Learning to Walk Again
Learning to Walk Again A few years ago some French trekking friends asked me to write an essay for their blog. I gave them this: Why I Walk. There, my opening point was that the reason I do long-distance trekking is because I can. That is, I am acutely aware of the privilege reasonable health […]
In Tasmania Day 14 Hobart to Launceston
In Tasmania Day 14 Hobart to Launceston I really didn’t want to leave Hobart— I’d grown attached so I visited my favorite places (including a long time at the Retro Cafe) before catching the bus to Launceston, a town that might be more difficult to like. I’m staying in the Arthouse Hostel— a magnificent […]
In Tasmania Day 13 Hobart
In Tasmania Day 13 Hobart A day to organize— booked hostel in Launceston, bus travel there and transport to trail head on the 31st, my Overland Track start date. Then took a boat up the Derwent to the Museum of New Art (MONA), a magical, bizarre and disorienting experience. On the ride up I saw […]
In Tasmania Day 12 Hobart
In Tasmania Day 12 Hobart Always familiar, a rest day involves slow catching up with messages, requests, etc. still trying to maintain that hard-fought distance from bureaucratic triviality. Wandered to the Retro Cafe for a flat white and to update (this) blog. It’s Australia Day, so the locals have a long weekend. Many are back […]
In Tasmania Day 12 Rivulet Camp to Cockle Creek 10km (and on to Hobart).
In Tasmania Day 12 Rivulet Camp to Cockle Creek 10km (and on to Hobart). Every schoolchild in the English-speaking world at some point reads Matthew Arnold’s “Dover Beach.” A beautiful and generally easy to understand poem, perfect for angsty individuals struggling with meaning between the tattoo parlor and the second-hand shop. Having grown up […]
In Tasmania Day 11 Surprise Bay to Rivulet Camp
In Tasmania Day 11 Surprise Bay to Rivulet camp Surprise Bay is the right name for the start of this part. Thus far, the map times and distances have been spot on for me, so when the notes predicted up to 10 hours to cross a 9 km trek, I felt a little anxious, particularly […]
In Tasmania Day 10 Deadman’s Cove to Surprise Bay
In Tasmania Day 10 Deadman’s Cove to Surprise Bay This was a day of Tassie walking—rained all night, packed up in a drizzle, and set off fairly early (nearly every day I’ve started within 10 minutes of 7). The South Coast track follows the coast and often drops onto spectacular beaches —mesmerizing waves, broad sand, […]
In Tasmania Day 9 Louisa River to Deadman’s Cove 13 km
In Tasmania Day 9 Louisa River to Deadman’s Cove 13 km This was billed as the most difficult day of the track and lived up to it. A simple hike, up and over the Ironbound Range and down to the sea again—the mountain tops are windy, the beaches are as well, funneling in Antarctic air. […]
In Tasmania Day 8 Cox Bight to Louisa River 17km
In Tasmania Day 8 Cox Bight to Louisa River 17km Off early on a misty walk down the beach for an easy day’s trek to Louisa River. The difference between this area and Port Davey is astounding. The trail is much drier due to climate and surface, but mostly it’s been duckboarded and bridged almost […]
In Tasmania Day 7 Melaleuca to Cox Bight 12km
In Tasmania Day 7 Melaleuca to Cox Bight 12km Felt much better after a day’s rest and a good wander around Melaleuca. The caretakers at Melaleuca were so kind and had been on many adventures in their time. Also Kendron, the psychologist, was good for a number of long conversations over coffee. The hike to […]