It was fine but chilly for our pack up from Strahan. We got away earlier than expected and were on the road by 9.30am. Steve and Fiona did the first 2 hours of driving until we stopped at Lake St Clair, which is a national park just a few kilometres from the village of Derwent Bridge (not really a village).

We headed to Lake St Clair as it sounded scenic and it had a cafe. It was scenic and it did have a cafe.

The cafe is part of a lodge that seems to service backpackers wanting to go tramping in the national park, however they seem to have an odd business model. Although the cafe meals (eggs Benny, bacon and eggs, granola etc – all the usual suspects) seemed to be very well priced, the cabinet offerings were high end cake delicacies including chocolate tarts and what looked like small toffee apples (or large cherries) sitting on little chocolate wafers. It was more like what you’d get at a high end Melbourne patisserie – and they cost $15 each, on top of the $6.50 for a large coffee. Mike and I had a chocolate chip cookie in a plastic bag.

After coffee we wandered down to the lake edge and enjoyed some sunshine.

Then Fiona got me to walk up the stairs back where we’d come from as she’d spotted the sign saying “snakes are active in this area”. She’s a kind soul. That swift piece of deflection not only saved everyone from me having a meltdown, it probably also saved my life 🤪.

I took over driving for the next 80 or 90km through to Hamilton again, where we stopped to use the facilities. Lots more campers in this semi scenic campground today, though goodness knows why.

We did a bit of a detour to go over a bascule bridge (bridge that lifts up to let boats through) over the Derwent River. We were interested in the construction of the new bridge alongside. It was a great demonstration of how bridge building works (sort of). Actually Steve says it was a lift bridge rather than a bascule/drawbridge type.

We got to Hobart at about 3.30pm and found the apartments on Elizabeth Wharf very easily. We are staying in Somerset on the Pier. The apartments have a mezzanine bedroom and lower level lounge/kitchen and bathroom.

They in a converted warehouse building that runs the length of the wharf. They are nice and spacious and look out onto the water. They aren’t on the side with balconies overlooking the marina but they are still nice enough and well appointed.

And they come with free parking just a little further along on the next pier.

We had drinks with Steve and Fiona and then went down the pier to this seafood restaurant called Mures. It was a cross between McDonalds and a normal restaurant. Elements of it were mass produced but in other respects it was normal. Not cheap but nothing here is. I had grilled fish, salad and fries and the others all had fisherman’s baskets, which were essentially a mass of different types of fried seafood.