12 Feb 10 - Spirit of Tasmania II

By Lou: We were advised early that the departure of the Spirit of Tasmania II was delayed by an hour which was good news to us as it gave us more time to pack up and get ready. (Although we’d only been at mum’s a few days we were quick to spread ourselves out.) I had been advised by the booking officer that we couldn’t take any fresh fruit or vegies into Tassie, and we would have to check in our gas bottles before departure. To rule out any other possible snags I checked out the Tasmanian quarantine website and decided to leave our small stash of firewood at mum’s. Well they never inspected for fruit, and they gave the thumbs up to keeping the gas bottles attached…but then told us to empty the near-full 20L gerry can of unleaded petrol (for the generator and boat motor). And not just that. But to then fill it with water. Sacrilege to Craig! Would you serve mint sauce with beef? No. Mix fuel and water? NO!


Although we waited with car engines off in a long queue after the checkpoint, we were loaded and departed spot-on 10pm as planned. We found our way to our cabin at the bow of the ship, dumped our bags and headed to the top level to watch our departure. We then wandered around the ship (huge), had a few drinks in a lounge tapping our toes to the tunes of a live singer, purchased a National Parks pass at the Tourist Info booth and then Sam and I went to bed. Craig stayed up till midnight to watch the ferry pass through the heads of Port Phillip Bay at which point the ferry started getting a little bit of a roll to it but not rough at all.


By Craig: My father spent 12 years sailing the seas on the HMAS Sydney (Aircraft Carrier)in the 50's & I'm starting to understand his love for the sea. I've always appreciated time on the water whether it be in a tinny or sailing on a 30foot vessel. I've spent a little time on the water, as a young teen and then sailing in the Whitsundays (Thanks Mr Benson) and it has never failed to put a smile on my face. Passing through the Heads of Port Phillip Bay and feeling the surge of a great ocean swell was an experience not to be missed. I'm not saying I'm up for the Sydney to Hobart but I'm certainly sure that sailing and oceans will play some part in my future.