We set the alarm this morning early enough so we could get up, eat breakfast and be ready for the taxi to take us to the airport for the 8:15 plane. We learned, via an email from Jet Star, that we were expected to be checked in by 30 minutes before the plane left. If we were late, we were assured, we would not be permitted to get on the plane. This type of message was just the type to create a level of anxiety by Wes. So we double checked everything and made sure we would be ready for the taxi we had booked for 6:45. Everything worked as planned – until we got to the last bit into the airport where the traffic slowed, slowed and then slowed some more.
We had allowed some extra time so we were comfortable (ok only a bit antsy) since we were moving. Finally we get to the airport and it is now about 7:30 – 15 minutes behind when we hoped to be there but still 15 minutes before the cut off time. Check in – went ok UNTIL they weighted our luggage. We are only allowed 20 kg of luggage for each to check and 10 kg for carry on. Well our luggage was 9 kg over and out carryon was 6 kg short – so at the suggestion of the check in clerk, we stepped aside and re-arranged the luggage using a scale to minimize the overage (at $10 per kg we wanted to do so). We managed to get things sorted out quickly to have only 4 kg overage charges.
Then we stepped back up to the check up counter and had to wait while the clerk managed to deal with a minor problem with luggage. Finally, we were ready to go and when she started to set it up, exclaimed “Oh no, they have cut off the flight and I can not proceed to check you in!” We looked and it was 7:48 – about 3 minutes past the time. Of course she had to talk to someone to get the flight “opened” again so we could be processed. Then we were told to go to a counter to pay the $40 for overages, and RUN to the gate. We managed to get to the gate at 8:05 and actually were the last ones boarded. Lesson to learn – with Jet Star – they will not be late in leaving so don’t think you can arrive after the 30 minute mark for flight and get on. Secondly – be sure to weight your luggage carefully.
Ok, sweaty and breathing hard we finally get seated. Jet Star has a reduced ticket cost if you only take carry on luggage so every piece of onboard storage was taken. I am not sure if you could have found a place in the overheads to place a scarf. So our carry one had to fit under the seat in front of us, and it was a struggle, but into that space it went. The flight was uneventful but the views were enjoyable. The real interesting aspect of travel was to have a Beagle sniff our luggage for countraban - fruits and vegetables. After he sniffed our hand luggage as we walked by him with our luggage in our left hand, he walked the conveyor belt where the checked luggage came down. He got his exercise for the day - a very long treadmill just for him.
After a 50 minute flight we arrived in Tasmania and had to find the shuttle service into town. Fortunately he had room for us and knew where we wanted to be dropped off. We arrived to pick up the campervan to discover that the person who looks after it was not around. At first I was concerned we would have to phone but that would mean finding a pay phone. Our cell phone is way too expensive. One of the guys who worked there offered to call her for us and did it. When she arrived we got our first look at the Wicket campervan. What a surprise. Fortunately we brought our sleeping bags.
It was a bit of fun sorting out how to store things in the van, but finally we managed to arrange things inside – I will share pictures of the inside in the future. What was disturbing was that there was no gas registering on the gauge. Apparently you get what is there and leave what you end with – no fill ups involved. Where is the first place to stop? Yep the gas is the goal – but where is one? Oh right we have the GPS Karen so lets let her direct us – NAAAAA!!!! She seems to have a memory issue for the moment and directs us off to a non existing gas station. So picture this – I am driving and remember I am on the wrong side of the van and on the wrong side of the road. I don’t know where I am going, don’t know much about the van I am driving AND it is a standard so I am shifting with my left hand. My years as a teacher finally paid off, I am able to multi-task and feel only slightly anxious. Now Wes on the other hand is trying to navigate, make sure I remember I am to stay on the left side of the road and respond to my continual – Where should I go? I am happy to say that we found a gas station more by luck than by planning and I was able to drive safely to it (ask Wes for a definition of safely.)
After filling up with gas it was time to figure out where we will be camping tonight. The Lonely Planet and the other books we have for Australia seem to be very shy about identifying camp grounds in Holbart. After driving around using what little information we had and Karen (GPS) supporting our efforts we found nothing. Ok, now we are a tad frustrated but I am getting a bit more familiar with driving here – but only a bit. Wes on the other hand I think is getting more frazzled.
We decided it was time to get groceries and leave the search for a campsite to later. At the grocery store we picked up what we needed and I talked to a couple of people who work there. One helped us out by getting a bunch of the plastic containers for take away so we had some storage containers. The other handed me a phone book with yellow pages so we could let our fingers do the walking for a change. (Boy do we miss the blackberry.) From the yellow pages I called a “caravan” supply store (yep really called caravans and not campers) and asked a few questions. Then we got a list of a few places for caravan parks and sorted out a couple to check out.
The first caravan park we looked for does not appear to exist. We drove by the address from the yellow pages a couple of times and then moved to the next one on the list. This is the one we found and are staying at. Part of the problem we discovered is that Hobart is surrounded by many incorporated communities and if you don’t know one from the other, and make the distinction with Karen (who is smart about these things) she can not find the address. She is so computer linear thinking – oh wait she is a computer!
At the park we found an ideal place to park and settle in down by the River Derwent. By now we are both tired and just want to relax. Ok, great idea until a bunch of boys (ages 4 to 10) arrived to inspect our camper and ask questions. I was lying on the bed with the door open and two of them arrived with small crabs taken from the water and wanted to show me – and started to drop them on the bed etc. I told them to move them off. Then one asked where we slept – only one bed you know. So I explained that we slept on the bed. He immediately said – oh you are brothers. To my “no we are not brothers” came a response – are you gay? I see no reason to hide to a direct question so I said yes and we are married, he is my husband. This got a reaction from the boys who claimed they never met a gay man before and they were intrigued about us being married. After that the older of the bunch announced to all the boys as they came by, these guys are gay and married. It was a bit funny since the reaction from several of the boys was “so what?” One came over to tell me quietly that his mom’s best friend was gay while another wanted me to know he knew a couple of lesbians. This conversation was not something I really thought I would be having with a bunch of young boys. They eventually went on to play their games and left us alone, much to our relief.
As we are settling in I was able to chat with one of the guys who works here (I think the park is owned by his parents so maybe working here is the wrong choice of words). He was in the process of digging up a water line that was broke. Better him than me is all I can say.
After that we went up to the camper’s kitchen to make dinner. Yes the camper has a stove etc we could use, but you can not believe the camper’s kitchen. Stove, BBQ, counters, sinks, hot and cold water, fridge, microwave, tables and chairs are all just waiting to be used. We were able to make a supper here easily (yep you guessed it Spam and Mac & Cheese). While sitting in the kitchen we have found this to be the social hub of the campgrounds. We are meeting our neighbours and hearing their traveling stories.
So ends our first day in Tasmania and I think it will be very interesting seeing the country, learning to drive all over again and discovering how to find things in this part of the world. Often I have to ask for something to be repeated – not because I did not hear – but because the terms used are unfamiliar – like caravan rather than campervan.
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