Saturday 9th March 2019 - Melbourne to Hobart

It was a very early start this morning, 5.25! We were slightly anxious about the pick up but had been assured by the travel agents, who were aware of what had happened in Port Douglas even before we had told them!, that all transfer times had been checked and it was all ok. (We have also had the cheque in the post reimbursing us which is pretty impressive!) Our car arrived 15 minutes early and we were waiting! Thankfully an easy journey on a Saturday morning to the airport and then time for a leisurely coffee as we could see our flight on the board and that the departure gate would be announced shortly. Our boarding passes and the check in told us gate 13 at 8.10, so all was well.

Imagine our consternation then when we looked again a few minutes later to find that the flight was no longer even on the board, or any other board come to that in the near vicinity. Geoff checked, I checked again, then so did he, but no, the Hobart flight with Virgin was nowhere to be seen and it was less than 10 minutes to boarding. Oh dear! My sensible husband suggested we go to gate 13, which is where we should have been boarding (should we have been worried about the 13?!!!), to see if there was any information as it was only a short walk away. There were very few people there, but one other girl also looking for the flight, and yes a message to say the gate had been changed. Pity the electronic boards in the main lounge hadn’t told us that bit of information!

The next problem was that we had to go back out of the secure area, across the bit where Jo Public can roam, and through security again. Apparently they have added to the size of this terminal and have 2 wings to it, each with its own security check. And of course you have guessed it, long queues!! We debated about jumping into the priority lane but just before we made the leap we were called over to help ease the queues. After all that the flight was late taking off and we would have had plenty of time! Should we be worried about our next flight I wonder?!

We arrived in Hobart to rain, almost unheard of on this trip, and cool weather too! But by the time we had been dropped off at our hotel it had eased off and the cloud was lifting. Even though it was only 11 or so our room was ready so we were able to get up to our room. As soon as we were in I was checking through the hotel info to see what the situation was with laundry. We had a weeks worth! And we are not carrying much in the way of spare anything! Imagine for a moment my excitement then when I saw they had a laundry room for guests to use, with washing machines and tumble dryers!! Should I be worried that it brought me so much joy and excitement?! I had to check it out, and having done so declared that there was nothing to worry about and we could go out exploring as I had time to sort the washing later!

And go out we did, to the Salamanca Market. Its a shame that we are so restricted with luggage allowances as I could have done all my Christmas shopping and more on this holiday. The Rocks in Sydney, last week in Port Douglas and then today, plus here there are loads of little shops tucked away in the old warehouses down by the docks. If there is anything like this in Perth I may not be able to restrain myself any more as the international flights give us 40kg allowance and not 23kg! Mind you, lugging around suitcases that are already around the 20kg mark is not easy! We had an interesting lunch too, from a stall and a little shop - a salmon sausage in a warm focaccia roll, then a scallop pie - a pastry case with scallops in a mild curry sauce. Both seem to be local dishes and were tasty if different! The rain held off and the sun even popped out for a little while which made it all very pleasant. Sadly neither of us thought to take any photos today. We will do better tomorrow!

Then it was back to the hotel to do the washing! And the drying, then a bit of ironing. All done and put away for another few days! And I met some other ladies in the laundry room doing just as I was, so all very convivial!

We found a good place to eat just across the road from the hotel this evening, which was just as well as when we came out the rain had returned. Fingers crossed for tomorrow!