Morning Sunrise on Mount Cook

Clouds on the mountains

 I want to go up there

 Mount Cook 

 Trail from the lodge

 On the Trail

 Trail from the lodge

 Sir Edmond Hillary looking at Mount Cook

 On a bridge part of the trail

 Looking back at Mount Cook

 The Clay Cliffs

Jack's Stream

Lake Pulaki - Yes, it is that blue

 Mount Cook

Glacier on Mount Cook

Near Twizel, used in Lord of the Rings

Near Twizel, used in LOTR

 Near Mount Potts Station

 Red Deer near Mount Potts Station

Today I took my time working on a few pictures to post and sent to family and friends before I left the hotel.  I stopped by a winery in the Coal Valley Vineyard area and sampled a few of their selections before deciding to buy a reisling to take with me.  When I left I drove to the top of Mt. Wellington. 

The clouds had not yet cleared and I was treated to a view of white haze instead the view of Hobart I had hoped for.  During the winter sometimes the tope is capped with snow making for an impressive view from the city below.

I decided to drive on toward Devonport so that I could make my way to Melbourne to spend a few days before leaving for Christchurch, NZ on the 24th. When I stopped for petrol (gas to us Americans) the station attendant mentioned a place called The Maze along the way that I could stop and have a meal. 

When I arrived I understood the name because they have a large maze that you can find your way through and then enjoy a good meal after your adventure.  I didn't try the maze but did enjoy a good burger and chips.  I also had a milkshake but very different from any I had in the USA.  There was no ice cream in it, just simply milk and flavoring.  It was ok but give me the fat loaded ones I am used to.

On resuming my travel I was amazed to see so much green land.  Tasmania is full of extremes, rugged rocky coastlines, gorgeous white sand beaches, mountains, and beautiful farmland.  The combination of all of this in a small state was what gives Tasmania its charm.  You can be from one area to another in just a short time.  I wish I had more time to explore Tasmania but I also want to see Melbourne and all it has to offer.

When I arrived in Devonport I drove to the office for the Spirit of Tasmania, a large ship that runs from Devonport to Melbourne.  The agent was able to get me on tonights voyage so I topped off the tank of the rental car, parked it, and dropped the keys in the drop box since noone was there at the kiosk.  I was supposed to leave it at the airport but the agent for the ship called Europcar rentals for me and they said I could leave it here instead.

The ship is large and holds many vehicles and equipment in addition to passengers.  It looks like any large cruise ship that you see at many ports.  I had a quick meal and then found a recliner looking out the back of the ship to the sea so I could use my computer for a while before getting some sleep.  The cruise take approx. 10 hours at about 25 knots.

HINT:  When I picked and dropped off the rental car I took pictures of it to show the shape it was in before and after just in case there is any question about it.  Be sure to include some landmark or building so you can prove where the pics were taken.

Koala Bear

 Wallaby

  This must be some route.

 View at Burleigh Hill

 Coolangatta Beach

 Australlian Surfer

 Inside Natural Bridge

 View Trom Top Of Natural Bridge National Park

This morning I started with a walk through Frort Mason and on up to Fisherman's Wharf. On the way you have a great view of Alcatraz which I plan to visit this week. The seagull in the picture just posed in front of Alcatraz Island reminding me of the 1962 movie "The Birdman Of Alcatraz". More...

Today I shopped around at the Straw Market and then went to Cable Beach and walked back to the hotel.  This allowed me a great way to see more of the island. 

The internet has been off most of the day yesterday and today but this is an island.

I have put together a rough plan for the next few days in case the connection is out anymore.  Right now I hope to catch a ferry to Harbor Island and stay there for a couple days and then return to Nassau on the 15th.  On the 16th I will catch a plane to Miami and pick up a rental car to be able to see more of the Everglades and Big Cypress National Parks.  I will then head north and see how the plans unfold then.  You can check out the share page at http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0TSm7h5vSsAoziekqbF4hvDJuKRbIJsDX to see where I am and if all is going as planned.  I plan to catch everything up as soon as connections and time permit so keep checking in.

I got things together early and started for Biscayne National Park, stopping at a Duncan Doughnuts for breakfast.  The ride out was not too bad once I got about 3 miles out of town.  Just before the park I saw approx. 50 cyclists and talked to a few of them.  It was good to see a lot of people taking advantage of these rural roads and beautiful surroundings.  There are plenty of palm tree farms out there and I saw a great variety of different palms.  Biscayne National Park was nice and I learned that at one time the area was bought up and the planned use was a six-lane highway to as an extension of Miami Beach.  I'm really glad that was stopped and it was made into a national park.  I rode my bike around the walkway and out onto the jetty.  From there the view of Miami is nice but I preferred the one looking out into open water.

As I left I saw many young people visiting the park.  There is a lot to see and do here and I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did.  

I chose to ride the rural roads as much as possible toward Miami and then searched for a reasonably priced storage facility to put my bicycle in.  As I entered Miami I did see one sign that I thought others would find funny.  It was a sign for a park and I have a picture below.  See the humor?  I tried A-1 but they have fees for their fees and it would have cost nearly $100 to just leave my bike there for a month.  Luckily I saw a Public Storage and there a months rent, a new lock, and all fees were only $41, saving me more than 50% over their competitor.  I really don't like making anyone look bad but when you make up fees just to charge more I think you deserve it.  A-1 even charges you $20 for "administrative fee" for filling out their paper!

In the unit I packed as much as I could into my backpack and locked the door on the rest.  I decided to walk to the airport and enjoyed just walking around for a while.  It was near dinner time and I stopped into a Cuban restaurant for a meal.  There was very little English spoken here.  The food was very good and I had a dessert and espresso to top off the tank.

I was looking to the west and as the sun set it developed a brilliant redish purple hue but there was nothing to frame it with.  I took a couple pictures anyway.  I continued my walk and eventually came to the Hertz rental car facility where I caught the shuttle to the airport since it is not designed for pedestrians.  I got to the airport and was able to work on a few pictures and do some of my blog posting while waiting for the early morning flight to Nassau, Bahamas.

 Biscayne National Park

 Anyone else see humor in this sign?

Today was an easy day with a visit to the Everglades National Park.  This was the first time I have been to this park and I had anticipated it highly.  It more than met my expectations.  Wildlife was abundant and offered many oppurtunities to photograph them.  Something about creatures that could eat me have always excited me, just look at some of my bear pictures and you will understand.  I tend to push the limits a little to obtain a great shot but knowing that any of these big gators could just grab me if he decided to really tingled my nerves.  Perhaps it was just the newness of the gator shots as opposed to the bears, coyotes, deer, and wolves I am more used to.  I also took shots of several birds and landscapes while I was there but the gators were my favorites by far.

I had seen a sign for a winery on the way in and not being one to miss a good tasting I decided to go there.  Schnebly Redland's Winerywas only about 6 miles from the park and the ride was very easy with the wind helping push me along.  At the winery  I opted for the regular and deluxe tasting.  They do charge for the tastings here but you get to keep the glass, an added bonus.  I really enjoyed several of their wines but being on a bicycle I chose a bottle of there Catagory 3 (think hurricane) wine.  It is a mixed fruit wine and reminded me of a good sangria.  One of the workers there suggested El Toro Taco as a place to eat in Homestead and the name made me think it was a small taco chain but was I surprised.  The restaurant was very nice and the food was excellent.  The only problem was their lack of a beer/liquor permit but I was able to go next door for a couple beers and carry them into the restaurant where they did provide limes and opener.

I decided to stay in Homestead for another night so I can go to Biscayne National Park tomorrow before heading to Miami.

Stats: 37.7 miles, 12.5 mph avg., 20.3 max., 8:57 total time, 3:00 moving time, 2772 calories,  97 avg. HR, 141 max. HR.

 Entrance sign for Everglades National Park

This guy was laying beside the road coming into the park