A rather frosty morning - Day 2 in New Norfolk - this is what greeted us
We walk up to the New Norfolk town centre and with forty minutes to kill, decide to stop and have a proper coffee and a pie from the bakery just down from the bus stop. One thing I have noticed about Tasmania is how clean it is. It's rare to even see a cigarette butt on the ground. Another nice surprise is the bus to Hobart - it's a giant coach...clean, spotless actually, and graffiti free. Two thumbs up for a comfy 50 minute ride into the city. It's really frosty yet sunny today though I hear they are forecasting rain. I hope not. We will see.
The trip to Hobart is uneventful - with beautiful mountain views for most of the ride. That's the thing we are quickly learning about Tassie. No matter which town you are in, there are usually mountains in front, to the sides and the back of you.
Hobart is lovely. We make our way to Salamanca, after the really nice bus driver gave us both directions how to reach it and a concession for the ride because we were tourists - cutting the price easily in half - $7.20 for the two of us one way. Not too shabby.
The markets are bustling and Chris and I spend time wandering up and down, checking all the stalls. We buy presents for the kids and his mum (actually got the most unusual bottle holder for her as a gift... and loved it so much, I got one for us also.) We stop for a drink about 1pm - walking to the park for a rest, then continue on through the stalls stopping again for another drink at a little pub on the fringes of the markets where Chris has a beer and I went the lemon, lime and bitters route. And here's the rain! Argh. It never really goes away.
About three pm, while the markets are closing, we head back to McQuarry Street to double-check where we are due to be picked up at 5.30pm. If we miss the bus we are in trouble. It's the last for the day - and strangely enough I don't remember seeing any taxi's. Not a one. That sorted we wander the streets, just browsing and trying to keep from getting wet. A well worth it trip into Myer's scores me some makeup. By 4pm I'm (we) are starving. All I've eaten all day is a banana, half a meat pie and a donut from one of the stalls.
Unfortunately, Hobart is much like Perth both in layout - that's not the unfortunate part, this is .....and the way they shut up shop early in the day. We are unsuccessful finding a cafe or even a pub serving food and neither of us feel like dodging the rain or the 10 minute walk back to the Salamanca Eatery where we almost guaranteed to find food. So subway it is. We split a foot-long and I have to say, it is the nicest meatball sub I've had in a long time.
We waste a bit more time browsing and lucky for us, the 5.30pm coach is a little early to arrive, which is great because it's now very blustery and the temperature seems to have dropped about 10 degrees.
The trip home is uneventful except for three teen boys who swear and carry on for the first half of the trip.
It's getting dark as we pull into New Norfolk and the temperature has plummeted even further. Our hands and ears and faces are frozen but before we can head back to the caravan park we need a few supplies. Dire straits!! I have just remembered we are out of coffee!
We stock up on java, milk, bacon, eggs, bread and a few sundries and I take the 15 minute walk back with my legs close together: I have been busting for the loo since we were back in Hobart. EEK! It's a long walk back laden with parcels and food bags.
All in all, we have had a lovely if tiring day. We look forward to having a hot drink, getting warm and kicking back for the evening.
Tomorrow we head west to the Salmon Farm, Russell Falls and The Wall. Should be a good day.
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