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| Black River, Tasmania |
Let me explain!
There seems to me to be two major adjustments to this nomad lifestyle of travelling Australia with kids. The first is the 'practical' adjustment and the second is the 'transient' adjustment.
So far, we have only really been getting better at the practical aspect of it: The nuts and bolts of how to live like this; what it looks like; how to stay organised; when are the stressful times going to occur; how much food do you take with you; and is that drawer a good place for the spoons etc.
I think we are pretty much experts on this now. We have been blessed with a good, long practice run to life. A gentle and slow introduction to it....
But, this week, for the first time, we discovered the transient aspect of travelling.
By this I mean the 'We are only here once, for a limited time, so make the most of it and move on' type stuff. The sense of non-permanence, of a simultaneous first and last visit.
Due to our rather unique situation of lingering in Tassie for so long, we hadn't yet come to a place that we were not expecting to be in again at some point. But this week that changed. We will not have time to revisit the far north west coast of Tasmania. So we spent a full 7 days loving it up. It was the first and last time either of us had been there. It was spectacular and beautiful and rugged and windy and serene and fantastic, and at times, tough.
I am not naturally gifted at skipping showers. That was probably the worst part of it for me. We made do with hot water and face washers, but IT IS JUST NOT THE SAME!!!! The children got the luxury treatment of a hot bath in our 'bathtub' (literally a blue flexi-plastic tub). Lucky them! Running hot water is a gift people! :)
At any rate, we had a blast at both Black River (just outside of Stanley) and Arthur River (West Coast). We enjoyed lots of fire pot fires and marshmallows. We saw some very friendly Blue Fairy Wrens. Lachlan and Emma got stuck in some super soft sand, which surpassed the top of their gumboots, and tried to steal them.
I very almost stepped on a black snake, whilst holding Michael in my arms too! Duncan said that he had never seen me run so fast. I believe it! He was kind enough not to mention that he had never heard me scream so loud either, but I know I broke some glass somewhere in the world at that moment! I am no Crocodile Dundee.... yet....
If you ever go to Arthur River, be sure to stop in at the Ranger's Station. The most lovely and friendly ranger (Hazel) works there. She showed the children all of her animals and shells, rocks and bones etc. She was dumbfounded by how much the children knew about all the subjects she brought up. She was so nice, that we went there every day to say hello.
The highlight of this trip was the day we spent on the Tarkine Arthur River Drive. A round circuit loop of some iconic rainforests, lookouts and landmarks in the area. It took us (with 5 kids in tow) 8 hours of driving, walking, looking and eating to get through it all. It was so worth it though!! Our itinerary for the day was:
- Dismal Swamp Reserve - Duncan, Emma and myself all had a turn on the Treetop Slide! Great fun!
- Sumac Lookout - waterfall/river to see from a distance
- Julius River Forest Reserve - A lovely picnic area and rainforest walk. So pretty!
- Lake Chisholm Forest Walk - Very serene lake, set amongst more lush green rainforest
- Milkshake Hills Forest Walk - Also a very pretty rainforest!
- Trowutta Arch - This was the highlight! A cave which has opened up to become a rock arch over a lake. Huge. Pretty. Calm. Worth the 30 min return walk!
If you want more info on the arch, click here.
We collapsed into bed that night, but it was a day I will remember for a long time!!
And so.....
Although it was only a week long, we had our first transient adventure. I loved it. For the first time since we left in June, we got a taste of what the full nomad life is like. It is certainly going to be an adventure! We only have 4 weeks left of housesitting and when that comes to an end, it will be a mere 11 weeks until we set sail on the Spirit of Tasmania.
Bring it on! It is going to be good.
Sara
