Tassie Loop: Weldborough to Scottsdale

10 Feb 2014
Another lumpy ride in good weather and for the first time, we met some heavy truck traffic.  The Tassies used huge Mack trucks from the US.  When we hear them, we pull over since they create a nasty cross wind.
Scottsdale campsite was at the bottom of a huge hill and the trucks passed all night.  The campsite was free and became very full.  We met cyclists from Germany and Belgium.
We spoke with Steve who was the first of the £10 Poms who flew to Australia.  He claimed that a Chinese man in Singapore offered to buy him and his 11-year old twin brother - his father pondered but did not sell!  Word had it that the Chinese man was very rich and Steve did wonder what his life might have been like.  Still he was very content with his life in Australia. He was a retired travel coach driver (only 60) and showed us some amazing photos of his travels.  He and his wife travel continuously and he caddies for his wife, a keen golfer.  He suggested that we have a flag for the rear of the bike to help buses and trucks see us and gave us an Aussie flag.
Distance: 52km

Northeast Park, Scottsdale

Yellow-tailed black cockatoo

Tassie Loop: Scamander to Weldborough

9 Feb 2014
Lovely ride to St Helens along the coast before turning inland and the hills.  The big climb was sheer hell - very hot and windy.  We climbed over 600m in 15 km.  just as we were near the top, 2 cyclists were coming down at speed.  We spotted Richie Porte and cheered him on and Team Sky.  Richie is from Launceston and had recently completed the Tour Down Under winning the famous Willunga Hill stage and placing 4th overall.  He is now preparing for the Giro d'Italia where he will be team leader for Sky.
We made our way through strong gusts of crosswinds (reportedly up to 100km/h) to the historic Weldborough Pub and set up our tent under a holly tree.
The campsite was emptying since there had been over 400 mountain bike riders there for the annual Blue Dragon Mountain Bike Challenge.  The village (of about 3 houses) was the centre, together with nearby Derby for tin-mining and during its peak, over 1000 Chinese workers were employed.
"You're foreigners, from Australia?", we were asked by one of the regulars at the bar.  He was very friendly and gave us local information
Distance: 68km

Weldborough Pass Rainforest

Camping under the holly tree

Tassie Loop: Coles Bay to Scamander

8 Feb 2014
A long hot ride and by now, the usual rolling hills.  It was very scenic as the Tasman Highway followed the coast.  Stopped with a view to camp at Little Beach, but when we realised our co-campers were a stag party for a wild bunch of lads, we decided to push on to Scamander, a nondescript seaside town  We were the only campers at the park except for a couple who have been on the road with their caravan for 12 years and had no intention of stopping.
We had a Thai meal which was as close to Thai cuisine as we were from Bangkok.
Distance: 97km

Bliss!

Letterbox in Scamander

Tassie Loop: Freycinet National Park

7 Feb 2014
Rode down to Richardsons Beach after getting our 2-month Tasmania National Parks passes.  Our camping spot for tonight was within the Freycinet reserve just metres from the beach.  It was a sunny day.  Decided to climb Mt Amos, part of the range of granite mountains, known as the Hazards, which dominate Coles Bay.  It was a tough climb, but offered spectacular views over Wineglass Bay. The mountain has smooth faces of granite which becomes perilously slippery when wet so fine conditions are essential for a safe descent. As we were descending, the rain came, making it treacherous.  Nearly wore out shorts sliding about.  Our shoes were not suitable for the wet descent.  A lesson learnt- climb was 454m.
Treated ourselves to a very good meal and a decent Riesling from Clare.

Tassie Loop: Swansea to Coles Bay

6 Feb 2014
Only one good climb today, Cherry Tree Hill, and rewarded with fast descent and a homemade strawberry-raspberry ice cream at the bottom of the hill.  The road down to Coles Bay was quick.  Stopped to eat oysters and took another dozen with us for later.  Campsite was very sandy and windy.  We should have cycled another kilometre or two to the Freycinet National Park.
Met up with Ross and Susie and visited their amazing modern house perched on the cliff with panoramic views over the bay.  Ross is a good mate of Peter Barry.  He and Susie take their summer breaks at Coles Bay.
Distance: 59km

Tassie. Loop: Triabunna to Swansea

5 Feb 2014
After a cold night in the tent, we set off at 7.30am, after our coffee.   Fantastic scenery along the coast.  The region was named  Glamorgan Valley; we passed places like Pontypool, Llandaff before arriving at the quaint seaside resort of Swansea.  It had a broad bay, a bit like the Mumbles, except much bigger.  Passed a quirky spiked-top bridge built by convicts in 1845-48.

Camped on the edge of the ocean with the wind blowing off the sea.  Fortunately, the wind dropped at night.
Distance: 52km

The Welsh in Tasmania

Swansea campsite

Tassie Loop: Hobart(Cambridge) to Triabunna

4 Feb 2014
Very busy fast commuter traffic to old town of Richmond.  Hilly and no hard shoulder.  Climbed some big hills with names like Black Charlie's Opening and Bust-Me-Gall Hill; descended Break-Me-Neck Hill.  In the saddle for 5 hours before checking into campsite.  Countryside was very scenic: vineyards, fruit trees, open grazing for cattle and sheep.
Distance: 78km

Richmond