Last night we pitched the tent on the seaside just east of a hamlet called Penguin. It's easy to find a campsite is Tas, all you do is look for more than two RVs parked in a spot and put your tent alongside.
People have been very kind and friendly toward us and often help us out with battery charging, refrigeration and the odd cooking ingredient, not to mention a coffee and cake occasionally. Most of the RV crew are on the road long term and are set up to live well.
The cover image for this blog was taken half way along the Western Explorer Highway, a road only made in approx. 1995. The surface was not as good as suggested in motorcycle atlas but the BMW handled it comfortably.
Since leaving Arthur River Sandi and I have really enjoyed a more 'ordinary' part of Tassie. The tourist guides only really highlight "The Nut' at Stanley in the northwest and the motorcycle atlas doesn't bother with west of Burnie, however we have enjoyed the sweeping bends, gentle slopes and spectacular farmland running down to the coast. All the roads are great and the people are very friendly. We stayed the previous night in a B&B in Smithton, right in the centre of town. Sandra decided a break from tenting was required and I must admit it was nice to sleep in a real room again! That was the second night we have weakened on our tenting resolve since leaving Melbourne - a much better average than some of our other trips.
Today is our last day in Tassie this trip (if we don't miss the boat) and rather than tear around looking at scenery or chasing more good roads we plan to do some socializing. Tess, her husband and friends dropped in to our 'kitchen' last night and invited us to call at her nearby home, so we will this morning.
A few years ago some long term family friends moved from Albany to Devonport and we hope to catch up with them this afternoon.
It's been good to slow down a little this trip Tassie seems to cram a lot into a small space and if you keep moving you're bound to miss something.
My blogs have missed a few things too and I'll fill in a few gaps over the next day or two. See you soon. Jeff