Betten On Bike: DAY 4 22/2/15 - RICHMOND TO TARRANA VIA EAGLEHAWK NECK (TOURING DAY)

Day 4 22/2/15 – Richmond to Tarrana via Eaglehawk Neck (Touring Day)

Yesterday we had rung the Tasman Boat Cruise office to discuss the options for doing the very famous award winning Tasman Island Cruise, which leaves near Port Arthur. We were concerned about the predicted weather change as for the past 3 days we had experienced perfect sunny days with around 27 degrees and today in the early 30s.

Storms and a series of thunderstorms were predicted for Monday so we opted to book this cruise for today. There would not be enough time for the guys to cycle there so they decided they would cycle back to Richmond on Monday instead.

We left Richmond at around 8am passing over the historic Richmond Bridge built in 1823 and famous as Australia’s oldest bridge and stopping to take photos as the weather was perfect.

Some of the main industry in this area is wine growing, cherries and oysters. I saw some quirky signs:

‘blooming good cherries’ and 100 metres further on

‘shucking good oysters’

The evidence of the horrific Dunalley fires which ravaged this region 2 years ago is still visible. Black charred trees sprouting new green foliage dotted the landscape for many kilometers.

On reaching the outskirts of Dunalley there is a sign which speaks volumes about the spirit of this township.

‘This is not a sleepy hollow

This is Dunalley’

I had to laugh at one point when a saw a young guy on a mountain bike with one hand on his handlebars and the other outstretched carrying a box of a dozen eggs. This was on the main highway quite a distance from any town. He must have been very keen to have eggs for breakfast.

We stopped at Eaglehawk to see the Tessellated Pavement – a natural occurring inter tidal rock platform formed by unusual geological conditions and a geological wonder. The platform has the appearance of tiles all cut evenly and precisely into regular patterns. We also visited the Blowhole, Tasman Arch and Devil’s Kitchen all rather amazing rock formations. There were also stunning views of the tall rugged coastline cliffs from the Tasman Seacliff Coast Lookout.

We had some lunch at the Tasmanian award winning seafood van in the car park of The Blowhole. Then it was off to Port Arthur to join the 1.30pm eco cruise. So many amazing sights – the highest vertical sea cliffs in the southern hemisphere at Cape Pillar (in the vicinity of 300 mtrs), towering Dolerite spires, the Totem Pole, cruising through colourful deep sea caves and seeing huge soaring flocks of Albatross in the open wild waters of the Southern Ocean.

We also saw New Zealand seals and on Tasman Island greater numbers of the larger Australian Fur Seals. The sight of the seals’ antics in and out of the water, the sounds they made & their pungent smell in the salty spray made for a very close encounter with these seals.

It was an invigorating experience travelling at high speed, heaps of high winds and sea spray (we were glad of the waterproof ponchos provided by the cruise company) and then making quick sharp turns – lots of adrenalin.

Back to the seafood van at Eaglehawk Neck for fish & chips & a glass of wine overlooking the jetty and the scenic waters of Pirate Bay.

Another wonderful day in southern Tasmania.

Tomorrow the guys will be back to business – cycling back to Richmond.