Back on the road.

Bike repairs completed at Scott's Motorcycle Spares in Legana. The bent handlebars haven't been repaired but the headlight was replaced and the bike's had a full service, according to Ben's report phoned in from the Ampol service station - "which has the best food". Somehow the service came with a 'cut price' Shark motorcycle helmet, normally $800 but at a special price of only $200. Seems the deal was too good to resist and Ben's sending his old helmet back in the post. The damaged headlight was posted the other day. Another night at Beauty Point and then off to Bridport, looking for free camping sites.

Beauty Point.

Camped near Beauty Point on the Tamar River. To quote the SMS received at 11pm, "Just had my first Tasmanian shower. Will wash clothes tomorrow." Bike still not repaired, delays getting parts. Further up the road, at Beauty Point itself, Ben saw smokestacks and blackened landscape on the other side of the river, an aluminium plant no less. The postcard picture takers in Beauty Point have been fairly selective about where their cameras were pointed. It's not all beauty! Earlier in the day, while looking for better accommodation, I rang a lady in Gravelly Beach near Exeter. She had a one bedroom cottage for rent. It was priced a little over Ben's budget at $120 per night including breakfast. When I mentioned that the bike needed repairs, she kindly offered to drive into Exeter to pick him up.

Tamar River

The Tent.

First campsite, Exeter.

The tent looks something like this. Ben tells me that the days are hot and nights are very cold. It sounds like the locals in Exeter have been very helpful. A local farmer gives him vegetables and someone offered accommodation in a granny flat. Ben asked if I could see his campsite on Google Earth; it's opposite the Ampol service station, between an old red tractor and a vegetable patch. Not sure the resolution is that good... In Streetview, I can't see a tractor but can see the cows we hear in the background during phone conversations!

Farm produce

Exeter and Legana.

Ben arrived on the Spirit of Tasmania on Sunday 23 Jan. The plan was to head east to St Helens however he's currently camped in Exeter waiting for his motorbike to be repaired. It was parked outside a shop and knocked over by a 4WD, damaging the handlebar and headlight as well as scratching the tank and exhaust. The 4WD driver didn't stop. This is within one day of arriving! A mechanic in Legana will repair the bike for him. In the meantime it's still rideable but the throttle isn't working properly.

The towns are north of Launceston in the Tamar River valley.

The Bike.

Honda VTR250. I don't have a picture of it loaded up with two saddle bags, a tail bag and other items. (Thanks to Uncle Peter for the loan of some bike gear.)

Got his L's last Thursday and rides onto the boat on Sunday.

Clean Air.

After all the health-related problems and the latest diagnosis of asthma, Ben's out and about looking for clean air. He's hoping to find it in Tasmania.

I got some helpful advice from the Skyline Forum:

Launceston is a bowl that holds in all the smoke in winter... i have very mild asthma and it doesn't really get me... but someone said that a lot of ppl move from melbourne to qld because the warm temps and high humidity actually helps with asthma... anywhere on the east coast would be good tho. (pipster11)

Down here at Port Arthur it's pretty amazing. (ziodbergmerc)

I'm in Burnie, Summers nice and warm (low / mid 30's), but that only last for a few weeks a year, Winters cold, normally less than 8-9 degrees, snow about 15 minute drive away in winter, beach a few minutes drive the other directing. I been living here all my life, so I think it's a great place, Job prospects may be a little slim, (noddle)

I grew up in the north east (in the bush near derby) and had asthma pretty badly back then, but luckily grew out of it and haven't had an attack since I was about 12-13. Don't be fooled too much by nice little old country areas as a lot of the houses are older and people will be using wood heaters rather than electric in the winters, and in valleys this can sometimes just sit around. I'm pretty certain the west coast of Tassie is considered to have the cleanest air, as it comes straight in from the roaring fourties, but jobs will probably be harder to find... I would avoid launceston because as pipster11 said it holds the smog in it's little bowl, if you're planning on making frequent city trips Hobart is possibly a better choice. I lived down the huon valley region for a couple of years and we had no problems. (clandestine)

I don't think anywhere you could get a job, commute practically etc would be especially clean... Apparently Cape Grim on Woolnorth has the cleanest air in the world. (floody)

the northwest coast is pretty good. shearwater, hawley, portsorell. i know ppl that have moved there for the same reason. like floody said though, commuting is always going to be the main issue. (jangles)

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/topic/351109-off-topic-wheres-the-cleanest-air-in-tasmania/