A lesson in the local geography.

The Tasman Highway stretches from Launceston across to St Helens and then down the coast all the way to Hobart. Locations mentioned here in recent weeks are highlighted on the map. The key to travelling is not to hurry from one major town to the next, rather to stay a while at the places in between and pay attention to what's there. Tidying a hotel garden, reading in a myrtle forest, fishing as night descends, camping in a storm, noticing that the moon is full, dealing with the repair man who 'smiled with too many teeth', managing after a motorbike crash, living on a low budget while purchasing necessities (and other stuff!), seeking a healthy climate - are all part of the experience. It's been three months since a tall young man wearing new motorcycle gear and riding a recently-purchased VTR 250, loaded with full saddle bags and a tent strapped to the back, queued with all the other vehicles on Station Pier. Much has happened since then.