Port Melbourne – Deloraine

Got an early start. Midget enjoyed an hour’s walk around Albert Park and the beautiful houses of the area. She was thoroughly tired when she got back to the van. We then headed on down to the huge que forming several blocks away from the ferry. 8:45am we left the car deck, happy that Midget didn’t have to go in a cage and that she could stay in the van. We took her down for a walk to see what fate she’d suffer if she didn’t behave and she wasn’t interested in any of the inmates except the cat. She happily jumped back into the van and went straight to sleep on her bed.

9:20am we pulled out from the jetty; hoping we’d get into Devonport before the wind picked up. During the journey the captain announced they had a new weather forecast for gale-force winds. Luckily we got in before they hit and had a great trip. They had 3 free movies to watch on the boat and also a short doco on the sad demise of the Tassie Devil. One part I was really concerned about was the fact that the logging industry may be responsible! Apparently the toxic waste they poison the land with after they’ve cleared it, infects the animals that feed on the insects, and smaller animals. As they move up the food chain, the Tassie Devils being at the top of it, are getting mouth cancers possibly through this horrid act!

The other interesting part we discovered is that they make noises much like Midget. They eat everything they find – bones and all (much like Midget), and their poos are white as they consume so many bones (I think Midgets are many and varied colours due to her bazaar eating habits. Actually I found a plastic wrapper in a poo the other day. She has discovered she can eat the wrapper and all! So Midgets new name is Devil. She’s just larger than the Tassie variety.

Arrived at 8pm and discovered that the Wooden Boat Show is on this weekend in Hobart. We hit the road immediately! Made it to the delightful town of Deloraine for the night. The brand new Woolies car park provided us with the food that we had to eat on the boat because we couldn’t bring it with us, and a comfortable quiet parking bay for the night.