The Spirit moved me at the end of January.
It moved me all the way from Melbourne to Devonport. Yes, I’m talking about the lovely Spirit of Tasmania, the passenger and car ferry that comfortably conveys people and cargo across the Bass Strait to the delightful Apple Isle. If, like me, you detest flying, then it’s the trip for you. Nine hours to sit around drinking tea and strolling the decks. Bliss. An excuse to put your feet up, and have a snooze. Really, you can do whatever you like. Take your own picnic, or eat onboard. Have a scone, go to the cinema, listen to live music. There’s even a Trivia hour. I drew the line at having my face painted, but whatever floats your boat. (Sorry.)
The day sailing gives you licence to take time-out from life’s busy schedule, and it (hands-down) beats being jammed into an ergonomically unsound plane seat, in an atmosphere of recycled air so dry that it fills your hair with static and increases the risk of electrocuting your neighbour should you accidentally rub shoulders. Give me the ocean anyday. Besides, if we break down, I can always swim, but I sure as hell can’t fly.
My last trip to our southern state was in January 2014, so I was well overdue for a visit, and it didn’t disappoint.
I’m going to be adding a few of the highlights and several dozen photographs, so read-on if you want to come with me on a tour of the island’s east and north coasts. If you’ve read Like Two Mexicans Dancing you might want to see how some of the places look now, some 25 years later. Launceston, Liffey Falls, Greens Beach, Dilston. I managed to retrace my steps to some of those old haunts, and to capture the essence of Tassie.
It’s true that I left a little piece of my heart there when I left in the 90’s, but it’s such a pleasure to go back and look for it every time I return.
Angela J Dawson 