8 Dec
Here we are kicking back after our extreme Day 1 hike. Waterfall Valley hut. Boy, was i happy to see it!
Wooden sleeping platforms sleeping 4 on the bottom and 4 on the top. Stainless steel benches for cooking and eating. Drying racks and wooden pegs for wet clothes, and a heater if it gets less than 10 degrees, Bliss.
Shame I didn’t get a shot of the composting toilets!
8 Dec
These photos are taken closer up. It’s not the grandeur of what’s over there. It’s the beauty right here, by your feet.
8 Dec
This is the most popular multi-day hike in Tasmania. 9000 people per year hike the track, some staying in the huts like me, others preferring the privacy of their own tent and campsite.
Here are some photos from Days 1 and 2, when I had some battery power left on the iPhone camera.
Day 1 was pretty extreme, pushing the body to the limit up near vertical climbs, on hands and knees through the mud as you pick your way through tree roots and rocks. The steepest bit I found easy, because it had chains to pull yourself up on. Pack weighed 15kg, took me all of Day 1 to master the techniques of climbing with it on. I sure came back fit!
Day 2 was a delight, easy walking and a swim in a lake at lunchtime, a nanna nap after lunch, and another swim at Lake Windemere at the end of the day after arriving at the hut.
Day 3 was long but spectacular, awesome landscapes, especially the heathlands and wildflowers in the morning, allowing clear views on all sides to the numerous mountains.
Would have paid for somebody to carry me and/or my pack for the long and tedious few hours downhill through the forest (ie mud and tree roots again, aargh!) before lunchtime. But apart from that, fab day. Got the hang of jogging with pack, esp on the flat and inclines, the weight and momentum of it almost push you along.
Day 4 was heaven. 2 swims again, easy walk and the most charming little hut at the end of it. Lush landscape, dense plants like a paradisical garden with wallabies and pademelon common sights around the huts.
Day 5, tedious. Would have happily given it a miss. Cold change blew through in the late afternoon, only just made it to the hut in time before the rain. Storm raged for a few hours, settling to periodic heavy showers overnight. We woke to snow dusted over the mountain’s exposed rocky face to just below the tree line. Pretty.
Day 6, last day was gorgeous. Fabulous heaths and forests and amazing white lichen like coral or small cauliflower. Lunch at the last hut (oh boy, rustic was a bit of an understatement.) Then back to Hobart and to civilisation via ferry over Lake St Clair and bus. First cup of tea in hotel china cup, amazing. Long hot bath, incredible.
65kms over 6 days carrying 13-15 kg pack – yeah! I did it! Woo hoo!
8 Dec
A highlight of Day 2 on the Overland Track. It had been a great morning’s walking and it was warm and sunny by the time i got to the turn off. I dumped my pack with the rest, my hiking mates were having a sprawled out rest, and didn’t look like moving in a hurry. I was keen to keep moving, i’d found a rhythm in the walking and all my muscles were warm. I’d packed well in the morning, putting lunch and chamois towel in the top of the pack. I just grabbed these and said “see ya!” and headed off down the track.
It was board-walk all the way, and without the weight of the pack i fairly flew down. I passed 2 groups of about 8 coming back, and sensing that left the lake vacant of potential onlookers, i jogged all the rest of the way. I had a mind to take a refreshing nude dip in the lake, and figured if i timed it right, i’d get some time to myself before anybody else came along. I’m glad to say, that’s exactly what happened. A dream come true! It was really cold, but i didn’t care. My core temperature was hot, and after i’d had a good few plunges i sat with my towel protecting my modesty (!!) as i dried off in the sun. Then i really, really felt fantastic.
21 Nov
Went for swim first thing. Will go again later but fir now, ugh, too hot to move.
21 Nov
Thought I had lost dog this morning. House too quiet. Found her in bathtub. WTF?? Maybe it was cool in there? Maybe once she jumped in she couldn’t get out? Who knows. Think she was chewing yellow shower ducky!!! Another crazy first for the pug. Lol!
21 Nov
Bought this online last Friday. So cool! With a few extras from local electronics shop and a mate with a soldering iron, I can make it!!
Yeah, anyway – it was sent standard international air mail the next day (Saturday) and was on my doorstep the following Thursday when I got home from the Perth and Melbourne trip. Woo hoo!
19 Nov
Was determined to get in. Baths were shut for renos, so it the beach or nothing. I grit my teeth and ignored the chopped up weed in the water, and the numerous huge jelly-fish lying on the shore. Walked out for ages, so as to get to a depth beyond the standing and dunking level. When I finally got all the way in, it was lovely. Perfect temperature and no rip. A very tame little beach really, but I ended up staying in for ages. It grew on me. Was noice.
19 Nov
Very tired this morning, decided on swim at the beach to clear my head. House next door to hotel had a huge party last night. Not a happy camper this morning.
Hot, greyish, blowy- water with some weed and choppy little waves. Not exactly a sparking morning. But the cafe next to the baths was lovely and after a juice, coffee and some breaky the place grew on me.
