Hanging in Hobart

Trip Start Jan 11, 2008
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11
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Trip End Feb 22, 2008


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Saturday, February 2, 2008

We arrived back in Hobart around 4pm, having had a private (seemingly) shuttle with David the bus driver from Scotts Peak dam back to our hotel, the Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel.  I had found a reasonable deal online for two nights in a studio apartment at this fantastic hotel, and we weren't disappointed.  We were on the 10th floor, in a large studio apartment with a kitchenette, dining table, couch, queen bed, washer and dryer.  We had room to spread out all our gear and then some.  We quickly ran back to the Astor hotel and picked up our small bag and paid for the room from over a week ago (Tildy had been ironing her skirt when we were checking out so she told us to pay when we were back in town).  Back at the hotel, we had to immediately get some clothes into the wash (the hotel provided laundry detergent) as we really didn't have any extra clothes other than the clothes we had hiked in.

Long showers, clothes in the dryer, and we were almost ready for dinner.  After a discussion we realized that changing a leg of our flight (we were supposed to stay in Brisbane a night on Feb 1) Hobart pier, had a great meal at Fish Frenzy!
1) Hobart pier, had a great meal at Fish Frenzy!
 . 4th and fly out Feb. 5th before flying to Christchurch) would be useful, and after contacting Air New Zealand on phone we were able to change that leg to fly into Christchurch a day earlier (only a $50 change fee as we argued that their delayed flight a week ago had made us stay over in Brisbaned unplanned, which it had).   A quick walk down to the Woolworths (open 7 days a week, something like 8am -10pm every day) and we stocked up with some breakfast food and a possible lunch/dinner for the next night), and we ran famished to the wharf to hopefully eat at Fish Frenzy, the place that David the bus driver had recommended.  As we entered the place we realized that we had eaten there 2 years before, but tonight (Saturday) the place was much more busy and energetic than we remembered it.  The restaurant was actually completely full inside and out, with one lone table free for us!   We ordered fresh baked fish over Greek salads, with some calamari and chips (fries) as a side (carbo loading in full swing).  Glasses of wine were ordered as opposed to a bottle as we had learned from experience that our tolerance for booze was very low post-hike!

After a great dinner we wandered a bit to Salamanca Square, but we were fading fast (it was almost 9pm!).  Back to the hotel and with full bellies we quickly fell asleep!

On Sunday we continued cleaning clothes and sleeping bags, aired out the tent in our apartment (very big studio apartment!), updated our blog (hotel has internet for $5 day) and cooked dinner and managed to polish off a whole bottle of wine 2) Hobart pier
2) Hobart pier
 .  Another sleep with a full belly!

On Monday we ran around town buying maps at the parks office (for future hikes!) and ran into a Canadian named Mike, who ironically had worked at Monique's on the West Coast Trail (Vancouver Island) the past summer.  He had served us burgers in July 2007!  He was doing some tramping and we gave him suggestions about hiking the South Coast Trail.  He would be back at Monique's likely for summer 2008, so we would keep our eyes out for him.  Off to the airport to catch our Virgin Blue flight to Brisbane, David met us at the airport and brought us Theo's computer and another small bag that we had left at his place.  David drove us to the international wing, we checked in for our flight to Christchurch and then had lunch with him and caught up a bit.  Then jumped on our Air New Zealand flight to Christchurch and arrived there close to midnight (after navigating immigration with our camping gear), having had arranged to stay at the Sudima hotel 400m from the airport.
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