were pretty amazing considering we are in the middle of the Tassie wilderness. However, there may have been a bit of a brisk breeze up the nether regions when squatted on the poe. Teeth cleaning was accomplished in the chill of a southerly wind (who am I kidding, I have no idea which direction said wind was coming from) but I know it was cold! And on that note, it was sleeping bags, lights out and bed.
What a great group of people. What a great day. Thanks for your company Sue.
Good story Juls
ReplyDeleteGood thing to do on a rainy day.