Tasmania by $10 Bike
Why They Call It the Pieman River: A Tasmania Ferry Story
It struck me as curious. How does a Tasmanian river come to be called the Pieman River? Recently, while spending some time with the crew of the “Fatman” ferry, Tasmania’s smallest, remotest punt, I found out why.
In the interview you’re about to hear, I’m hanging out with ferry operator Blackie Stewart in the Fatman’s wheelhouse. After he’s explained the punt’s workings,… Continue reading
Bush Fever Again: Heading to Flinder’s Island, Tasmania
The rash from my recent leech bites has faded but the travel itch hasn’t. Yep, that means, as I do from time to time, I’m going “bush” again. It’s too soon to tell where I’m ending up. All I know is I’ve a hankering for the sea and am thinking of heading off to Flinders Island off the north east coast of Tasmania.
Oh, and I’ll… Continue reading
What It Really Costs to Ride Tasmania on a $10 Bike
Fact is, it costs money to ramble around Tasmania interviewing folks about leeches and orchids and crayfish. Unlike the mysteriously financed Indiana Jones, who never broke off a good sword fight to earn a few bucks, my trips are all self-funded. If the money runs out, so does the action.
When I’m not on the road, you might spot me pedaling around Oriental,… Continue reading
Tasmanian Road Tar Art
Call this one the update from the road more repaired….
Used to be I dreamed of becoming a sophisticate – drive a fancy car and swish wine around my face while gazing at modern art I pretended to understand. I got as far as drinking the wine but went off adventuring long before I developed the taste and finances for fancy cars.
No these days, tackling the back roads of Tasmania on a bike that cost less than a six-pack… Continue reading
Still Ramblin’ Around Bruny Island, Tasmania
I’m still ramblin’.
A few days ago I mentioned I was headin’ up the road for a few days – just to see what’s around the next Tasmanian bend. Well, I’m still out there. Should be back in a few days – unless, like my buddy Kenny and I are bad for doing, I just keep going for a spell longer.
Come to think of it, ramblin’s… Continue reading
Gone Ramblin’ Up Tasmania’s East Coast
Ramblin’.
That’s what my buddy Kenny calls it when we take off on our mules with no destination in mind.
Which is precisely how I plan to spend the next few days. Only I’m heading out on my $10 bike instead of a mule. ‘thinking of heading up Tasmania’s East Coast for a look.
’til then, I hope 2011’s started well for you. Drop by in a few days to see… Continue reading
Shy Albatross Following the Crayfish Boat Off Tasmania
For the past month, the Southern Ocean has been my back yard. Aboard the “Miss Carmen”, my junk shop bike and I have voyaged from Hobart, Tasmania, south to Port Davey then north to Bruny Island.
Mornings at sea, after the day shot was finished (when the crayfish pots were put in the water), we steamed to another fishing spot. It was during these hours that the Shy albatross came to visit.… Continue reading
A New Year’s Wish Cast Off a Crayfish Boat, Tasmania
It’s the age old tradition. You go to a foreign land. It’s New Years Eve. There’s a fountain in the town square. You throw in a piece of local currency. You make a wish. You go back to drinking champagne.
Or, if you’re like me, you don’t see the sense of throwing good money into the drink just because others are doing it.
Spoilsport.
Then there’s… Continue reading
Crayfish Bait Skeletons: A Southern Ocean Close-Up in Tasmania
The longer I stay in Tasmania, the farther I’ve strayed from my original objective – travel Australia’s southernmost state by horse or mule. Instead of traveling overland, I find myself drawn back to the sea. But that’s okay. It’s hard to jump aboard a crayfish boat for a stint at sea… Continue reading
Message on a Tasmanian Beer Can Postcard
First, a damn big thank you to everyone who’s subscribed to the Postcard from Tasmania service – that’s where I send folks a real postcard, complete with genuine postmark, from Tassie. I mean really, didn’t you feel better when that Tasmanian devil card showed up in your letter box? The postman sure was amused and hell, it paid for my pint down at the southernmost pub in Australia. Made everyone’s day and I hear one even ended up on a… Continue reading
Sounds Like a Tasmanian Crayfish
Home in Carolina, the sound that cheers me most is the sound of a mule heading up the road, wagon in tow. It was a sound I’d hoped to replicate here in Tasmania.
Instead, I’ve ended up listening to crayfish.
Yep, instead of hitting the road in an equine… Continue reading
A Week Crayfishing in Tasmania: Reds, Brindles, and Close-Up Photos
By now you know the drill. My attempt to ride a mule around Tasmania failed because, well, mules are near impossible to find here. Still, the ten dollar bike I ended up taking off on has served me near as well as an equine companion. Better, in fact, I’d argue, when it comes to meeting crayfish.
Last time I wrote, I mentioned how I landed a berth on the crayfish boat “Miss Carmen”. On it, I ended up going to… Continue reading
From Mule to Bike to Crayfish Boat: Setting Sail in Tasmania
Damn Skippy! The Plan’s not going as planned. The original hope had been to ride a mule across Tasmania. Silly me. I never bothered checking whether or not Tasmania had mules before I showed up.
Bugger. They didn’t. Seems Tassie’s a Mule Free Zone. But it’s not bike free. Which is exactly what I bought at the junk store. And just hit the road with that.
So last week I’m standing on the Southport dock talking with a fellow called… Continue reading
The Ashland Family: A Tasmanian Camping Life on Cockle Creek
Slowly, I’m coming to grips with the notion that I may be touring Tasmania by bike and boat instead of a horse, as I’d hoped. Like Mick Jagger sang, you don’t always… Continue reading
South East Cape – The Farthest South You Can Go In Tasmania
Recently, to get a better sense of what Tasmania’s southern coast looks like, I biked to Catamaran on the southern coast. There, I picketed my bike (you can tell I miss my mules because most people just refer to parking their bike) and hoofed it cross-country to the shore of the Southern Ocean.
Without getting all geographic on you, South East Cape is the southern-most cape in Australia. Along with Cape Horn and the Cape of… Continue reading
