MOT Tour Day 71 - Spirits Having Flown

Our last day in Tasmania was decidedly and deliberately planned to be dull. We were helped by theweather, which started without sunshine, without warmth and in a box of sox called cloud.

We managed to fit in a few things but it was mainly about making sure we were meticulously prepared for crossing back to the Big Island. We were scheduled to leave port at 9:30pm.

However we did fit in a few pleasantries during the course of the day, starting with a short journey to the eastern breakwall of the Mersey River to watch the Daytime cruise of the Spirit of Tasmania leave port and head north west across Bass Strait. One of the disadvantages of being onboard when you leave is that you don't get the spectacular pictures as the Spirit turns on its long axis and sails from the Mersey. In truth, I missed the turning manoeuvre but we finally understood we were ready to go home as we watched her slowly move past us and out into the Strait.

Behind East Beach, Sue found a grass mown labyrinth, created for community members to walk along its twisting and turning path in the act of contemplation, in order to clear their mind. She enjoyed it but for reasons more related to making it to the centre without "cheating". Once achieving "centre" she ignored the mowing and walked off on some other pursuit.

Our other activity was a walk along the Eastern foreshores: something we had done several times both together and alone. Ten weeks earlier we had spotted the Brown Bandicoot foraging with no regard for humans as we walked this path.  

The pace of our pack up was being slowed by a couple of injuries I was carrying: a sprain knee from break the basic rule of towing and stepping over the draw bar (or trying to), tripping and injuring a ligament; the second was the strange recurrence of an old injury to my lower back.

The day final mumbled its way to early evening and saw as making our way through the check in process for the ship. This involves a rat's race of pathways which included clearance at the security booth and a check of the vehicles. On the outbound journey, it was a biosecurity check to make sure the wrong plants didn't come in to Tassie and threaten it agriculture sector.

On the inward journey, it was a check for weapons, illegal stowaways and leaking gas bottles, jerry cans and engine blocks.

After that's all finished, you wait in long lines to be boarded ... you wait for more than an hour. A few rookies near us kept their engines running the whole time!

Soon enough car and caravan were squeezed in and we were bumping mirrors as we tried to negotiatethe narrow gaps between vehicles. We heard later that part of the initial delay was because the vehicle managers started over zealously and had three long rows, the length of the parking bay, so closely packed that drivers and their passengers could not open their doors to alight. They were all backed up and off and the process started all over again!

Upstairs, we found our deluxe cabin, with a queen-sized bed, ensuite, TV and two windows overlooking the bow deck. On the casual tables between them, a complementary bottle on red. We sailed a little late and by the time we watched the departure from the starboard deck, returned to our cabin and dressed for bed ... well, suffice to say, the red left in my back pack the next morning.

Click here for today's photos.

As with our outward sailing, we had a gentle trip with small waves and moderate winds. We knew little of it for our forward facing windows were covered with condensation on the outside and at best, the view was vague shapes. The bed was comfortable. We slept well.