Tenacity triumphs!

It just goes to show that the anti goodtime forces can be overcome if you persist long and hard enough. Early morning phone calls (ruininng holiday sleep ins...) resulted in Budget coming through with the goods.
At around 9:30 a truck arrived with a different version of the same model on the back, we headed back up the road to the pub, swapped them over and we were on our way. The difference in versions is twofold. 1. It is a nicer colour. 2. The windscreen wipers work.( 2.5 when they do – they don’t squeal at us). So even in the driving rain (yep it’s still commin’ down) we can hear each other and the radio. Unfortunately we can’t hear Ro’s birthday CD because it was left in the other car. The pluses just keep adding up...

We arrived at Port Arthur in the continuing downpour, purchased our tickets and headed down to the Marina in the depressing gloom and went on a 20 minute cruise of the harbour. This was great (even in the rain) where we did a loop of the Isle of the dead (curiously leaving people there but not picking any up) and saw various other fog/rain shrouded watery sights. We then went on a walking tour where the akubra topped; dry-as-a-bone wearing guide explained some of the history and layout of the site. The sea of umbrellas and ponchos following in her wake was a sight to behold. Like bedraggled rats we eventually wandered through various museums and asylums to emerge to the glorious sight of no rain.
Showers (on and off) for the rest of the day but we felt like we had beaten those humidity based oppressors and had come out the other side of the battle with ... well... a different colour car - and no hours lost. Apparently they have not had rain like that in the region for 10 years. Just how lucky can we be heh?
And so we headed north, crossing multitudes of frothing creeks and riverlets, it was a thoroughly enjoyable drive through the picturesque landscape. Like most of the state (apart from Hobart) the roads are really quiet and as such a pleasure to be on. When we hit the coast again the wind had stopped and the waters had turned mirror like. The smell in the air was of fresh oysters and Coles Bay awaited us.

When we got there we were greeted by the sight of the Hazards glowing in the setting sun (as the mountains in Tassie tend to do when not obscured by rain) and the burnt out remains of the petrol station. The fire had disabled the chef of the restaurant next door and as such we thought that dinner was going to be spaghetti out of can (not that we had one). Luckily the other establishment in town was still working. The Pub had great meals and local beverages which are great quality. This was a 2 minute walk from our luxurious cabin and as such we feel invigorated and ready to hit the walking tracks of the National Park tomorrow.