I think I left off after the fantastically preserved hundred year old Queenstown where we just popped in and out of briefly while Mark hoped to find a pub playing "the cricket" (game) and I wandered up and down main street...all three blocks of it. A man in one of the shops hooked me up with the radio station broadcasting the game because no one could be bothered to have the paid tv channels. Mark was satisfied with that (until it got too static-y to understand driving up and over Mt. Owen behind town) and I felt comforted by the sound of the announcers. I had absolutely no clue what they were talking about but it sounded just like one of dad's baseball games that he would play while working in the garage or garden with Marirose and I beneath his feet, "helping."
On the way to the next town we passed a campground and Mark said, "Let's go and have a sticky beak, hey?" So we drove in for a look around but decided to continue on. There have been several people I've met and stayed with who have strong Aussie accents and use a lot of colloquial terms. I read off a list of ridiculous sounding phrases (such as the one above) to Mark and he explained them for me. One time he made me laugh so hard as I got back into the car after being out on a "bush walk" (he generally stayed behind) and I found a little leach on my pant leg. And he goes, "get outta the car! You're covered in bush shit!" Being a construction worker, complete with the typical t-shirt and smoke hanging out of his mouth, his language was often quite abrasive. But as with my previous experience spending multiple days in the car with people, true colors shine brightest after the initial warming up period and though he could be quite harsh with his words, he was just a big softie! Incredibly generous too for which I was absolutely grateful! He may not have realized that sometimes he was too generous for his own good! The next town we stopped in, Derwent Bridge, had a beautiful pub and he shouted my dinner! It was wonderful to enjoy a hot, delicious meal after camp food for a week. That night we drove to camp at Lake St. Claire.
We meant to stay in the bunk houses because it was so cold but no one was around at the camp host site. I ended up staying at the fire pit for as long as I could keep my eyes open to keep warm. It was a communal spot and that night I introduce s'mores to Mark and an Austrian couple. They all loved them!! The ingredients I found at the teeny tiny "supermarket" were a bit funny to me but it was the same idea.
After a chilly sleep I got up early to do some laundry and found myself melted onto a large, flat boulder in the morning sunshine beside the lake. I enjoyed sitting in the silence of a morning in which I don't need my ears for voices, the only sounds being the nature all around me. While the water was glorious, I was even more amazed by the stunning beauty of the gum trees. My enamoration grew even more once we got to Bruny Island. These trees are gorgeously simple in their form, exuding natural beauty. They look hearty and pure, the only slightly weather worn evidence was the stringy bark beneath certain species. Their smooth, pale brown and grey limbs reach to the pure blue sky with absolute strength. They seem soft and safe like the body of a very toned body. I felt like I could cuddle up to one and all my worries would wash away.
I could have been a passenger on the roads along Bruny Island's countryside forever. When we took our car across on the ferry I had to play 'I'm on a Boat' for Mark! But the music soon dissipated into the background as my senses were captivated by the beauty of the island. The lush green forest landscape gave way to deep rolling hills and then tumbled down to the waves of the ocean. The roads were extremely windy and unsettling at times but the scenery made up for it. The island could be crossed in an hour but we stopped at many little places along the way. The Berry Farm was a yummy treat and offered a stunning view of Adventure Bay over the summer grass and occasional tree. Behind it were the farm's berry picking paddocks where you can pick your own and bring them inside to top with ice cream! I had pepper berry! It was unsuspectingly spicy, I mean, it was ice cream after all!
We camped on the beach with a couple German girls and another Aussie guy (who also enjoyed my s'mores!) and had fun with them. Matt knew a spot where you could watch the penguins return to their nests from the ocean so we all went down to see it. I walked along the beach collecting shells and arrived as it began to get dark...at about 10! The fairy penguins were so darn cute! A couple chicks came wandering out of their holes just as a large (flock?) of tiny penguins waddled their way out of the waves and across the sandy beach up to the dunes. Their calls and chatter were so cute and fascinating to listen to. We watched them try and settle for a couple hours. Apparently they only sleep for about 4 minutes at a time. It was a wonderful experience. The look out above where they roost is 240 steps high! But we watched from behind a deck on the beach front with walls and look out windows for peeking without scaring the little things.
The sunrise the next morning, at 4 am invited me to go for another walk once again enjoying the silence of the morning. I found a "love heart" rock on the southern beaches later that day that was probably 5 kilos and the size of a basketball but flat. I was very impressed! Some of you already know I tend to find them (hearts in nature) everywhere but this one was exceptionally beautiful and well shaped. I recon it found me. I decided to leave it on the front porch at Rich and Rosie's in gratitude for hosting me while I stayed in Hobart.
They were wonderful arms to fall into. Caleb from the cafe gave me their number and it was a blessing to stay with them. Other than finding my new favorite book of all time, I found many other gifts in my experience there: friendship, support, foundational blocks for spiritual searching, opportunities for cultural understanding, safety, comfort and most importantly, love. We had some amazing conversations and it seemed I was definitely meant to meet them both and experience their kindness. Their guidance will carry me into the next chapter of my journey. My trip to Tasmania was completely unpredictable in so many ways and absolutely gorgeous in the connections, conversations, experiences and full of generosity and kindness from friends. And the trip wouldn't have been complete without my trip to the extremely provocative Mona. That was certainly an experience... My favorite part may have been the amazing lunch I had!
The end of my trip was blessed with the grace of a phone call to a very good friend back home. It was incredible to connect and be reminded of the love and beauty of lasting friendship. There's nothing stronger than the open heart of a friend and I feel so humbled in being able to experience the life of someone I care about. Sometimes we need a reminder that we're in this for each other and we can never really be alone if we recognize the love around us. I'm so grateful for the friends I have back home and the friends I've made here. Especially the beautiful and spontaneous friends who pop in and out again for a glimpse of the love that shines through each of us to each other. Mali on Bruny island was one of these gorgeous people. And there have been many others. Life is a fillet of fish!..Life's a happy song when there's someone by my side to sing along! -The Muppet Movie.
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