Riding the Waves...

The cancellation of the Wineglass cruise was a bummer but this morning would hopefully see us off for a Tasman Island Cruise.  We walked down to the wharf from the hotel and I do mean downhill.  The location of the hotel was not the most ideal as we were located up towards the top edge of the CBD of Hobart and everything that was 'happening' was down the hill.  But no time to worry about the walk back up the hill this evening...we just needed to find the office and make the tour bus.

Once again Natalie zeroed us in quite quickly on the Tasman Island Cruises office down along the waterfront and we were there with ample time to look amongst what I call all the 'trinkets and trash' items that supposedly attract tourist dollars.  Not wanting to carry anything more than I already was carrying I would wait until after the day's events to see if there was anything I wanted to add to my backpack.

One of Jeff's favorite lookouts

Soon we were off on the tour bus...all three of us...Natalie, myself and Jeff the driver (at least I think that was his name and if not--who's gonna know?!)  I have to admit being the only two on a bus that had the capacity of carrying 25 or so people did not leave me feeling keen on how good this tour might be despite all the accolades and awards posted on the Internet.  But, as we traveled along the highway, it soon became apparent that we once again had someone who loved what they did and did what they loved.  Jeff was coming up with this or that tidbit of information and history practically the whole way to our cruise destination and even made an unscheduled stop along the way at one of the lookout areas on the coast line that was one of his favorites.  Though it was threatening rain and overcast it is amazing what one can do with pictures to bring out the beauty you're seeing.

Before we knew it we were at our morning tea destination and Jeff dropped us off while he went to check on more passengers that would be joining us.  We sat down to have a yummy muffin each, Natalie had her usual latte' and I had a 'long black'.

Now I really couldn't tell you without googling it what a 'long black' really was but I didn't want to sound completely ignorant on the ways of coffee so I stuck to 'long black' which sounded close to what I would order in the U.S. which is just to say 'black'.  Upon looking up what exactly 'long black' was later I did get a chuckle when I read it was known in other countries as an 'Americano'.  Leave it to the American to order an 'Americano'. Also found out that the ingredients of a 'long black' was a shot of espresso mixed with half a cup of hot water.  Knowing this now, it made perfect sense why I felt jolted with that first sip or two of coffee...it must be close to a hot energy drink in caffeine amounts...not that I drink any of the energy drinks on the market these days.  I'm a hard core Diet Coke person...period. 

Jeff came in to get us after about 15 minutes and we were off to the Tasman Island Cruises office there and joined what turned out to be 9 other people and we all listened to a little spiel and got outfitted for the adventure.  Yup...I do mean outfitted or as they might say in Australia, rugged up.  We were each given a bright red Goretex coverall and it started to make you think what exactly were you getting into.  Bright red would make you easier to spot if you fell overboard and the Goretex material the coveralls were made of, as we all know, is a water repellent type material.  Just what kind of a wild tour had I got us booked on?!

We all shuffled out like the red teletubby 'Po' to the bus and climbed aboard to our short 15 or so minute drive down to the dock.  We had also gained one of the 'captains' of our boat 'flip flop' Damian who entertained us with his knowledge and wit on the trip.  It was a bit humorous as here we were all rugged up in Goretex coveralls and Damian had on a jacket, tshirt, jeans and flip flops.  We were soon to find out that he was pretty much impervious to the wind, cold and rain we would 'enjoy'.

Once at the dock we waited only a few minutes before we were soon boarding the 41 foot boat which was amazingly equipped with three 300 hp Mercury outboard motors.  Having once owned a boat with a mere 35 hp Yamaha I knew there was a lot of 'horses' propelling this boat and we would be able to 'scoot' as I called it quite quickly across the water.

Joining us was a second 'captain' and he, too, was Damian which was a bit comical.  We would soon find out how knowledgeable and personable these two guys were.  Just like in a jet as you taxiing down the runway we were getting the quick tour of where the life jackets were located, where the toilet facilities were down in the cabin and where to sit for a smoother ride.  I jumped at sitting in the back (the smoother ride) as, per normal, I expected to be taking lots of pictures.  After getting splashed a few times Natalie also joined me in the back and away we went.

It was exhilarating to me to be going out into the open seas.  I'd never been out on the ocean so this was an entirely new experience for me.  Soon 'flipflop' Damian was taking out several litres of water and small cups and started going from person to person offering ginger tablets to each of us which would help if we started feeling woozy with the wave movement.  All of us took a couple each and I never really gave it a thought...just figured it couldn't hurt and might just help...if I needed help that is.



Waterfall from
cliffs



Outcropping

The water was fairly smooth, much like what one would experience on one of the larger lakes here in Minnesota.  That is until we rounded a point and then the waves started to get a little bit bigger.  We were also experiencing some rain, some sleet, some snow and even a bit of sun as we headed along the coastline.  To say it was beautiful would be an understatement with the towering Jurassic Dolerite cliffs and rocks...it was simply breathtaking and amazing and all points in between.



"Flipper"

 As we continued on sneaking in and out of the cliffs and rock formations the waves were starting to increase in size.  Not to be disappointed we started to see dolphins coming around and following the boat and it was thrilling to see them though I felt like I was getting a bit of motion sickness trying to catch one as it surfaced with the camera.  But I succeeded in getting a few pictures of the dolphins and even more of the Australian and New Zealand fur seals as they were congregated in bachelor bands up and down the rocky coast.  We also had a few albatrosses fly over the boat and came across several groupings of Black faced cormorants.

As we rounded the outcropping point we found ourselves heading into the Tasman Sea and that's when you really knew that you were out in the ocean starting to get tossed about like the "Minnow" on Gilligan's Island on their three hour tour.  Well, we were on a three hour tour but I hadn't any doubts that we would make it back in one piece.

The further we went along the seas were getting rougher and to novices (at least me) the waves were getting way bigger!  Damian took us up one wave and we went airborne for what seemed like an eternity but which probably was only a second or two before we came crashing down into the trough of the wave with a slam!  He guesstimated the wave was probably 5 metres (16 feet) but to me it seemed much, much higher...a roller coaster ride was starting to feel a bit mundane to me. 

At one point he idled the motors and allowed the boat to wallow from side to side in the waves as he was telling us one more thing about the trip.  What that one thing was I'll never be able to tell you as the motion sickness I thought I had had for a bit with the dolphins was really making me notice each sideways motion of the boat.

We started to head back to port and, as a true landlubber, my morning tea didn't make it back with me.  I had no time to hit the dunny (facilities) but managed to hang my head over the edge.  All I could do was laugh about how I didn't have any sea legs and after a bit 'flipflop' Damian came over and offered me a few bacon biscuits (flavored crackers) and against my better judgement I took a couple.  All was well for maybe ten minutes and I found myself once again hanging over the edge.

By this time we were pretty much done with the scenic part of the trip and Damian was heading fairly fast and furious to port.  I had pulled the hood of my Goretex coverall over my head and was huddled up trying to stay warm and as dry as possible.  At times you'd think a bucket of water had been tossed right at you from the waves coming over the boat but I, as I'm sure the others might have been thinking, was glad for those waterproof (resistant) coveralls.  They weren't entirely waterproof but we came ashore much dryer than a group of people who had left along with us on a different tour without any protection from water.

As we docked and I was walking up to the bus Jeff met me and asked how I was feeling.  It took me back a bit and I asked if one of the Damians had radioed in that I got sick on the trip.  Jeff said 'nope...I've seen that look before'.  I don't know if I was greenish looking or what but I was feeling better even if I was embarrassed to be the only one of 11 to succumb to the wave action but if I had the chance I'd do it again...just maybe not eat much before hand.  Even so it was a blast!!

But we were not done for the day...we still had Port Arthur to go to which was a former convict settlement from the 1800s...but I'll save that for the next blog.

Until then...wherever you are...have a great day!!

If you would like to see more pictures from Day 4 - Tasman Island Cruise in Tasmania here is a link to that photo album on Picasa:  Play slideshow