Austrailia - Mar 7 - Mar 8

Hobart, Tasmania, Austrailia - Mar 7

POL:  We added one to the group and were photo bombed by another.

This morning we were in Hobart, once the main shipping port of Tasmania.  Where they still have a very busy port, the main shipping port has moved to another location.  Hobart has an interesting history.  Their boom began in the mid to late 1800's.  Some of their older buildings were constructed around the turn of the century, late 1800's and early 1900's.  Those buildings that are left appear to have been well maintained.
One landmark that has been viewed while in Hobart is Mount Wellington.  One feature of Mt. Wellington is the rocky outcrop known as the 'pipe organ'.  This can be viewed nearly anywhere in Hobart.  Of course they ruined the view by installing a couple of radio towers.  But they didn't ask my opinion.
We snagged a hop on hop off bus that eventually made its way to the Hobart Botanical Gardens.  It was well worth the price of admission, which was free.  There were plants and flowers galore.  Robin even got some ideas for landscaping (which usually means more work for me).
One item that really caught my eye was a wooden fountain from France.  Water was pumpted to the top and ran down through a series of wooden troughs.  It was very pleasant and relaxing.
Another feature that I enjoyed were some of the large trees.  They had, of course, a large Norfolk Pine, which seems to flourish across New Zealand and Tasmania.  They also had a large cedar tree from China.  Where it was not nearly as large as a Sequoia tree it was still impressive.

So we bade farewell to Hobart late in the evening.  Out next stop, after a day at sea, will be Melbourne.


Mar 8 - another sea day.

I did manage to see the sunrise and moon set at the same time.

Our last sea day was marked by disaster.  THE SHIP RAN OUT OF COKE ZERO!  But they had apparently restocked in Hobart so the mutiny was averted.  They didn't run out of booze though.  I is still flowing freely today (although not free) and the bars are hopping.  Seas are rough again today so all the weather decks are closed due to the winds and surf.  The ship's captain has warned us that we will get into rougher seas as we cross from Tasmania to the mainland of Austrailia.  Maybe we can jump into the sloshing pool later.  We'll see.

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