Up and attem in Strahan preparing for the big ride via Queenstown through to Hobart today. Through local info this is to take us the best part of the day due to the extent of the twist and bends in the road. Distance is just over 300 klms.

Headed out of Strahan and it wasn't long before the road went into twistie heaven. They got tighter and tighter. It was about 44 ks to Queenstown and and I was barely using the centre of the tread. Not complaining though. Have to keep concentration though as it is easy to run off the road.

Got into Queenstown and although it is hydro and mining based there was still a beauty there like no other place I have seen. You can see the soccer pitch from the hwy and it is totally gravel. Apparently the whole place was like this some 30 years ago but it is greening up a bit now.

As you head through Queenstown the roads get tighter as the elevation climbs up the mountain side. I had checked the weather forecast some days prior to leaving home and I thought I would be in the wet by now. Wasn't happening and I was glad cos this road could be dangerous with some moisture on it. My new tyres were 70% road and 30% off road so you have to keep them within their limits and not confuse them with pure road tyres which I have been used to over the years on my other bikes. We ran into some traffic stuck behind a big loader which was climbing the mount outside of Queenstown and I was back to 1st gear on double lines. With this guy not caring who was behind him, I eventually got frustrated and opened up the throttle passing three cars and the loader in one hit. That must piss*all car drivers off as they cannot do this. At the other side of the mountain I set the gopro to go as the scenery was too nice not to film. I just left it running until it flattened or filled the sd card. It didn't matter cos it was all good footage.

We kept riding until the 150 kmark which brought us to Derwent Bridge. This little place presented a cute little highway stop which posed as a great breakfast spot. It was just on the other side of the mount so it was good to rest the arm pump from wrestling a 270kg beast with a full 30 litre fuel tank. Plus the pillion amd luggage weight would have pushed it to the mid 300kg range.

A french guy and his girlfriend were working the roadhouse and were obviously travelling anfd working Australia. The food was great and we enjoyed a 45 minute break.

Back on the black the road lost some intensity and I was able to keep it on the pace. There was still very little traffic on the road so it was no issue as to keeping good time.

Just a few k's before Hamilton we encountered some slow log trucks in the hills but got past them eventually. Stopped in hamilton just for a break to get the blood flowing in the rest of the body. Can be frustrating though cos all the vehicles we passed were now back in front of us.

Ria is a brilliant pillion and never complains or go against the lean. Sometimes I have to check to see she hasn't fallen off. In Hamilton though she let me down as she sent my new Shark Hakka evo 3 helmet sprawling off the seat onto the stones adding some nice new chips in the coating. Verbal abuse and withering stares out of the way we got back into business.

It was non stop to Hobart now and it seems funny as you approach the capital as it is pretty much pure country road right up to the edge of the city., There appeared to be no gradual traffic increase then suddenly they are everywhere.

Hobart is a nice city and we drove straight to our hotel in the centre of town without too much issue. I had booked the RACV accomodation as I get a good discount with the membership. The room was on the 5th floor and had a view of Mount Wellington. Aftyer settling in we found we had taken just over 4 hours to get there. Not the 6 - 8 hours as stated by the Tas local on the boat on the way over. Tosser wasn't even close and he lived there.

Anyway we established that one of my work collegues was also staying in Hobart. Trev Budds and his wife Jen were on a romantic 30 year wedding anniversary celebration. We were only a block away from each other so a beer was to be had.

After meeting in the mall we found a suitable abode to have a couple of drinks before we allowed him to go back to his attempt to be romantic. Good to catch up though.

Ria and I walked the town looking for a nice place to eat. We settled on this little Chinese place a few blocks down from our hotel. It was great food and afterwards we went back to rest after a hard days ride.

Tomorrow would take us down to Port Arthur. Ria has been dreading this part of the trip.