We had such a great long weekend away in Hobart and were fortunate to be staying with wonderful old friends - Thank you, Sue and Hamish. To top it off I was able to attend a storytelling workshop which turned out to be fantastic! More on this later.
Apart from sharing good food and wine and conversation with our most excellent hosts we took the opportunity to go up to the mountain again. I don't know why I'm drawn to it but it does seem magnetic. On this particular day a vicious cold spell had hit Hobart town and shrouded the mountain in a thick white cloud. We rugged up the kids in thermals and winter gear, gloves included this time. The excitement was building! Dan didn't want to come after all so gorgeous 17 year old Georgia came instead. This was far better for the fun and excitement factor but less so for the ego. Aah well, I can't say I was ever young and beautiful so there's nothing really to miss, is there? But I digress.
The road was not closed off this time and as we got nearer the snow fall got heavier. When we reached the highest part we could go (some of the mountain road was closed after all) we found ourselves in a beautiful winter wonderland. A small white field was before us and behind that, a forest of trees thick with snow. This time we came prepared to make a real snowman with a long carrot nose, black button eyes and a hat. He turned out perfect! and huge. He towered over Lorenzo and I just wanted to take lots of great wintry photos with the kids and the snowman and all the lush snow...... except for one small problem.
It had gotten so cold that my camera froze. No clicks, no adjustments, nothing registered. I thought I'd seriously damaged it at first but a few hours later it thawed out fine. Anyway, some crappy mobile pics do exist but the crappy mobile is refusing to give up its bounty.
After the weather cleared two days later, we drove down to Kettering to see our builder again. This time he invited us to one of his work sites on Bruny Island. The kids were so excited to be sailing on a ferry. It was a calm, sunny day and we saw dolphins jumping near the salmon farm. It appears everyone knows a good thing when they see it.
Jon was helpful and friendly as always, and this time we got to meet his family and work team. To catch the return ferry we walked as the crow flies back to the terminal. This path took us over gentle hills and by the beach. We spent plenty of time collecting treasures like driftwood, shells and seed pods from the nearby trees. At one point we noticed a heap of oyster-like shells on the beach before we saw them - whole oysters growing on the rocks a few steps from our feet. Dan broke one open to find the biggest, juiciest and freshest oyster he'd ever seen. His face after eating it said it all. Pure heaven.
The rest of our walk back to the ferry was spent planning the many weekend bike trips we want to make to the Island, camping or just for a day, by the sea where the oysters live. Admittedly they won't be living for long.
* Thank you, Zeer for Hobbit Town.
p.s. Photos to appear when *#$ mobile cooperates.
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