Izzy the Bus - Back on the Road

The view from Mt. Wellington on a clear day.

Izzy the bus is back on the road - she has passed her safety inspection, had her batteries revived by the trusty RACT (Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania) and done her first two day tours of the season - a Hobart City Sights that included a trip to the top of Mt. Wellington and a 5 hour meander through the lush, beautiful Huon Valley for a lunch and wine tasting. 

Mt Wellington towers 4,000 feet over Hobart right behind our house, and it's like having a living, breathing presence in your back yard, with its own personal climate.  If there's a cloud on top, you simply won't see anything of the breathtaking views and Mt. Wellington is all about the views, or so I'd thought.

"The mountain" from the Hobart waterfront.

Even though we could see some cloud movement from town, our guests from Scenic Tours, who were using their "free choice" tour to explore Hobart with Island Time Tours, wanted to head for the mountain anyway.  In spite of an almighty gale blowing, as always, when we arrived at the summit, and the view being completely obscured by clouds and guests were thrilled because it was snowing - hard - and that just seemed to make their day!

Our group of 14 passengers in the afternoon, headed for the Huon Valley with its verdant, rolling hills, spectacular spring blossoms and little lambs frolicking, like a scene from a children's book.  We sampled to-die-for chocolate at the Nutpatch, a world class chocolate and nougat shop in the most unlikely location at the edge of an old gas station in Kettering - I love those out of the way Tasmanian gems.  They have nougat made from hazelnuts that grow right there at their nearby property, and the miracle of it is that it doesn't stick to your teeth!

Hartzview Liqueurs

Next we headed to Hartzview Vineyard for a wine tasting and delicious gourmet lunch platter.  In typical Tasmanian fashion, the day before there had barely been a view of the field right in front of the cellar door, but this day there was a panorama over the vineyards and a glimpse of the Hartz mountains toward the Southwest wilderness. 

Panorama Vineyard

Next stop was Panorama Vineyard, on the banks of the Huon River, with their friendly welcome and warming fireplace.  Guest tasted delicious Pinots and cool climate Reislings as well as their popular pear liqueur.  

Home Hill

We finished our tour at Home Hill near Huonville, another award-winning winery that is popular for weddings and other events.  Their alpacas add to the image of rural bliss as you drive up to the impressive rammed earth building.   

As we headed back to Hobart our passengers each enjoyed a famous Huon Valley apple that I had picked up at a roadside stand the day before, and we pulled up to the Hotel Grand Chancellor only about a half hour late.  Passengers had been forewarned about our philosophy of "authentic, unhurried Tasmania" specially when it comes to food and wine-tasting!

Tennis balls, Barack Obama and more walking

Laura and the Yarra River, Melbourne

I only ended up having to walk a very short distance on my way to Australia, thanks to a very cooperative Virgin Australia (love that airline! - www.virginaustralia.com) which gave me three seats to myself on an almost full flight so I slept quite comfortably for much of the 15 hour stretch.  The flight to LAX could have been the longest haul except for a very successful, high tech device that saved my back when I had to sit upright - a 75 cent tennis ball!  Placed strategically behind my lower back, it did a fantastic job of relieving the pressure on my spine.

Rosie and Marzipan the "Astor cat"

I enjoyed two days in Melbourne with our oldest daughter Laura, who is finishing her final year of an advanced diploma in Screen and Media with a documentary about a beautiful old movie theatre in the St. Kilda region, right down the street from her apartment.  The Astor has been under threat of being closed as one of the last truly old-time movie theatre experiences.  Laura's childhood passion for The Clyde Theater on Whidbey Island has transferred to this palatial, ornate old gem that boasts proper food in its snack bar (including tea and cakes, as well as beer and wine) and - my favourite - a resident cat named Marzipan who lives in the theatre and graced us with her presence and attention when we arrived early for a screening of "A Royal Affair" a wonderful movie about early Danish royalty.  (The present crown princess of Denmark, Mary, happened to grow up just a block from where I did in Taroona, Tasmania but that is another post!)  Laura's blog at wordpress is "Saving the Astor" and thanks to the efforts of thousands of people who are as passionate as her, the Astor has now indeed been saved.  I'm always impressed when communities win out over small pockets of wealth and privilege.

Obama's speech in Fed. Square, Melbourne

Speaking of which, one of the most memorable events of my stay in Melbourne was arriving at Federation Square in the heart of town and being greeted by a huge image of Barack Obama giving his speech on a giant outdoor screen.  We were so excited to be able to see it live, and were struck by that fact that apart from some fleeting interest by a few passersby, there were only two other people (an American couple - I checked) who were actively watching.  When Oprah gave a live speech here a few years ago the place was packed with cheering fans! 

Walking in Taroona

Taroona High School

Tasmanian Wattle blossom

View from my Social Studies classroom

And now I'm back in Tassie, staying at my Mum's while we do some work on our house.  My morning walks take me through the neighbourhood where I spent my entire childhood.  Like Whidbey, it is beautiful and surrounded by water - it overlooks the Derwent River, just as it meets the ocean that, at its southernmost point touches Antarctica. Taroona High School, which all seven kids in my family attended (as well as Princess Mary!) could possibly have one of the best views of any school, and I remember it being a major distraction as I stared out the window and dreamed of travel and writing!

Taroona High School - new pizza oven

Swimming lessons "pool" - Derwent River.

And now it's time to take Izzy the bus for her safety inspection so I can get back to the business of Island Time Tours, sharing this lovely island state with some of the visitors who will pass through this summer, as well as local seniors who enjoy our "Jaunts" from Hobart.  

Coming from Fall to early spring is a strange jump, but I'm happy to make it!

Thanks for listening... 
Rosie

  

Walking to Australia

Sunset at Mawelton Beach, Whidbey Island

I have posted twice in one day because I have fallen behind in my commitment to my blog and because today's the day I'm walking back to Australia!  Having done something horrible to my lower back, I have spent the past few days in varying states from lying down to walking non-stop, and at times not being able to move at all.  The power of mind over matter - or it may just be time and anti-inflammatories - has improved things, but this could well be the mother of all trips!

The Clinton Ferry dock

I've enjoyed this flight for years, ever since I started doing it by myself, and when people ask how I can stand it, I remind them that I used to do it for years, often alone, with three kids and I always have that to compare it to.  No movies, no meals in peace, no reading, and almost no sleeping - these days I get to do all that, plus drink free wine! 

Leaving Whidbey Island - Mukilteo ferry dock

But this trip may end up being one other I have to compare to - it may be the longest one yet; longer than the one from Saudi Arabia to New York (about 20 hours) in a middle seat, newly pregnant, with an 8 month old baby on my lap and a sweet Arab man next to me with a 14 month old - on his lap.  It may even feel longer than the 48 hour one from Seattle to Hobart, with three children under five, when we had two plane problems that caused two delays and then a man had a heart attack and we had to turn around and go back to Hawaii, then wait 10 hours to get on another flight, with a bunch of partiers, in the "smoking" section (yes, they actually used to have those on 14 hour flights!!)

Even with the long flights that I've enjoyed, there's always a moment where you think you can't stand it and you're going to flip out and run amok through the cabin.  Once I reach the halfway mark though, it's usually ok, as the second half of anything involving time always goes faster (except for pregnancy). 

The most uncomfortable thing for me at the moment is sitting down, and of the 19 hour trip I'm about to take, 14 of those are non-stop from LAX to Melbourne.  So I'm thinking my only choice might be to walk the whole way.  Once everyone is asleep and things calm down, after meals and general settling in,  I'll be the annoying person pacing up and down the aisles, trying not to bump people who inevitably have various body parts overflowing their seats. 

And still, somehow, I'll find a way to love the trip.  I always do.  The day the smell of jet fuel fails to stir my imagination.......even with a sore back I don't think it ever will.

Thanks for listening...

Fall on Whidbey Island

Whidbey berries

Fall has arrived on the island.  The blackberries that have been ripening are now plump and juicy and sweet. The fog is rising off the wetlands in the mornings and the twin baby deer who have been around all summer with their mother have completely lost their spots.  Today, the day I leave the island and the USA, the big yellow school buses will start rolling down the roads for the start of another school year.

Floating on the lake

I remember those exquisite Fall mornings when we managed to be on time and I would walk the three kids out to the bus, usually with a dog or two, and occasionally a pig would follow us as well. It was always such a peaceful start to the day, except when we miscalculated and halfway down the lane we'd see the bus heading our way and there'd be yells and panic and running and breathlessness.

Then there was the walk back - the quiet, peaceful one where I was alone and hugging myself with joy at the prospect of a fresh cup of tea and the day to myself.

Wetlands

It's going to be hard to leave, and when I head back to my "real" life; there will be days when I'm going to wish I had these moments back - my peaceful morning walks and long summer days.

Downtown Langley

But spring is coming to Tasmania and we have wonderful tenants settled in here, ready to give Izzy  the love and care that she'll miss from me.   I'm going to miss this place - good-bye Whidbey Island, till next summer...

Sunset at Maxwelton Beach