Week 5 Bay of Fires

Week 5 Bay of Fires

It is hard to believe I have been in Tassie for 5 weeks already. Tassie is beautiful and I have been meeting wonderful people.

This week has been no exception.

Bay of Fires has been on my wish list of places in the world to see and when you see some of these photos you will understand why.

It is still a pristine location and at this time of the year it is warm, sunny and free from crowds, in fact it is so quiet you can have an entire beach all to yourself.

There are gorgeous lagoons and walking tracks, pretty little wildflowers and a few native animals including little penguins.

After strolling along the white soft beaches of the Bay of Fires you can watch the sky light up with spectacular sunsets then, if you’re as lucky as me, you can witness the dark ocean glowing with phosphorescence and the Aurora Australis curtaining the cloudless starry night sky.

Did I mention the dolphins and whales? At this time of year, Spring, Southern Rights and Humpbacks are migrating back to the Southern Ocean with their calves and often come into the Bay of Fires.

One of the things I noticed as soon as I arrived in St Helens and Binalong Bay was the happy and welcoming smiles from locals. This is a friendly place. People enjoy having a chat and sharing their favourite places.

One evening I was wandering around the rocks near the boat ramp taking a photo of a picnic table standing out on a rock platform overlooking the Bay and boat ramp. As I turn to walk back my hosts from Binalong Bungalows, Mairi and Colin, are climbing over the rocks with their other guest and invite me to join them for a drink. Within half an hour there were 8 of us sitting around “their” table eating, drinking and sharing yarns watching 3 whales swim across the bay as the sun set. It was a great evening and I thoroughly enjoyed the company.

Yesterday I finished off my week of rest with another Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage from Michelle. I highly recommend it when you’re in the area and need a bit of pampering or just want to relax a bit more and Michelle is a very caring, gentle, healing soul.

As I sit here in the St Helens Bookshop (The Big Blue Book Shop) connected to their complimentary wireless (Thank You Veronica and Clive), eating the yummiest donated toasted cheese and tomato sandwiches and apple ricotta slice, drinking the best coffee in town surrounded by books and aboriginal art and local craft I wonder what else is in store as I get back on the road again this afternoon. Definitely more wonderful people and beautiful places. Freycinet Peninsula is just a few days away so expect another blog full of photos to tempt you to take your next holiday in Tassie.

For everyone in Hobart expecting me next week I’m running late. I’m about 10 days slower than I had anticipated. I’ll try and contact you on facebook and then call you (if I have your number) when I get to Tasman Peninsula to make sure we can catch up while I’m in town.

A smile is an amazing thing. It speaks every language. When you smile you cannot help but feel better. It communicates happiness, kindness, compassion and love. A smile is a priceless gift freely given :)

Take care of yourselves and each other.

Terra