In a flurry of enthusiasm last November, we booked to do the Three Capes Lodge Walk in Tasmania with Chris and Bob. We’d been trying to do a trip with them for ages and I liked the idea of doing another multi-day walk with Chris since she got me started with my first big walk in 2008.  The plan was to train over Dec-Feb to be ok to do the 4-day, 48 km guided walk, carrying a 9.5kg backpack.  There was some trepidation about the backpacks, but we wanted to do this version since the lodges were in the National Park, and the food and lodging came highly recommended by friends. Helen did the walk in December, unguided and staying in the public lodges, and she thought we could easily manage the walking!

So much for ‘BEST LAID PLANS’ – first the heat and bush fire smoke eliminated training walks in Sydney in December.  Then we went away for a month, back for a week and then off to the Tamworth Country Music Festival where I fell and chipped a bone in my foot.  That should have been a SIGN! – but I worked hard at physio and exercises to the point where I could walk ok.  That gave us one week of training where we did lots of 10km walks and got pretty tired before we left.  During that time I developed a mystery rash on my back so couldn’t train with a pack (another SIGN that I ignored!)

It was an easy flight and quite nice to visit Hobart again; staying right near the harbor where our walk started on the 28 February. Day one started out with a bus ride that included some scenic stops before taking a small (ie 15 minute) boat ride to the official start of the walk.

 

Day 1 was a 6km/2hr walk on well-formed paths along the clifftop.  The lodge (Crescent Lodge) was well hidden off the path and an impressive, comfortable building nestled in the treetops.  Even the public lodges were impressive looking buildings.

Day 2 was sunny and nice and we learned a lot about dolarite rocks and enjoyed lovely cliff vistas.  The 11 km walk was ok but I was not comfortable with my pack.

Our next two nights were spent at Cape Pillar Lodge, and it was the same quality standard as the previous lodge.  Finishing the walk at 4pm meant that Dick had time for an afternoon nap before another good dinner and a good sleep.

Day 3 was a return trip out to Cape Pillar.  Chris and I decided to shorten the walk so we just went to the lookout point where we could see Tasman Island and learn about that history, including the rough and dangerous lives of the early lighthouse keepers and their families.

 

 

 

Dick and Bob went out to Cape Pillar with the group, so they did about 18 kms and we did 8 kms.

My back was very sore by this time so I followed Chris’s lead and had a massage.  The masseuse found lots of sore places I didn’t even know about.  Another good dinner that evening and another early night as we had to start walking at 8am the next day.

Day 4 was a 13 km trek that started with a climb over Mt. Fortescue (490 m), and it was not optional.  My back was very, very sore from carrying my pack so Dick carried all of my clothes to lighten it.

As we had half a day in Hobart we visited the Tasmanian Museum and Gallery. In contrast to what we had heard previously, we learned that there were Tasmanian aboriginal people who survived the genocide which wiped out most of them.  Another sorry story of death and destruction of indigenous people and their culture.

P.S. – My shoulder pain got worse and was diagnosed as tendonitis and bursitis. PPS – I have been known to use ‘SIGNS’ as a reason or excuse to do something we’re debating on.  In future I may need to listen to them when they are telling me not to do something, I really want to do.

ISOLATION, LOCKDOWN, PANDEMIC and a new song.

Everyone no doubt has stories of their time in lockdown due to the pandemic.  I made a few notes about our experiences as its so easy to forget about how we passed the time of isolation and social distancing.  I summed up much of our experience in a song which follows at the end of the blog.  From early March our world started to change and as part of the over 60’s cohort, we basically followed government advice to stay home.  By 24th March NSW was in total lockdown and the Queensland border closed on 25th March. Strange how easily our life transformed into online classes, Zoom get-togethers & seminars, grocery deliveries, daily walks and more time for ukulele practices.

Not the best time to be selling a motorhome, but in March we put the Lestervan on the market nevertheless.  In the end our new motorhome arrived in April and after various in-person and facetime showings we sold the Lestervan on 2nd of June.

As restrictions began to loosen up in May we began seeing friends and family again.  In June we farewelled our dear Hermy who, as the girl’s nanny and a good family friend, was an important part of our life for over 30 years. In between we have had some long overdue repairs done on our property and caught up all the regular medical appointments; but the big focus has been on getting Belle, the new motorhome, ready for an extended trip north chasing warmer weather.

SOON WE WILL BE HEADING OFF FOR MORE ADVENTURES IN BELLE!

PAT’s PANDEMIC SONG – For some unknown reason the new words to this Skyhooks (70’s Aussie band) song just kept going around in my head.  Then I found the uke chords in the SCUM Ukulele songbook, so it was meant to be. I clumsily put them together and then asked my musical friend and physio, Catherine, if she would “tidy it up” for me.  The result of all that follows.  We play it often now, for our own ears only.  This version includes the uke cords in case anyone is interested.

All My Friends Are Staying Home.  –   (With Thanks To Skyhooks and Scum and Catherine)

INTRO:  C///  G///  Am///  ////  F///  G///  C/// ////

CHORUS

Well (C) all my (G) friends are staying (Am) home now ////

(C) Yes, they’re (G) all washing (Am) hands /// ////

(C) They’re all keeping (G) phys-i-cal (Am) distance /// ////

(F) They’re all doing (Em7) what they’re (C) told /// ////

 

(C) Well, we’ve got a new (G) language and a (Am) new lifestyle

Zoom (C) facetime, skype and virtual cups of (G) tea

(C) Online (G) seminars and (Am) exercise

(F) E-ven computer lessons for my Uke and (G) me /// ////

 

(C) No more (G) make-up and no (Am) dressing up

(C) Why’d we ever fall under that (G) spell?

It’s (C) hard not-to-(G) hug  n-kiss the (Am) family /// ////

But (F) nec-ess-ar-y to keep all safe and (G) well /// ////

CHORUS

Well I (C) looked into the (G) TV the (Am) other night  (the other night)

I saw (C) Netflix, Iview, Apple and SB-(G)-S

(C) Such a (G) big choice what (Am) should I do? (why don’t you play some cards?)

(F) A movie, a puzzle, or (G) clean up all this (C) mess?  (Ha, ha, ha, ha)

 

(C) Sometimes I (G) feel like I’m (Am) left behind   (always -left behind)

And (C) sometimes I feel like I just ne-ver go (G) out //// ////

I (C) wonder (G) now if this will (Am) ever end   (Oh, will it – ever end?)

(F) This great big world has changed, there is no (G) doubt

(oh no, oh no, oh no-o-o)

CHORUS

But (C) I’m all (G) caught up in this (Am) virus

Yes (C) I’m all (G) caught up with this (Am) fear

(C) I’m all (G) caught up with Pan-(Am)-demic

And this (F) house! I’ll (G) never get out of here (C) repeat x1

 

So (C) no-one is (G) going out, no (Am) drivin’ about

The (C) air is fresh and the sky is (G) clear

(C)Are we (G) fixing up the (Am) worlds’ woes

By (C) just stayin’ (G) home and drinking (Am) beer? //////repeat x 2

(C) just stayin’ (G) home and drinking (C) beer //// //// //