Part II: Tasmania, Australia

We arrived in Hobart with the agenda to rent bicycles and figure out how we were going to meet the Flemings who were currently making good progress up the East coast of the island. We did well on our second day in the lovely city and soon had our backpacks traded for panniers and bicycles. We boarded a bus to Launceston, and then to Scottsdale, where we arrived at a free campground just as Jeff and Pele pulled in after a long days ride. It was amazing seeing them in such a strange place after being on our own for so long. The reunion was really enjoyable. We spent the rest of the evening (and coming weeks) catching up.

Tasmania has to be one of the hilliest places in the world. At least it began to feel like it after our first couple days on the bicycle. Our bums were very sore, our legs ached and we sweat more than we have since central America. By the third or fourth day however we found our rhythm and both really enjoyed the change of pace (no pun intended). Jeff is in great shape and set the pace most days, but Pele was the real hero conquering hill after hill and refusing to give up. She did really well, rarely complained, and worked harder than the rest of us far and away. We would often break at the top of hills to give her a chance to catch up, but as soon as we did, we were off again, and so was she—with scarcely a break!
We camped the entire time and stayed at some fantastic spots, often right on the beach. We ate like pigs after long days peddling (everything was so delicious after a hard day on the bike) and got creative making great meals with one pan on a propane camp stove.

In route to drop the backpacks