Rush, rush! Weren't we meant to be getting over the need to whiz around everywhere? Unfortunately, the Salamanca Markets in Hobart only happen on Saturday mornings so we had to get there on Friday night. We arrived at the showground in Glenorchy and snagged a powered site for 20 bucks. The shower ( only one !) cost a dollar for 5 mins and the toilet block looked as if it could have been an extra in a prison movie, but apart from that, it's a great spot.
It's still raining when we arrive, so we bunker down for the rest of Friday to get some school done with the boys. It is proving difficult to see the place and have some kind of coherent structure to the work. We have basically given up and are attacking bite size chunks of the work when we get the chance. We are horribly behind anyway due to some confusion over where work was to be sent next, but that's life. Tom and I have agreed that we will plan our trip to see and do all the things we want and fit whatever school in that we can.
The temperature dropped overnight, the skies cleared and in the morning, we were treated to the sight of snow on the top of Mount Wellington which looms directly behind the showground. Man, it was freezing that morning!
It warmed up a bit as we got to the market though and we lost a happy couple of hours wandering in the eclectic stall collection. The best thing we found was some beautiful mirrors, crafted from Tasmanian hardwood and stained glass. There was excellent fruit and veg as well and I bought some nice things for Caths birthday present. No luck finding cool beanies for Mat and Josh though.
We headed up Mount Wellington that afternoon and got caught in a mini blizzard at the top. Stupendous view, though, over the Derwent. As usual, the visitor info area regaled us with tales of the intrepid souls who braved the climb up the mount long before cars and roads. I always find it amazing that people managed anything physical with the sheer volume of clothes that they wore back in the 1900's.