Rafting Campout

This weekend only got better! Sunday morning we met at 8:00 to head up to Tahune. There were too many people (not enough helmets and life vests) to raft when we got there, so Courtney, a couple other Americans, a German, and I volunteered to go hiking and check out the Tahune Airwalk instead and just raft on Monday. We went hiking with a guy called the "Banana Man".

Here is the Banana Man and I in front of a Man Fern.

The hike was freezing and the wind was vicious. The plan was to hike to the peak of a mountain, but about half way up Banana, Courtney and I decided we'd rather head back to the bottom. So, the other Americans and the German headed to the top (it turns out it was hailing and there were winds between 95-125mph at the peak). We had a blast coming down. We found a tiny trail and blazed our own trail across a creek and through a mossy jungle area. The moss was really cool; I took off my shoes (I hiked up the Mt in flip-flops) and the ground almost swallowed my feet, the moss was so thick!

We didn't go on the Airwalk until after dinner (a big BBQ once the rafters got back) because they closed at 5pm and we could hop the fence and go in for free. It was pretty cool, but definitely not worth the $17 we would have paid. It was a big walkway up in the tree tops and a little over the river (where the Huon and Picton meet). We did however get kicked off right when we got to the end - the security guard was a little late I guess.

This is Courtney and... I can't tell who else, on the Airwalk

There are probably better pictures of the Airwalk at http://www.discovertasmania.com.au/home/index.cfm?SiteID=675

We stayed up giving back rubs around the fire until about 12 or 1, and since neither Courtney or I had a tent, we convinced Banana Man to let us sleep in the back of his Land Cruiser (WAY better than setting up a tent and having to have it packed up by 8am). After breakfast we got all the rafts together and set out to raft the river.

This is Courtney and Cled, the English man, getting ready to head out for the day.

The water was quite cold, but the trip was a blast! There were not too many "white water rafting" spots, lots of lazy floating down the river, but we had a really good time.

When we finally got things packed up, we had another big BBQ and played at a park.

Tomorrow is the big tennis championship between John Fisher College and the other two colleges... Yes, I am competing for John Fisher in the singles game... No, I do not play tennis. Wish me luck, and thanks for keeping up with me! I love getting all my comments!!!