We set the alarm for an early(ish) wake up. Well, early when you're on holiday. Last night over dinner Nola mentioned there is a fantastic day of cruising down the Gordon River if we were looking for something to do while in Strahan. She told us everything about it - and we are more than eager to try it.
We shower, dress and then eat a light breakfast Nola had kindly set out the night before. Then we wait for one of Rick and Nola's friends, Cliff to kindly pick us up. Nola had pre-arranged this also. What a gem.
We get to the dock - and buy a premium ticket for $110 each which allows us to sit on the 2nd tier deck - on the window side with only two seats. No sharing. Lunch is included.
The cruiser is magnificent - huge and luxurious. We settle in our seats ready for a day, all six hours of it, cruising down the river. The first part of the journey sees us leave Strahan riding the tide through a narrow opening onto the open seas aptly named 'Hell's Gate. We don't venture too far out onto the seas - it's rather choppy - so doing an about face we head back down past Liberty Point where after approximately 2 hours we hit Sarah Island. We dock here to explore one of the oldest convict settlements in Australia and relive the absorbing tale of how inmates turned a hell on earth into one of the largest ship building yards in Australia.
The cruiser
Hells Gate - where the river meets the sea
regales us with tales dramatising each point of interest on the island from the convict cells to the Goveners' quarters to the old, now broken down ovens they used for cooking damper. His accent and crazy jokes really make us
smile.
Sarah Island
We finish at Sarah Island and start the trek further down the river. Lunch is served - a nice selection of cold meats and salads, Tasmanian double-cream brie, smoked salmon, crackers and bread plus lots of other things. Chris and I buy a bottle of Tassie merlot to drink with lunch. Okay, this is heaven.
By 1pm, the sun is out enough for people to shed their coats and scarves and we all move freely around the three decks . The scenery is quite breathtaking with deep forests and craggy mountains and in a quieter moment, we take in a video playing - a documentary on the 'piners' - those men responsible for bringing down the huon pine trees for a living.
We dock back home at around 3pm, relaxed and after a wonderful day out.
After a look around the 'Old Saw Mill' we buy some offcuts of huon pine for sale. They are ready-made in coaster, potholder and cutting board sizes, just needing to be oiled and used. A real talking point. They are so different. I get some for Nola too as a thank you, then wonder if it's like taking someone to the beach when they live on the foreshore. Apparently not. They're a hit. Nola mentions she hasn't got anything like them.. and just loves wood things. I'm happy about that at least.
After Nola collects us from the dock we head back to her house and get changed for a walk on the beach. Her dogs are restless and ready for a walk. We all are actually. Harry and Scarlett are the best two dogs in the world. Just sweethearts. We head down to Ocean beach. It's an unusual beach - the sand is wet and makes sucking noises as we walk and it stretches for around 37 km's. Long by anyones standards. There's foam under our feet and fresh water creeks running down from the sand dunes to meet with the salt water of the ocean. The dogs take advantage, stopping every so often to take a drink.
We walk for about a km then turn around and walk the other km back. We are all happy yet pooped after.
Back home we have a few drinks and Nola sorts dinner - the most delicious foccacias I've ever had.
We hang around talking and then settle and watch some T.V. Chris and Rick are more like old friends who have been apart for a while and Nola and I much the same. It just feels so comfortable.
Tomorrow we bid a sad farewell to a wonderful couple that opened their home to us, fed us, let us sleep in the most amazingly, comfortable bed and well, to be honest, were just fantastic all round. Thank you, guys. We look forward to seeing you again in the future!!
We are off to see Cradle Mountain tomorrow and then are staying in Launceston - the 2nd largest city in Tasmania.
What a brilliant day.
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