An Island Christmas...

Day 9 and 10: (28/12/2010 & 29/12/2010)

06:00 hrs – alarm chimes. I’m up and excited to trek to Hobart town - 318kms from my present local.

I grab a couple pairs of clothes, not my entire kit dragged down from Sydney – just enough for the over nighter. I chuck some bananas in my bag, don aviators and head to Aunty and Uncle’s to pick up Cousin B.

On my way, as the sun rises, I have a flash back – the streets are wide and vacant – I’m in an old Nissan, just like the first car my Dad bought me when I left home at 18 and moved to the Kimberley. To really spin me out, a track by Incubus, a favourite band of both me and my husband comes on the radio. It was released at the time I was in the Kimberley, when me and the man I eventually married, met. I blast it – dreamy listening to the lyrics “...whatever tomorrow brings, I’ll be there with open arms and open eyes”. It’s my motto for life, particularly travel and I love a road trip – I love driving. I feel so free. I don’t need a fancy vehicle – just a motor on a set of good tyres, a tank of fuel! I feel like me!

Here I am, let’s go Cousin B. For an 18 year old, I’m impressed – in fact age aside he’s one of the best travel companions –  he’s a go with the flow kinda guy with the right balance of common sense and preparedness. He has the GPS, a print out of our pre-booked budget accommodation which at late notice he cleverly found just two minutes walk from Salamanca. (Where I end up leaving a little of my heart – its so freakin gorgeous man!). He even has some ideas of places to go and contributes to the fuel bill. Best yet, he has a spirit of adventure. Love him!

We cruise. Past Launceston! He keeps an eye on my speed – not allowing my lead fit to take hold. He knows where the local cops wait and watch. We eat sweet sugary things. Blast music. Bust dance moves. Sing out loud – apparently I cannot hold a tune, but hey, I couldn’t get all the talent.

We get to Perth. I have to stop and take one of those ‘tourist’ photos. I come from Perth-way, in Western Australia. Its a must that I stop in Perth, Tasmania.

"Epic Food" at Epping Forest

En-route for Epping Forest – or “Epic Food” as we rename it. It’s the ultimate trucker stop – with the ultimate selection of food – every battered blessing, crumbed curse and fatty food you could dream of, or rather, have nightmares of! I order a regular flat white and get something that resembles a shipping container that I passed back at Burnie port. It keeps me going til Hobart.

Shocked by the size of my coffee

Off we go again. Past fields of sheep. This stretch of road isn’t as amusing as the run between Burnie and Launy, which passes apples, berries, pines and poppy plantations. Just flat pasture backed by hills, which are glorious none-the-less.

The historical towns feed my sight and my mind – imagining colonial settlers establishing them and creating communities. I imagine and Edwardian wedding – glad for my tropical elopement but planning a renewal someday in the future with loads of lavender and perhaps this time family present!

Soon we get to newly created road – a sure sign we are close to a city. Cousin B initiates the GPS and seeks the coordinates of Salamanca – where The Taste is being held – our purpose for this visit. We wind our way along the one way roads and find a park out the front of a cottage. A quick call to Grandma and Grandad to let them know we have arrived in one piece. Now onto The Taste.

Its the first year the festival has been held in a giant shed. Its loud with the roar of some 38,000 which I read the next day have patronised the event.

We sample the offerings from Tasmania’s surrounding seas; muscles, oysters, salmon, scallops. Heaven is happening in my mouth. With a belly of food we brave up to taste the wine, beer and cider – a potent combination.

In the meantime Mother, who has been touring around Tasmania, returns from a cold night in Dover. She’s into the salmon too – on pizza – so good!

I sip on wine - I don’t really like the dry wines Tasmania offers but find a sparkling on the fruity side. After a little chat with the chap offering the tastings, he gives me a bottle. How lovely. I enjoy! Later it serves me well to top up with water – and I tease the family, acting like a booze hag, guzzling water from the bottle. They shake their heads in shock. I amuse myself if no one else!

We find a rare spot by the water, in front of the stage. With the affects of the bubbles, the water, sunshine and happy atmosphere I can’t help but get up and move to the beats – first up I groove to the jazz sounds of Melbourne band Lounge. Later, with more people feeling the same fizz I am – I move to reggae beats – Bob Marley mix ups by a white band – no matta what colour, they make the crowd shake wid da muzik! Dah beats drop. Eventually, so do I but not before cousin B drags me to Hobart’s only casino. They call it the Battery – lit up, cuddled by a bay. Its an eye-saw and a cultural faux pas if you ask me.

I don’t like to gamble with money. I find it pointless. I’m a bit of a drag and can’t explain to Cousin B how to play any games. Back to Taste we go. Its quiet now, I’ve lost my mojo, the bubbly affect – and by midnight we are back at our budget accommodation – Welcome Stranger Inn.

We don’t get a restful sleep due to the revilers walking by, inner city traffic and excitement caused by the arriving yachts that were on the Sydney to Hobart jaunt. A magical time to be in Hobart – but not the restful sleep one would have hoped for.

B in the big bed, me in the single – we both have a case of morning ‘wuffs’ (that’s what our family calls gas). Bubbles have to escape somehow I guess! We evacuate our little room for breakfast downstairs and plan our day’s activities.

Botanical Gardens, Hobart

We make a stop for Big W first, since Burnie doesn’t have one. Stationary and supplies for B. Then I insist on being a bit of a ‘Nanna’ by visiting the Royal Botanic Gardens. More gloriousness! Cousin B is very patient as I stroll the garden. What a sweetie! Then back to Salamanca for my lunch date with a mate also down from Sydney. Cousin B makes himself busy at the Apple Store.

I have fifteen minutes to spare before meeting my friend. I decide to have a look at what’s on offer in Tas Books. I’m flicking through the selection when I hear “Hello Gorgeous Girl” – its Miss E, by beautiful performer friend. She‘s wearing those ‘celebrity’ shades, much like I saw on Kirk Pengelly (of INXS fame), the day before, as he waited for his girl – pro surfer Layne Beechly (she was on the celebrity boat of the Sydney to Hobart). Anyway, the shades suit her, and it’s not a carefully crafted persona – the bright red lips and classic black bob are just her, and she rocks.

Miss E says “fancy spotting you here” and it was in the back of my mind that I may see her there too as we met through books – I produced audio books while Miss E narrated them. You, know the type – those glorious books in audio – brought to you with all the performance that such a create type can present with their voice! Miss E has many talents, recently discovered for her comedic delights she is soon off to LA to perform at big named venues there. Miss E is successful and talented, with an amazing media career, yet an Oprah Winfrey waiting to happen. I suspect now is the time. 2011 is her year.

We have many coffees and giggles and discover that we creative types, as funny and clever as we are, all have our doubts. We talk of men for a while and Miss E, a vivacious, sexy women who could knock a man over with a sultry look doesn’t see how beautiful she is – like so many women – I think we deny ourselves so much, including acknowledging our beauty – in case it means we are 'up ourselves' or just wrong – well Miss E, let me tell you, You’re a babe – and it’s not just words! Go gettem ‘Kitty’ (yes, we need a better analogy) – but don’t forget me when you are crazy Oprah rich – you better still have coffee and giggles with me Miss E!

Lunch done, Cousin B and I head to Claremont, just outside of Hobart city, where the Cadbury Visitor Centre is hosted on the Cadbury Estate. We pay a minor $7.50 to enter, take a tag for the next tour and get a free block of chocolate. We browse the chip as, well chocolates, seconds on offer and then sit down and learn how the sweet delights are made. Cadbury has a fascinating history – and there are plenty of benefits to the Tasmanian plant, not just for us people, but the live stock that get the left-overs. Lucky critters.

With an arm full of Cadbury chocolates we depart and head off back to the north coast, back to Burnie, interestingly the home of the Cadbury milk plant.  

We cruise along, beats and singing as we did yesterday – though now a little weary.

A stopover in Launceston to refuel – and I serendipitously, aka, get lost and end up at the Launceston gorge, where there is a most magnificent chair lift. Cousin B and I take the opportunity to experience it. After the driving I have just done, its relaxing and rejuvenating and just what I need to get me back to Burnie way.

We are home by 8pm. I drop off Cousin B and head back to Grandma and Dunny’s just before dark. Some of Grandma’s yummy cabbage rolls and bed – I get the best rest I have had all trip.