November 8, 2002 (Bay of Fires and St. Helen's)

Have you ever been in a tour where most of the people you are traveling with seemed familiar despite the fact that they are absolutely strangers to you? I booked a 7-day adventure with Island Escape in Tazmania and save for two members of our party, I felt like the rest of the tour group were friends. I mean, I did not have to strain my neurons with unfamiliar names. I have friends and family from back home whose names these strangers seemed to have copied. There was Tracey and Mark, physiotheraphist and IT manager respectively, a couple from the UK. Then there was Paul, the photographer and Natalie who has the hobbit Frodo's or Elija Wood's eyes. Karen, New Yorker and web master originally from Israel. Next were Sarah, our tour guide trainee and Michael, lead tour guide, forest ranger, surfer, over-all super cool dude from Taz. There was Marcia, the lovely lady from Brazil. Kathleen and Deana, Belgians and the only new names I have to learn were Davina and Baljit (who preferred "B" - ok, easier on the lips as well...) The only thing that tripped my brain every time was the fact that Deana, this girl from Belgium looked like Lisa Sandrock...hahahhah

Anyway, after the obligatory introductions we were off to the Bay of Fires. Michael and Sarah promised a very rewarding beach walk on the north-west coast of Tazmania. The walk started at Stumpy's Bay and would end somewhere eight kms down the beach. The brochure promised beautiful secluded coves, fiery red rocks and pristine white beaches, which were delivered, and some more! The more that the brochure did not include were hunting for your three favorite pebbles, walking like a blind man on a flat beach, and gale-force wind that picked up sand, the likes of which I could describe as sandblasting. After that walk, all the girls agreed, we will not need to exfoliate for at least a week...hahahaha

All I can say about that walk is that it was one very long walk. My calves hurt, my ankles hurt, the back of my neck and knees no longer have the top layer of skin and my face hurt from smiling too much! It really was a rewarding day...now, if they can only do something about the wind...

We stayed at St. Helen's YHA and it felt like being back in time. The YHA has this yellow and orange fuzzy carpeting, long breakfast counter and a stereo system that has a turntable! We listened to vinyl records that night. With glee, I put on records by "The Carpenters", soundtracks from "The South Pacific" and "The Sound of Music" and would you believe it if I tell you, "Cher"? That hostel was waaayyyy coool! Two thumbs up!

I am Mary Grace, heeding the advice of B...moisturize, moisturize, moisturize...