5 - 11 March 2018
Tasmanian Motorcycle Tour
Day 2 ~ Tuesday - March 6
Devonport - Hobart ~ 328kms
Devonport - Hobart ~ 328kms
Our wake up call came as promised - 45 minutes before we where to dock in Devonport, everyone was relieved to hear the call, not so much as to wake up but to be able to get away from the recliners!
We did the normal ‘morning routine’ for most people - yawn, scratch, toilet, teeth and look for food! Breakfast was continental for most of us, just to fill a hole, then back to finish packing and wait for our call to disembark. Cliff & Ken’s call for motorbikes on Level 5 came about the same time as pedestrian traffic were called.
Ken had the name for the motorbike hire place in Launceston so the two bikes made their way to the address given on the business website. Geoff, Beck, Kim & Guy had no problems collecting luggage and finding the bus terminal. The bus trip was uneventful, with some catching up on missed sleep. Although a little cool on the bikes, it was only 8 degrees when Cliff and Ken left Devonport, they were welcomed to a nice sunny day when the sun did rise.
The address given on the website didn’t look too motorbike orientated when Cliff & Ken arrived and a few ‘unsettling’ thoughts ran through their minds. Instead of staying here they found the bus terminal and waited for the others there. On arrival Geoff checked the address, it was a new address so everyone gathered luggage and walked the 3 blocks to the hire motorbikes - to everyone’s relief we could see the hire bikes as we rounded the final corner. Cliff & Ken collected the two FJRs from where they had parked them and waited while the others were organised with appropriate motorcycle riding gear, had extra luggage stored and the workings of the hire bikes explained. Geoff & Beck were on a Triumph American, a cruiser with leather panniers, sissy bar and a back rack luggage bag. Guy & Kim had a Triumph Tiger Adventurer with detachable side boxes and a top box. Both bikes were selected to suit the physical attributes of the rider.
We did the normal ‘morning routine’ for most people - yawn, scratch, toilet, teeth and look for food! Breakfast was continental for most of us, just to fill a hole, then back to finish packing and wait for our call to disembark. Cliff & Ken’s call for motorbikes on Level 5 came about the same time as pedestrian traffic were called.
Ken had the name for the motorbike hire place in Launceston so the two bikes made their way to the address given on the business website. Geoff, Beck, Kim & Guy had no problems collecting luggage and finding the bus terminal. The bus trip was uneventful, with some catching up on missed sleep. Although a little cool on the bikes, it was only 8 degrees when Cliff and Ken left Devonport, they were welcomed to a nice sunny day when the sun did rise.
The address given on the website didn’t look too motorbike orientated when Cliff & Ken arrived and a few ‘unsettling’ thoughts ran through their minds. Instead of staying here they found the bus terminal and waited for the others there. On arrival Geoff checked the address, it was a new address so everyone gathered luggage and walked the 3 blocks to the hire motorbikes - to everyone’s relief we could see the hire bikes as we rounded the final corner. Cliff & Ken collected the two FJRs from where they had parked them and waited while the others were organised with appropriate motorcycle riding gear, had extra luggage stored and the workings of the hire bikes explained. Geoff & Beck were on a Triumph American, a cruiser with leather panniers, sissy bar and a back rack luggage bag. Guy & Kim had a Triumph Tiger Adventurer with detachable side boxes and a top box. Both bikes were selected to suit the physical attributes of the rider.
It was time to ride! It was decided to give Geoff and Guy some time on the bikes to get acquainted and become familiar with any idiosyncrasies so the first stop was Campbell Town.
The stop at Campbell Town was only short, time enough to stretch the legs, get some pictures of the ‘tree carvings’ and a quick check with Geoff and Guy to see they were happy with the bikes. Neither seemed to have any really issues. Beck and Kim had a few ‘mounting’ issues but after a little bit of experimenting over the 4 days on the bikes they seemed to have it sorted out. It was the longer ‘leg stretch’ to straddle the sissy bar and top box on the respective bikes that was the main problem.
The stop at Campbell Town was only short, time enough to stretch the legs, get some pictures of the ‘tree carvings’ and a quick check with Geoff and Guy to see they were happy with the bikes. Neither seemed to have any really issues. Beck and Kim had a few ‘mounting’ issues but after a little bit of experimenting over the 4 days on the bikes they seemed to have it sorted out. It was the longer ‘leg stretch’ to straddle the sissy bar and top box on the respective bikes that was the main problem.
Back on the bikes it was off the main road onto a secondary road (Lake Leake Highway) through some great cornering sections over the Great Dividing Range to Swansea on the east coast. Everyone enjoyed this section as the road surface was excellent, the weather was comfortable and warm and the terrain every changing.
Swansea was our lunch break, time to refuel as well as have some time off the bikes. Everyone was hungry as breakfast had seemed like yesterday!
The ‘English’ team took time to remove some of their warmer clothes and apply sunscreen - Cliff & Ken smiled to themselves, it was a beautiful 24 degrees - just right, not the blistering 45 degrees Wagga had had a few weeks before - 5 days straight of above 40 degree temperatures and overnight minimums of 27 degrees!
The meal at the Bark Mill Tavern & Bakery hit the spot perfectly. But all too soon Ken had everyone back organised and ready to continue. The next section was down the east coast to Triabunna travelling along the coast line with beautiful views of the coastal areas, beaches, coves and rocky headlands. A stop at Mayfield Bay to walk on the white sand and actually see how blue the water was, was spontaneous but also handy, as there were toilets hereby. From here the next section was back into the rolling hills and farmlands with Cliff commenting later that the diary farms brought back memories of home and Devon. After Triabunna we turned at Orford and headed back inland through Buckland, and pine timber logging country, towards Richmond.
Here we stopped for a rest and a walk. Richmond is one of the oldest towns in Tasmania with a number of heritage sites, especially the Richmond Bridge which is able to be viewed as it was originally built. The bridge was built in 1823, the first stone bridge built in Australia. 200 years old in 5 years and we acknowledge that as old. But it is all relative, Geoff’s house in England is 400 years old! The bridge was built by convicts and used to transport gold and other produce from the area into Hobart.
The ‘English’ team took time to remove some of their warmer clothes and apply sunscreen - Cliff & Ken smiled to themselves, it was a beautiful 24 degrees - just right, not the blistering 45 degrees Wagga had had a few weeks before - 5 days straight of above 40 degree temperatures and overnight minimums of 27 degrees!
The meal at the Bark Mill Tavern & Bakery hit the spot perfectly. But all too soon Ken had everyone back organised and ready to continue. The next section was down the east coast to Triabunna travelling along the coast line with beautiful views of the coastal areas, beaches, coves and rocky headlands. A stop at Mayfield Bay to walk on the white sand and actually see how blue the water was, was spontaneous but also handy, as there were toilets hereby. From here the next section was back into the rolling hills and farmlands with Cliff commenting later that the diary farms brought back memories of home and Devon. After Triabunna we turned at Orford and headed back inland through Buckland, and pine timber logging country, towards Richmond.
Here we stopped for a rest and a walk. Richmond is one of the oldest towns in Tasmania with a number of heritage sites, especially the Richmond Bridge which is able to be viewed as it was originally built. The bridge was built in 1823, the first stone bridge built in Australia. 200 years old in 5 years and we acknowledge that as old. But it is all relative, Geoff’s house in England is 400 years old! The bridge was built by convicts and used to transport gold and other produce from the area into Hobart.
Mayfield Bay
Richmond Bridge
After ice creams and Ken chatting to a friend from Wagga, John Ristivojevic who was touring Tasmania with his wife, you really can’t go anywhere without running into someone you know, it was off to Hobart and our accommodation for the next two nights.
The trip into Hobart was through peak hour traffic and with Hobart set out the way it is on the Derwent River everyone has to travel over the Tasman Bridge if they work, live or are visiting the CBD. This is not normally a problem as Hobart only has a population of 218,000 people.
You don’t mention to first time visitors to Hobart the Tasman Bridge disaster of 1975, when a bulk ore carrier took out several pylons and the bridge deck collapsed into the river and now this section is just a ‘repair job’, until after they have crossed the bridge a number of times! Don’t want them to bulk at the initial crossing.
Hobart, even though it is the second oldest city in Australia, is well layout with most of the streets in the inner city now one way - this eases traffic flow in the narrow streets. Thankfully the Sat Nav on Ken’s bike directed us safely and we found our accommodation, the Central Hotel. It was originally called the Ship Hotel which testifies to now close it is to Constitution Dock and the harbour. Guy was interested in some of the old architecture and was to find out later that not many of the ‘locals’ like the way the facade of the old buildings is kept and the new buildings just added on behind. It was unfortunate they felt this way as we were to find a number of spectacular building facades in the older parts of Hobart.
The trip into Hobart was through peak hour traffic and with Hobart set out the way it is on the Derwent River everyone has to travel over the Tasman Bridge if they work, live or are visiting the CBD. This is not normally a problem as Hobart only has a population of 218,000 people.
You don’t mention to first time visitors to Hobart the Tasman Bridge disaster of 1975, when a bulk ore carrier took out several pylons and the bridge deck collapsed into the river and now this section is just a ‘repair job’, until after they have crossed the bridge a number of times! Don’t want them to bulk at the initial crossing.
Hobart, even though it is the second oldest city in Australia, is well layout with most of the streets in the inner city now one way - this eases traffic flow in the narrow streets. Thankfully the Sat Nav on Ken’s bike directed us safely and we found our accommodation, the Central Hotel. It was originally called the Ship Hotel which testifies to now close it is to Constitution Dock and the harbour. Guy was interested in some of the old architecture and was to find out later that not many of the ‘locals’ like the way the facade of the old buildings is kept and the new buildings just added on behind. It was unfortunate they felt this way as we were to find a number of spectacular building facades in the older parts of Hobart.
In Collins Street we luckily found a parking spot for all four bikes. It gave us time to unpack and organise the accommodation without having to walk too far. Once in the rooms we moved the bikes down to a secure parking area, cheap too, $5 a night per bike and under constant surveillance.
We all felt much better once showered and refreshed after a day on the bike and the ‘long’ night on the ferry. Cliff & Ken introduced Geoff, Beck, Kim & Guy to James Boags, the local beer and whether they were thirsty or just being polite, they helped down a few before we headed for dinner. We did have some discussion with the bartender on beer sizes - this little diagram helped our understanding.
We all felt much better once showered and refreshed after a day on the bike and the ‘long’ night on the ferry. Cliff & Ken introduced Geoff, Beck, Kim & Guy to James Boags, the local beer and whether they were thirsty or just being polite, they helped down a few before we headed for dinner. We did have some discussion with the bartender on beer sizes - this little diagram helped our understanding.
Kim and Beck had a suggestion for a place for dinner found on Google, within walking distance, so we headed off. Unfortunately it wasn’t as easy to find as expected so we settled for Vietnamese, at Sapa Rose. It was agreed upon that we order individual meals but share as a banquet. It was very filling. We wandered around some of the streets of Hobart with the quietness and cleanliness commented upon before heading back to the hotel.
Once back at the hotel a breakfast time and start time for tomorrow to Port Arthur where organised with everyone heading for bed and a good night’s sleep - catching up on missed 💤 from the night before.
Once back at the hotel a breakfast time and start time for tomorrow to Port Arthur where organised with everyone heading for bed and a good night’s sleep - catching up on missed 💤 from the night before.