Blue sky red Ducati?

Not a chance! The hope of a last blast through the pass has been dashed by swirling misty rain that's been around for three days. Living in close proximity to a rainforest could be an important factor somehow overlooked when planning to move here. I continue to be amazed (and dismayed) that Ben camped in weather like this with only a motorbike for transport. At the time he seemed determined to stay and we supported from a distance while visiting as often as possible. But it wasn't enough and we missed the clues. If only we'd worked out another way to help, if only... Jazz wisely continues to hibernate in her kennel which will soon be dismantled for transport.

Packing up.

Jazz has returned from the boarding kennels where she had a very active week and thoroughly enjoyed playing with other dogs. Everything in the cottage is being packed and sorted for transportation either on this trip or the next. The trailer now has an extra anchor point in the floor so that two motorbikes can be tied down safely. A second 'trailermate' stand has been ordered online; without it, loading and securing two bikes is just too difficult for one person. Inside, the waterproof bathroom carpet (:() has been re-installed and rooms need to be cleaned and returned to their original configuration. Outside, rain has been falling for the past six hours and it's cold, grey and dull - ideal conditions for editing accounting standards and associated documents. "How's Ben?" you ask. All I know from this distance is that he's home after seven days in hospital. That doesn't mean he's well, it just means he's well enough to go home and continue recovery there. The doctors seemed hesitant to discharge him but were reassured by family that he'd be well cared for, as also happened in Launceston. We all hope that he can settle comfortably and improve at home. Jazz sails home on the boat soon, arriving early Wednesday morning, she'll be pleased to see Ben again.

Next day update: It's still raining!

Wheelers to Weldborough.

9.15am Garage the trusty old Skyline and disconnect the battery. 10.10am Leave the house and walk to Ferntree Gully Rd. 10.30am Catch a 753 bus which turns up precisely on time. 11.02am Board a city-bound train at Glen Waverley station. 11.30am Wait two minutes at Richmond Station for a loop train . 12noon Catch a "Skybus" at Southern Cross station. 12.20pm Arrive at the domestic terminal, Melbourne Airport. 12.30pm Feed my suitcase into an automated luggage check-in machine. (Wander around the airport for 2.5 hours - have arrived way too early, which is typical!) 3.00pm Board the flight to Launceston, forcing several rows of passengers to shuffle down to their correct seats. 3.20pm Fly out over the bay and Bass Strait. 4.25pm Land in Launceston, collect luggage and pay $65 for 6 days and 15 minutes long-term parking. 4.40pm Marvel at a spectacular golden sunset while also feeling weird about being back in Tasmania. Start the Falcon without problems. Buy fuel and head out of town. 5.18pm Swing slowly around the tight hairpin bend at Myrtle Park. 5.33pm Stop briefly at the Sideling to survey the scenery. 5.58pm Break for dinner at "The Oasis", Lord's Hotel in Scottsdale. 6.30pm Back on the road, turn right at the T-intersection towards St Helens. 6.47pm Breeze past Branxholm looking for signs of life, can't see anyone. 6.53pm Drive through deserted Derby. 7.05pm Motor past the golf course in misty Moorina. 7.15pm Arrive in Weldborough and note that the pub is still open. 7.20pm Unlock the back door of the cottage and enter, it's chilly inside!

It's really not all that difficult!

Today's news is that Ben can go home from hospital on Saturday.

Meanwhile - in NE Victoria.

Recently, in NE Victoria, Ben's sister and her boyfriend, both being artistically minded, staged an event that would have made Northern Exposure's resident artist, Chris Stevens, exceptionally proud. I'm reliably informed that no caravans were harmed in the production of this photograph. In NE Tasmania, the only remaining family representative, Jazz, waits patiently to be collected from the Wagabouts Boarding Kennels on Friday. She'll return to Melbourne next week along with her co-owner and a car load of items. The decision has been made to abandon our remote southern outpost and transport everything back to the mainland.

Visiting the patient.

Ben will be in hospital at Box Hill for a while. He had three family visitors today and we even managed to take a photo.

Dark at 3pm.

Who said darkness descends at 5pm? It was dark at 3pm on Friday! Storms hit just after lunch, knocking out the power with the very first lightning flash. Not a word from those pitiful pines either, no doubt too scared to move in case they were struck next. It looked like the rivers might cut the highway, threatening the trip to the kennels at St Helens and then on to Launceston airport via St Marys. Ben's back in hospital, this time at Box Hill which is much further for me than Launceston General but not so far that others can't visit. Options are very unclear at the moment, we just have to wait and see. I'm contemplating how, if necessary, to shift everything back to the mainland which, without assistance, would take at least three Bass Strait crossings.

Afternoon update: Jazz got to the kennels and I'm now back home in Melbourne. How odd it feels to be back in the (still unsold) house.

One year ago - boots, gems, bikes and cold.

And a year later, it's just the cold that's relevant. The once-new boots are worn and ragged from constant use, fossicking is on hold and the bikes are safely stored away. Bleakness continues in Weldborough: local rivers are swollen after five days of persistent rain, the ground is soggy and darkness descends at 5pm. Ben's at home in Melbourne, still unwell and wants to return to Tas because he misses the dog. We're unsure if that would be a good idea or not. When in hospital, all we wanted was to get him out. And now, finding the situation difficult to manage, hospital may be a better option so that he’s safe, being cared for by people who, we hope, know what they’re doing and taking medicine which, we hope, will help.

Outside the front window, through a curtain of rain, I see the characteristic tail-up arched-back outline of an ever-fattening yellow labrador making a deposit in the front yard. Better go and poop scoop before she tries to eat it. Dogs are so disgusting! She'll have a change of scenery and some like-minded company when she goes to the kennels tomorrow.