Day 23, Friday 17/1/2014, Bay of Fires to Devonport, "Spirit of Tasmania"

There is a slight drizzle today, so our tents are packed up for the last time damp (Murhy's law). We were all ready to go by 0800hrs. Everyone has it down pat now that it's our last pack-up. Today we headed inland to Launceston, through farms and mist covered mountains. Our first stop was at St Columba Falls. There was a 1hr return walk to the bottom of the falls through rainforest and creeks.

Our next stop was at Holy Cow Dairy for cheese tasting, ice-cream, milkshakes and coffee. They even had gluten free stuff for Amara.

Then we headed to Cataract Gorge Launceston. It seems to be the local hangout with kids and teens climbing and swimming in the gorge, the rock pool and the commercial pool next to it. There were beautiful green manicured lawns and gardens, a walk out across a swinging bridge looping back the other side, then a return trip on the longest chairlift span in the world. That allowed us to explore most of the scenery in a relatively short time.

All meeting back at our little "Tea Cups Cafe" in Devonport gave us a sense of completion as our first and last place in Tasmania.

We the lined up to get back onto the Spirit of Tasmania and were sent down into the belly of the ship to park. As soon as we got to our cabin, the other three lined up to use the toilet (I went at the cafe). Col took 20 minutes and had to flush twice. Jordan went and flushed. Jack then took 15 minutes and it wouldn't flush. It overflowed onto the bathroom floor. Lucky there are little walls in all the doorways. Ewww! We arranged for an engineer and cleaner to come to our room, hence we were late for tea. We had however gone out on deck during this fun little saga to watch the ship depart. Bye Tassie! I didn't get my shower until 2100hrs.

(thanks for the 2 group photos today Leah)