Booked a cycling tour of Tasmania just a few days ago. Much thanks to the tour organizer for getting me in at the last minute. I’m excited but anxious as I haven’t been on a bike in 9 months and I’m in terrible shape. I suppose I’ve done a lot of walking in the cities I’ve visited but I still feel out of shape. It will be a challenge to keep up with the rest of the tour group. It’s a small group, only 4 of us, so if the rest of the group is much faster, I may have to take the “ride of shame” in the support vehicle so I don’t slow everyone else down. I don’t mind being the last one to get to the hotel at the end of the day but there are some events, like visits to wildlife reserves, that are contingent upon available time. So I don’t want to be the guy whose vain refusal to admit defeat resulted in canceling the Tasmanian Devil viewing.
The tour starts tomorrow in Launceston. I arrived a day early, burned out from being in big cities (after Saigon, Brisbane, and Melbourne) and looking forward to some relaxation. It is a very small city and people seem nice and friendly. On Sunday, everything was closed which surprised me. Like rural America 30 years ago. I managed to find some mediocre fish and chips. I also stopped at a coffee shop where a group of middle-aged cyclists was taking a break from their ride. That got me excited about riding again.
It’s cold and windy here. Gusts up to 16 mph. Temperature in the low 50s this morning when I walked across the parking lot to get breakfast. Eggs on toast with tomato and bacon. Tea and orange juice. A group of ten Chinese tourists arrived when I was finishing up, posing for photos with bowls of cereal and cups of coffee.
Check out is at 10 and the tour group meets at 3:30 so I’ve got some time to kill. Will likely check out Cataract Gorge as it seems within walking distance.