November 9, 2002 (Freycinet Peninsula - Wineglass Bay, Cape Tourville, Bicheno)

Thank God for B! She was my hiking buddy. I think she hated going up stairs (the kind made up of rocks, pieces of wood and tree roots) more that I did. And today, the tour called for hiking up and over the granite mountains of the Freycinet Peninsula to look above Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach. Yeah, right. Ok then...hike up. Ouch...Ouch...Ouch...Pant. Pant. Pant. Are we at the lookout yet B? Not yet? Holy cow! Ok...hike up some more…

When we did get up to the lookout area (cause for celebration here! Hazzah!) the view was well worth the pain in my ankles and knees. Wineglass Bay took my breath away (literally!) The azure waters of Wineglass Beach complimented and reflected the clear blue skies overhead. One can see the narrow isthmus that separates Wineglass Beach and Hazards Beach. From where we were, the dramatic coastline below offered respite and space for reflection.

I have traveled all this way, almost to the edge of the earth, hike up this granite mountain, in pain yet happy. How can I explain to someone near and dear to my heart that despite all the inconvenience, the potential harm to body and property, I will continue to travel. Traveling is not just being away from home, from all things familiar and secure. For me traveling is a way of getting in touch with my being. It is a soul-searching adventure. Yes, wherever I am on earth, there I am. Yet this reflection, this soul -searching bit when done in a place unfaamiliar, becomes enhanced and heightened. My only guides are the thoughts in my head and the long-nurtured values of my parents. I do not travel to be wasted or stoned. I do not travel to meet men and have casual encounters. I do not travel to look for love. I have love...aughh...enough. Enough reflection for one day. The white sand and beautiful waters around Wineglass Beach waits for me...

The water was freezing! I suggest not dipping your toes to test the water, rather just dive right in. And when your breathing becomes hard, crawl back to the gritty sand and warm sun, wrap a sarong around your shoulders, sit facing the ocean, listen to the waves and the beating of your heart. We stayed around Wineglass Beach for a good hour or so and enjoyed our packed lunch.

After that we headed out to the beautiful Cape Tourville Lighthouse. This lighthouse sits on top of a cliff with million dollar views. Two pairs of elderly folks conned B, Natalie and myself into staying a while and take pictures of them. Sweet folks, rather long winded. Hahhahha

Michael, our ever adventurous tour guide then took us to his favorite spot for Abalone diving. Without a wetsuit and only with a snorkle and facemask, he dove for Abalones and got three really big and smelly shellfish for us. I believe he did not stop shaking for hours after that dive. Yes, he suffered third degree hypothermia all for the sake of making sure this batch of tourists get to taste Abalone. We were touched though some of us thought he was rather foolish. Sweet but foolish.

We stayed at Bicheno YHA that night and went to a local pub for dinner. And oh my gosh I have never had a tastier Fisherman's Basket than that night. I was also hungry for rice, but no worries, the chips satisfied me plus the soy sauce and vinegar marinated mushrooms more than compensated for my rice craving. What made the basket oh so yummy were the scallops. I never knew that scallops had a yellow-orange part to it that is soft, tender and delicious.

Food in the Bush:

Michael showed us how to eat sag or grass. He showed us the proper way to pull the Sag from the sand without cutting our hands and peeling the grass roots to get to the soft core. Frankly, I tried the grass and it tasted like, well, like grass. At least it is reassuring to know that I can now survive in the wild Tazmanian landscape by eating grass.

I am Mary Grace, enjoying scallops from Bicheno.