Departure

“You are not the first to pass this way, nor shall you be the last.”

From Station Pier in Melbourne, we took the seaworthy Spirit of Tasmania on an overnight trip across Bass Strait to the port of Devonport, Tasmania. The Spirit is a slightly modified cruise ship, with all the standard amenities, including comfortable cabins and the obligatory casino (a small room with a mirrored ceiling, cramped with video slot machines, eager to take you Australian dollars). The Bass Strait waters are apparently some of the roughest in the world, and they certainly made it known to the travellers on the Spirit. That night I saw the milky way for the second time in my life, as I lay on my back on the deck of the top floor of the ship alongside Yoshi, Brian, and Bowman. We saw what we think was the famed Southern Cross constellation, which adorns the flag of Australia. Soon after getting into bed, I was rather ungently rocked to sleep by the waves.

We will travel in Tasmania for the next week with Geoff Mosely, an expert on the island. More on the wilds of Tasmania to come...