Blackmans Bay to Lakes Entrance

Well, we’re off again on another adventure. In January we bought a caravan and have been busy fitting it up with solar panels, reversing camera and other features ready for our trip. We were booked on the ferry over Bass Strait on Monday but our plans were put in doubt when Janice woke up on Sunday morning with one side of her face all blown up like a balloon. We contacted after hours doctor and he advised us to go to Hobart Private Hospital. After 5 hours of excellent service in the hospital including the bringing in of a facial surgeon, the swelling was diagnosed as an abscess behind a tooth which, if left unattended, could have spread to the brain with potentially fatal consequences. They arranged for a dentist to remove the tooth and drain the abscess early on Monday morning. They gave her 2 antibiotics and by later on Sunday afternoon the swelling was going down. Janice visited the dentist on the Monday morning, had the tooth removed and said she was still happy for us to travel just after lunch.

We left Blackmans Bay just before 2pm on a beautiful sunny winter’s day and headed for Devonport to catch the ferry. As we approached Devonport we were treated to a magnificent sunset (photo below but doesn't really do it justice) and it was almost dark when we lined up for boarding. The ship departed at 7.30pm and we had a very calm trip over. We had dinner, met up with friends Dennis and Natalie Rudge who just happened to be on the same sailing and as we had to be up at 5.30am, we had an early night.

 We disembarked in Melbourne at 6.35am to a dark and drizzly morning. Our trip to Lakes Entrance where we were to spend our first night was very wet with heavy rain or drizzle almost all the way. We set up camp in the dry but soon after it started raining again so after a quick trip into town to buy some groceries, we stayed in the van for the rest of the day. Wednesday morning is bright and sunny so after a leisurely start, we walked along the beach into town (a one hour trip), to buy a few things from the Op Shop, supermarket and have a coffee al fresco. Photo of the waterway at Lakes Entrance with cormorants on a jetty. The temperature got up to a balmy 19 degrees so loaded up with extras; it took us a little longer than an hour to get back to the van.

After lunch we headed off to a Winery (typical you might say but Janice is still on antibiotics and can’t have any alcohol so I was forced to have her share). The owner was very friendly and we had quite a few laughs. We stayed for Devonshire tea (or Devonshire coffee for me), and departed with a bottle of port.

Back at the campsite we sat out in the sun and read for a while before heading indoors when the sun disappeared.

What Brian didn’t mention was that we walked via the beach in to town & the same on the way back.  Trouble is, the tide had come in a bit & I had to do some climbing over wire fences, but my jeans got caught on one, so now I have holey jeans (quite modern really). 

Off to Eden tomorrow.