MAP OF TASSIE TOUR Day 36 - Freycinet to Strathgordon

A long day. 

Today was always going to be the longest driving day of the Tour but it was exaggerated by several things which made the 360kms traveled much harder.

Firstly, I programmed the GPS incorrectly before I left. It gave me two alternative routes and I chose the wrong one. I didn't realise we were headed inland and over the coastal mountains to Campbell Town until it was too late to change. Poor Sue was hopelessly lost use her paper maps to check our progress, constantly looking for indicators along the path she thought we were taking and not finding them. Right couple of duffers we were but I take the majority blame.

Anyway, not to worry. We got an early taste of Campbell Town, grabbed some petrol and headed south down the main north-south highway of Tasmania and enjoyed trailing at 100km/hr ... 40 one minute, 60 the next! Roadworks like you wouldn't believe went on and on for tens of kilometres. Not just a stop/slow and on you go to the next one down the road a bit. No, no. This was kilometre after kilometre driving at 40 and adding more woe to my GPS stuff up.

We finally reached New Norfolk after crossing the Derwent River at Bridgewater and beginning our generally western direction toward Strathgordon. The river was filthy with Black Swans, something Tasmanians like to claim over Western Australians, according to our Tamar River skipper, back in Launceston. 

We stocked up on groceries (as usual, the Woolies staff were most accommodating) red wine and a few other things and took to the road. There was great variation in the quality of the surface and the width of the carriageway but the bends were consistent. At Westerway, we topped up the fuel tank to make sure we would have enough for the next few days. The lady at the petrol station/post office/general store/cafe not only had several hats but she also wore a cheery disposition. 

After Westerway, the bends became more extreme and the rain graduated from mist to drizzle to calling off cricket. Our only view was a wall of forest which we couldn't see for all the trees. We spent sixty long kilometres over the next hour with no change to that perspective when suddenly, the trees were gone on the one bend and huge mountains - right on the roadside - replaced them. It was almost frightening. It was very reminiscent of the landscape around Glencoe in the highlands of Scotland. We stopped for photos but were mindful to keep an eye out for Campbells.

Lake Pedder arrived soon after, although the rain made a gasping reaction, limited. Maps I had studied at home in the years of preparation suddenly had a three dimensional substance to them.

Arriving at the Pedder Wilderness Lodge - one of two cabin breaks we will have at the midpoint of our Tour, we gathered instructions from Reception and tried very hard to comply but the place they wanted me to park the van while we are here was untenable. A steep, bitumen road is not a good place for a lonely caravan. Instead and with the happy agreement of our new neighbours, we squeezed into the shared parking space outside our unit.

Click here to see today's photos

As I write, huge mountains tower above us and Lake Pedder is so close, even son Chris could throw a cricket ball into it from our front door.

A dull day but life's experiences can't all be Hazards!

462 km @ 10.49 (3,277 km @ 11.87 L/100km)