Well after a couple of weeks back at work we finally are setting off for the last leg of the trip. John and Shirl are hard back at work and this will be a solo bike tour with just Ria and me. The Tassie component. We decided to utilise the sleeping facility on the ferry so as not to lose a couple of days in travelling. This was at a cost of a $1000 bucks return. Didn't realise I was buying shares in the boat. But anyway we have a four bed cabin as it was the only option left. Plus the fact that we are required to be there 3 hours prior to boarding meant we didnt have to ride to Melbourne at 3.30 in the morning to get on the boat.

One of the hardest things about planning this part of the trip was getting Ria to cut back on her luggage. With her make up and shower bag filling one pannier the look on her face when I told her one cake of soap and a toothbrush was all she could have, was priceless. Neverthe less I relented somewhat and we added the small yellow bag on the packrack.

The weather not showing promising meant we had to stock up on all our wet weather gear which now sits in the smaller pannier with the tools and shoes.

Now Ria is extremely superstitious. so when I told her about the ghost tour booked at Port Arthur she is panicking already. She even googled it this morning to read up on the old convict history which has added to her anxiety. I have a little trick planned for her on the tour for my own amusement.

Our trip has us landing in Devonport at 6.00 am tomorrow morning where we will have already eaten breakfast and be ready to head straight off. We will head West along the coast past Burnie before hooking a left towards Rosebery. We will turn off the road to the right before Queenstown and head down to Strahan for our first night.

The next day we head back towards Queenstown and head towards Hobart. Apparently some serious twisties on this track so I'm looking forward to testing out the the new TKC rubber on board.

After a night in Hobart I plan to shoot down to the Franklin and circle back up via Woodbridge, back towards Hobart before taking the A3 through to the A9 and finally Port Arthur. around 216 ks.

We have booked the dinner and ghost tour there for the night and head off the next day right up the eastern coast via Bicheno, St Mary's to Launceston. Total so far at 1207 ks.

Finaly after a day in launceston we make our way back to Devonport for the boat trip home over night again. Hopefully the expected rain holds off and we get to enjoy Tassie at its best.