Full circle of this cycle tour around lovely Tasmania, roughly 1200 km (750) miles in real currency). The route on well maintained quiet roads with good drivers – which also means they assertively overtook vs staying politely a distance away and annoying following cars. Everyday varied and the industrial past of the west coast was a surprise (or rather showed our ignorance).
As was the poppy farms – originating from a 1964 decision of Glaxo to focus production here after failed experiments in the UK and mainland Australia. Maybe security of the produce was a factor too, or am I being judgemental?
The short 40km hop took us through more farms before hitting town. The straight to the Bass Strait Maritime Museum to pick up more (useful?) facts. The first telegraph between Tasmania and the mainland was in 1859 via a submarine cable. It was opposed by the southern community as it posed a threat to their independance. By way of contrast the first telegraph line between UK and Australia was laid in 1872, That’s a long way.
The discovery of the Bass Straits in the late 1700’s cut a week off the sailing time between Europe and India. Ahead of HS2 then.
Tomorrow a mootch around before the overnight Spirit of Tasmania sailing. The new ships aren’t in use yet as they are too big for the berth in Devonport so a new berth has to be built – open circa 2027. So they may be stored in Glasgow or Leith. Tasmania boats twinned with CalMac shipbuilders it seems.
Travelling reflections 