Lisa Millegan: Final stretch
Trip Start
Mar 09, 2008
1
10
11
Trip End
Apr 11, 2008
Burnie,
Australia
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Jim Bacon and Yoro at the end of 45K bike ride
The last week-and-a-half has been full of adventure. First off, I'm sure I will shock all those who know me by saying I actually rode a 20K bike ride for a Rotary fund-raiser. Yes, I put on lycra shorts, gloves and a helmet and pedaled away on a bike borrowed from a host family. I was proud to keep up with a husband and wife in their late 50s who rode on a tandem bike. Men in their 70s whizzed past me. Clearly I need to bump up my fitness regimen when I get back home. My Group Study Exchange team members also participated in the ride. Brian did the 20K with me, Jim did the 45K (check out the picture with Yosemite Rotary Club mascot Yoro) and team champion Sarah did the 100K!
Rotary Club bike ride at Launceston
After finishing the bike ride, which was near Launceston, we continued up the northwest coast, stopping at the cute town of Penguin.
Brian and me in the city of Penguin
Everything is all penguin all the time.The garbage cans are painted with penguins, the local cafe is the "Groovy Penguin," sculptures of penguins line the streets. Apparently there are real penguins there, but I never saw them. I'm told they can only be seen at night or early in the morning.
We finally made our way to Smithton for the Rotary district conference, where we heard inspiring speeches about service projects and got a chance to meet other GSE teams, including the returned Tasmanian team from India.
Partying with the Tasmanian/India GSE team
We hit it off with these "blokes" and ended up dancing the night away with them at the main dinner event and then wandering the streets of this small town trying unsuccessfully to find an open pub.
On Monday, I visited The Advocate newspaper, a 20,000-circulation daily in Burnie, which turned out to be my favorite vocational visit of the trip. Editor Jason Purdie was very organized and set up a great schedule that allowed me to meet all the department heads. I loved sitting in on the news meetings where the editors talk about the stories of the day. I had to laugh at the story about how the Tasmanian government is encouraging citizens to use their cell phones to snap photos of litterers that they can turn into police. It just goes to show you how Tasmania has no problems. I think in California we're more concerned with more basic problems, like keeping down car thefts and burglaries.
Today, we visited one of Tasmania's most famous sites- the gorgeous Cradle Mountain national park.
Cradle Mountain
While Jim and Sarah chatted with park officials, Brian, Carol, our Tasmania hosts Ken and Mark and I went on a 90-minute walk around Dove Lake. We got beautiful views of the mountain and were happy to enjoy the forest.
Throughout the trip, I've doing my best to answer questions about Modesto. Most of my host families haven't been sure where it is but they are happy to wear the California Tour bike race T-shirts I've given them with the city prominently displayed.
Tasmanian Andrew Saggers shows love for Modesto
Hope everybody is doing well. We're looking forward to seeing you again soon.
