Spent a couple of days on a mooring buoy in Sandy Bay outside of the Royal Tasmania Yacht Club. Was not interested in spending over $100 to stay there and besides they didn’t even call us back. Took the dinghy in to the city and found the Kathmandu store to purchase some thermal socks for the upcoming Overland Track. Jacqui and I both purchased a new pair of hikers. Old ones were looking a bit sad. The spot where we put the dinghy to wander into the city is call Battery Point and is the oldest section of the city with homes looking like they did when they were built in the early 1800’s and it makes you feel that you have stepped back in time. It has become the fashionable part of the city. The place to be! On Saturday we attended the Salamanca market with over 200 stalls. Lots to see and nothing needed except for a few veggies and a taster of salmon sausage, interesting.

Dropped the mooring buoy on Sunday and headed for the final destination, Prince of Wales Marina. Had to pass under the Tasman Bridge to reach the marina. The bridge has it’s own history as well. In 1975 a bulk ore carrier struck the bottom of the bridge bringing down the middle section. 12 people were killed in the mishap. We didn’t worry about striking the bridge. It is 60 metres high and our mast height is 68 feet. The perspective always gives you willies. We later found out that the highest point of the bridge is reserved for the commercial vessels and we were supposed to take the starboard gap one over, whoops always head for the highest is our philosophy.

We will be here for a month while we do the Overland Track on Feb 4th to 10th with Terri and Dave and then entertain Jasmin and Trevor for about a week or so from the 16th. Our plan is to do a little touring around the Derwent River. Bruny Island comes to mind for more of that Bruny Black Pale Ale and cheese to match! Maybe make it to Port Arthur. Another area that has a lot of history.  One of the things we are learning fast is that the weather is sooooo unpredictable. We have spent at least three nights along side here at the marina thinking we are at sea sailing, heeled over on the berth, whistling wind checking lines and fenders, part of us is hoping that this weather is over and done with prior to our long hike. Consensus from other Yachties is that this is unusual weather for this time of year.

When we arrived in the marina on Sunday, we were greeted by Duncan and Amanda whom we had met in Pancake Creek last year when we were dealing with our dingy propellor issue. Turns out that they had been seeing us on AIS during the intense fire weather around Eden and Merimbula. They had opted to hide out in the Kent Group of islands (Deal Island). So they nicely helped us with our lines and had a great catch up of adventures since we last saw them.

We said goodbye to Valerie. She decided that seeing the Bay of Fires and the Overland Track would be a great addition to her time here in Tasmania. We are looking forward to her checking in after the hike for any tips she may have for us before heading back to Melbourne and then home.

Our time here in POW Marina is going to be taken up with getting hiking fit. After being on the boat since we left Sydney with no real chance to go hiking or even a casual walk it occurs to us that we may be a little … sedentary. Yikes!!  We have to do a few hikes, at least to break in the new hikers. One of our first efforts was just getting to the shops around the marina to get some groceries. Well, that’s a 6 km walk round trip! We do have the luxury of the courtesy car, but we save that for stocking up with the heavier items (cases of beer) 🙂

Mount Wellington was our first hiking adventure. Caught the bus into the city and then caught another bus to the base of the trail at Fern Tree Bower. The trail was not clearly marked but we found our way. Some beautiful views from the top! Unfortunately the day started very nice but by the time we hiked to the top and traversed over boulders it  was cold, cloudy, windy and stinging our eyes showing yet again the quick changes in weather conditions. We managed to make the top feeling a little defeated, chilled, like we had run a marathon and in need of some solid food. Luckily there was a tour bus at the top with room to spare and for $10 each took us back into the city with the benefit of learning a little about the area.

Our next little hike was the Newtown Rivulet Trail starting at the bottom close to the POW Marina, but still a 3km walk to the base of the trail. It took us mostly on the roads till we reached the entrance to Mt Wellington Park … and that was about it. Expected to see a little bit more water running down this … stream.

All in, it was a 19.7 km round trip. A good walk! Hikers are truly broken in. A few blisters for Jacqui that will hopefully heal before Feb 4th!

Boat chores are alway a general part of the weekly planning, so all the stainless (and there is a lot of it) has been polished and shining, decks are clean and now ready for a polish and poor old Maddie (who was looking worse for wear going through all that fire, ash, black soot) is looking shiny new and cared for.