Monday, January 3, 2011

Tassie Tough

They have a term over here, called Tassie Tough. Queenslanders were definitely not Tassie Tough. At least thats what I was being told by a bunch of Tasmanians sitting on a beach at Coles Bay in shorts as I eased into what felt like arctic waters for a swim.

This was our new years trip, visiting the holiday shack of Marj's parents at Freycinet. I stayed in that bloody water for about ten minutes, nine minutes too long before running up to the shack and huddling under a doona and shivering like a teenage schoolgirl watching her first horror movie.





We'd had a leisurely drive up, mostly food related, no surprise there and then a lovely salmon dinner before crashing out. The next day we did a walk to Wineglass Bay. It was what I called a longish walk but well worth it for the stunning views and countryside.




Davy and Marj, being Tassie tough, called it a short stroll and we had barely finished lunch before they were gearing up to go snorkeling for some abalone for dinner. I was knackered but went along for a look. It seems like you can't go anywhere in this place that is not scenic, which The Wife loves. I've pretty much lost control of my good camera.




We had a pretty quiet New Years and I crashed out straight after midnight. For good reason as it turned out cause the next day I woke up with a mutant Tasmanian cold. Definitely NOT Tassie Tough. I pretty much slept all the way home, refusing both caffeine and potatoes, a sure sign that I am truly sick and not having a whinge.

I slept the next day too, putting our Bruny Island adventure back a day. It also means I have a wish list for next trip. Houn Valley, Tasman peninsula, the distillery, other cheese places.....

Dave and Marj have been the most brilliant hosts, Sarah (Dave's sister) has been great company too. This ends the southern part of the trip, tomorrow it's the Cradle Mountain and Chez Flinthart part of the journey.




We'll be back again for sure and I hope soon, great mates, great food and lots to do ensures it. Maybe then I'll be a little more Tassie Tough.

Lantanaland from my iPhone

3 comments:

  1. Still time to HTFU and prove your Tassie Toughness. St Clair lake on Cradle Mountain - eminently swim-in-able unless you're a monstrous ponce.

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  2. The distillery is a must for you. Not only for the simple act of a visit but also for mdecinal remedies for that cold you picked up. Trust me.

    The Wineglass Bay walk is a tad tough but worth any discomfort. I found it handy in building up a thirst which I slaked at the Iluka tavern, spitting distance from the cabin I'd booked.

    Definitely hit the Huon, well worthwhile.

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  3. When we lived in Tasmania and went camping with other families, we had a rule that our children must come OUT of the water as soon as their lips or toes turned blue. We foreign-born adults wearing ugg boots and woolen caps would be huddled up on the beach near a roaring log fire, downing Chateau Cardboard to warm the innards, but our Tassie-tough kids would be frolicking happily in ocean waters that flowed straight up from the Antarctic.

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