adventures, travel, Wellbeing
Published on March 11, 2018
Comments 58

The final pictures painted by Tasmania herself

written by
Always ready to greet the sun with gratitude for wellbeing

Sunrise in Australia in Tasmania #threecapestrack #nature #sunrise #dawn #over50

Good morning Day 3. Let’s hike 19kms, but only carry our heavy packs for the last 2 hours, as we head out along Cape Pillar, then back. It’s a deal.

Heading out to Cape Pillar #threecapestrack #CapePillar #hiking #wilderness #over50adventure
Heading out to Cape Pillar #threecapestrack #CapePillar #hiking #wilderness #over50adventure

Let’s look at the grand, and the tiny. Deal.

Tasman Island #lighthouse #threecapestrack #australia #views
#fungus #aliceinwonderland #threecapestrack #australia
#native #banksia #threecapestrack #australia

Along the way, we pass ‘story seats’; beautifully-designed places to stop and share a Nature + Art experience, with accompanying notes in the award-winning guide book (I designated myself the Narrator, and am forcing myself to not tell you a hundred fascinating facts about some of these views).

A moment of Mindfulness and Gratitude along the Tasmanian coast

‘Claim your Moment’ seat #threecapestrack #australia

We went through a variety of landscapes, saw three black snakes (all venomous yes: either Tigers or Copperheads), and relished the lightness of our daypacks.

Summer in Tasmania means clear skies and stunning cliffs #threecapestrack #tasmania #walkingadventure #over50 #wellbeing #nature
Summer in Tasmania means clear skies and stunning cliffs #threecapestrack #tasmania #walkingadventure #over50 #wellbeing #nature
Summer in Tasmania means clear skies and stunning cliffs #threecapestrack #tasmania #walkingadventure #over50 #wellbeing #nature

Then we saw a wombat! It was SO big, and we got so close; it just squatted there yawning and looking sideways at us; it reminded me of ’17’, when he’s come home very late from a party, and just wants to be left alone, but could also maybe handle a snuggle and watching a film in bed, eating a late brekky before snoozing.

#nativeanimal #wombat #australia #tasmania #threecapestrack #wildlife #over50adventure
#nativeanimal #wombat #australia #tasmania #threecapestrack #wildlife #over50adventure
#nativeanimal #wombat #australia #tasmania #threecapestrack #wildlife #over50adventure

We made it to the end of the peninsula, which rose up into The Blade, along which you could walk (only 6 people up there at a time though because it’s so narrow, there’s no safety rail or ropes, and when it’s windy, you need to crouch low). But first you had to pass these signs:

Warning signs #threecapestrack #tasmania #australia #hikingadventure #staysafe
Warning signs #threecapestrack #tasmania #australia #hikingadventure #staysafe

Sorry dear Reader, I couldn’t do it. Not even for you and this Blog. But here’s what it looked like from our way home- the ocean is at least double times lower than this photo goes- the other 3 did it, and two of them admitted they nearly burst into tears/panicked up there- see, I’m smart.

I like to stay safe when hiking over 50 in Australia

Too scary for me #fearofheights #TheBlade #tasmania #threecapestrack

We hiked back out to where we’d left our bags, slogged our way for nearly 2 hours to the final hut, felt completely exhausted, and were all in bed by 8.30.

Final Day 4- I slept quite well that night, then woke up to this sky on my way to the toilet:

#sunrise #dawnsky #gratitude #threecapestrack #australia #tasmania
#sunrise #dawnsky #gratitude #threecapestrack #australia #tasmania

I grabbed the others, bleary-eyed but keen, and it just got better:

#sunrise #dawnsky #gratitude #threecapestrack #australia #tasmania

#sunrise #dawnsky #gratitude #threecapestrack #australia #tasmania

It was like the best light show I’ve ever seen, and I felt a bit sad as the sun rose higher and it became just ‘normal blue’.

#sunrise #dawnsky #gratitude #threecapestrack #australia #tasmania

#sunrise #dawnsky #gratitude #threecapestrack #australia #tasmania

Anyway, the ranger’s briefing included a thunderstorm warning, so we set off for our final day’s 14km/7 hour hike with rain covers and jackets at the ready; the first 2 hours were straight up Mount Fortescue, the challenge of which was rewarded by magnificent rainforest pockets, and tree ferns/moss/fungi galore (my favourite natural church):

tree fern forest #rainforest #tasmania #australia #threecapestrack
moss #rainforest #tasmania #australia #threecapestrack
Rainforest gems #threecapestrack #tasmania #australia #nature #wildernesshike #over50
Rainforest gems #threecapestrack #tasmania #australia #nature #wildernesshike #over50
Rainforest gems #threecapestrack #tasmania #australia #nature #wildernesshike #over50

How weird are fungii?? And how stunning is this change of scenery- it really felt like we were walking in the shadow of dinosaurs (minus the crafted steps of course):

Grateful for Nature and wellbeing in Australia over 50

Rainforest gems #threecapestrack #tasmania #australia #nature #wildernesshike #over50

Now here’s a direct quote from the guide book:

“The track construction team have crafted a gently contoured climb, so that you won’t feel a thing! If you do need to catch your breath, there are several spots to rest and immerse yourself in stories.”

Grateful for Nature and wellbeing in Australia over 50

More cliffs, more scary edges, more stunning vistas #tasmania #australia #naturalbeauty

No, no, and no. It’s not gentle, we did feel everything, and yes of course we had to bloody stop- to breathe and pee.

The ‘construction team’ are a little too enthusiastic naive positive fit young for my liking.

Anyway, we finally made it to the top of the next pack drop-off, where you take a very steep 2hr detour out to Cape Hauy and back; only G49 and I decided we had the energy for it, so off we went… OMG it turned into a mission to get back up- over 2000 steps- we were stopping at every 10th one by the end. There were two land formations at the end called The Candlestick and The Totem, but no, I couldn’t let myself get close enough to the barriered edge to snap them sorry. Those cliffs are seriously high! And remember the warning signs? I ain’t getting too close to the crumbly edges for NOBODY.

When we finally got back to our bags, the others had headed off already, as the sky was filling with dark grey clouds, and quite frankly, sitting around on a wooden bench for 2 hours waiting for your two friends to come back from a ridiculously unnecessary extra hike had gotten very unattractive apparently.

The end is in sight- so tired but determined #threecapestrack #tasmania #over50 #hike #wilderness #australia
So tired but determined #threecapestrack #tasmania #over50 #hike #wilderness #australia

The last 1.5 hour walk to the pure white beach and finish point was HARD. Probably the hardest. Plus we had to be there by 4pm or miss the bus pick up. Unlike the enthusiastic naive positive fit young blurb from the guide book, it was NOT a “… gentle downhill run to Fortescue Bay through more fragrant coastal heathland.”

But we did it.

So tired but determined #threecapestrack #tasmania #over50 #hike #wilderness #australia
So tired but determined #threecapestrack #tasmania #over50 #hike #wilderness #australia

All the other track walkers were there, lolling on the grass barefoot, feeling the same tiredness but satisfaction, and the rain held off until later that evening; we were so blessed by the weather goddesses.

Was it fun? No. Would I do it again? No. Should we have done more training with heavy bags? Yes. Would I recommend it to everyone? A resounding yes.

A beach house to recover in #stewartsbay #tasmania #50thbirthday

A beach house to recover in #stewartsbay #tasmania #50thbirthday

Then we spent 4 days in a lush house on a tiny quiet beach nearby, with a spa bath, joined by 5 other friends & two children for the 50th celebration weekend. A chef came and cooked us the yummiest birthday lunch in house, and we feasted and pleasured, including finding one of the best massages any of us had ever had, and multiple shared use of the spa.

So grateful, so exhausted, so exhilarated, and so happy to be home again now. Thank you for reading and travelling with me, Love G xO 

58 Comments

  2. Alexis Rose says

    Wow!! Again Im blown away by the pictures and your experiences. I love the wombat and the Alice and Wonderland fungi pictures, and those views!! What an amazing experience. Glad you’re home safe and sound. Those 3 poisonous snake sightings? Terrifying! Although Im terrified of little gardener snakes 🐍. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us. ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • bone&silver says

      Thanks for reading & joining in vicariously Alexis; it’s lovely to share. I’m not scared of snakes at all, but I must admit these 3 had a ‘scary vibe’ to them because they were so black- luckily they are scared of humans so slid away… 😏

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  3. tonjelilleaas says

    Looks and sounds like an amazing hike! Good job! And I must admit that summer sounds so tempting after close to four months with snow covering everything around us. Thanks for sharing images of greens💚

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Atwood Cutting says

    Greetings hiker and stilt-walker (but not at the same time, I hope).
    Tasmania looks fantastic. I recently heard about the underground art museum there.
    This old gal respects you for your pluck.
    Keep well, and don’t fall off any more tables, at least not before your heel heals.

    Liked by 1 person

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      • Atwood Cutting says

        I know what it means to “feel very proud of ourselves” for having accomplished something single-handedly. (Or, in our case four-handedly, and in yours’ “four-footedly,” I guess.)
        At any rate, I’m happy for you.

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        Reply
  9. Widdershins says

    What a wonderful adventure. 🙂 … I look back over some of the the things I’ve done that have really taxed me and have those two reactions as well … ‘that was brilliant, and ‘I’m never doing that again’! 😀

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • bone&silver says

      Oh god yes- getting too old for too much taxation now… there was an old guy who turned 76 while walking the track with his son, daughter, and grandson, but he wasn’t carrying a pack [bludger] which would make all the difference. Years ago I hiked in to Della Falls on Vancouver Island; I think it would be the end of me if I tried now- getting older kinda sucks sometimes x

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  11. Unleashing the Cougar says

    A beautiful and funny telling of a tale to remember! Loved the wombats and the fungi here, and I would be the same as you with the heights – and there’s no way I’d have volunteered for an extra 2 hour exploration, although apart from the ankle, it looks like you enjoyed it! Well done 🙂

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  12. Matt Berger says

    There was a popular new wave singer in Philadelphia in the early 80s called Alan Mann. HIs big local “hit” was the haunting mid-tempo, sax-driven “Fear of Heights.”

    The key passage:

    Fear of heights/you’re afraid to fall.
    So stay in place/somewhere you know well.

    The “falling” refers to “falling in love,” but it could just as easily apply to narrow Tasmanian cliffs.

    You made a wise choice–as Mann sang, “Keep it up/you’re going to live forever.”

    Liked by 1 person

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  13. The Lockwood Echo says

    What an amazing adventure! I’m so privileged to have been to your part of the world and would’ve given anything to smuggle a wombat home. The cutest thing I ever did see! My phone is hiding your photos behind the tags so will look again on laptop when I get chance. Enjoy your recuperation 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • bone&silver says

      Thanks- I did spend a while formatting the pictures, so it’s very annoying when I realize they get hidden etc- I don’t know what to do about that- definitely worth looking at on your laptop though… thank you for making the effort. And yes, wombats are so cute! We got so close, we couldn’t believe it.

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    • bone&silver says

      You are so welcome- we all started to talk about wanting to move there I admit- the air felt so fresh, and the local produce was amazing. I’m glad you enjoyed this post : )

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  21. Atwood Cutting says

    Just lost the cleverly crafted comment I’d slaved to produce, so will just say that I enjoyed these Tasmanian tales and particularly wanted to stand in the rain forest church and soak in its natural good spirits.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • bone&silver says

      Damn, how annoying! I’m really glad the photos did it for you though- just looking at them brings good vibes hey? So good in real life 🙂

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