Here, I am in Tasmania. I've been here for about 3 days and have already seen some spectacular landscapes. Today I hiked Freycinet National Park for about 5 hours and got my legs wet at Wineglass Bay. The huge pink granite boulders and seemingly endless eucalyptus forests have been humbling and inspiring. Last night's cloudy sunset gave the mountains a rosy purple hue. It kind of felt like I was entering Jurassic Park and there was a good chance that a bracheosaurus was going to rear its head up from the trees and sneeze on me. I did, however, see two wallabies and an echidna, along with some lizards on the trail. I definitely celebrated like a 5 year old child on a few occasions.

I found that central Hobart has a similar vibe as Wellington's CBD, only visibly neater. Its streets are more straightforward and square, unlike the fickle vines that run through Wellington. The harbor is smaller but ends at Salamanca Place where the Saturday market is held. There was an impressive array of vendors, foods, and typical Tazzie products on show ranging from purely practical to ethereally decadent. My stomach is growls at the recollection of honeys, chocolates, and fresh organic strawberries!

I also made sure to stop by City Organics on Criterion Street. They really make the most of their teeny tiny shop. I recognized many staples and tried a few local delicacies. I had forgotten how wonderful grapes are! It's such a shame that in New Zealand, you can hardly find ones that haven't been imported from California after copious injections of nasty chemicals. Surely, in a country that produces so much wine, there should be some grape producers willing to sell a raw product. No?

Tomorrow, I will head to Bay of Fires and hit the beach (weather permitting). On Tuesday I'll head west to Launceston where I'll meet my WWOOF host. My main concern right now, though, is catching up on the sleep I lost last night in a cold car.

Seven

The days have been tip-toeing smoothly and I'm feeling like the pace is finally just right for now. By this time next week I will be in Melbourne airport marinating in eagerness and excitement while I pass the time until my arrival in Tasmania. Considering I haven't been on the road in quite some time, I'm starting to feel a little nervous and worried that I'll over-pack again. It's a bad habit of mine, one that tends to slither in and go unnoticed until zippers are stretched to their limits. The great thing is, since I'll be weeding and shoveling horse shit around most of the time, I can't possibly convince myself that hoarding a treasure trove of eyeshadows and jewelry is totally worth the "one time I totally wish I had it". Hey, maybe I'm getting better at this... maybe its just a matter of time before I ditch my stuff and learn to be more resourceful. Although, I don't know how I feel about having less than 5 pairs of socks... I guess that why sandals are appealing for people whose feet never get cold.

My tongue has healed well from my frenectomy. Its definitely a bit miserable when you can't enjoy something as lovely as food. Now that it's thankfully over, I'm getting used to my tongue constantly moving and flexing. I guess there are new bits of muscle that have never been mobile and are now free. I didn't really notice for a few days but after a close call with a tooth, i've been more careful of its whereabouts. With luck, my R's will be rrrrrolling in no time.