Thankfully we heard no shooting during the night...the sign must have worked. Or the firewood was scarce and knew when to beat a hasty retreat!

We made our own retreat out of the mountains and down into Hobart City itself and a much deserved fresh fish and chips (campervan food is only great for SO many days!) and a cold beer. Hobart was far more stylish and urbane than we anticipated with a rich history described in it buildings surrounding the waterfront. Although still a working harbour and waterfront, it does not have the hang out of sailors, taverns, brothels and prostitutes anymore, but it is from here that many Antarctic expeditions laid up during the winter months before heading south in the summer in the hay days of polar exploration. It is still the same place that many ships depart from for the cold south and is one of the anchor points of the world famous Hobart Sydney yacht race.

But the city is dominated by the imposing Mount Wellington that looms large over the city and it was where we headed to stay the night.

Temperatures falling and rain lashing and a knock on the door. Uh oh, a scene from some horror movie being played out for real?! With wind and rain to wash away screams and blood, nobody would even know we had been here. Sheepishly I opened the curtain and saw the police. Cancel horror movie fantasy and hello fine? Getting moved on?

It turned out that the police were looking for an American lady who had taken a taxi to the base of the mountain and told the cabbie that she would walk up. Bearing in mind that she was alone, didn't seem to have the right gear and any knowledge about where and what she was doing AND it was near 16:00 and the weather was turning very miserable, he decided to call the police and relay what he thought the police needed to know.

The female officer was extremely polite and apologetic (this was a first. Apologetic police officers) and enquired if we had seen anybody up were we were matching the description she gave me after explaining the circumstances of why they were there. Oh yes, it might help to know that she was American. Ahhh....that explains everything now we acknowledged through a raised eyebrow and a knowing, but quickly concealed smile. But it did not detract from the seriousness of the situation. If she was on the mountain, in the driving freezing rain without any of the proper gear or chutzpah, then the morning would not turn out a happy outcome. With many apologies on her part for disturbing our supper, and much pity on mine for her continuing to search in the rain, we bid each good night.