03.02.2023 from Devonport to Stanley

There was a huge rumbling in the sea, the ferry pounded through the high waves, we didn't see it, but the rattling of the loose parts of the ship is threatening. We try to sleep, but it is difficult, the air conditioning blows cold air into the seat area. We survive that too. Promptly at 4:45 am, a friendly female voice says that we should get up now, have a coffee or tea and be ready. The lights of the port and the city can already be seen. At 5:45 am the ship docks, and shortly afterwards we are one of the first to disembark. At the control, we are waved through, we appear as serious as rarely before with Frank.

Where to go at almost 6 am in a place like Devonport, of course to MC Doof, they are already open. And regardless of whether they let me blog or not, they have WiFi and in Germany it is the best afternoon coffee time.

After knowing where we want to go, we head north, to Rocky Cape NP and The Nut in the eponymous Nature Reserve. With a not so cheap national park pass, which we have to purchase online for 82 AUD at our first Australian roadhouse, we drive to Rocky Cape NP. First the usual, lighthouse and boat ramp, but then a hike, only 2 km but with considerable elevation. After climbing 100 meters, we get a good overview of the bay and hike back until a strange noise makes us wait. An echidna is digging in. We encourage him to show his snout, but no, the little guy doesn't want to. Echnidna is the name of the ancient animal. Unfortunately, we didn't see its snout, but we are still impressed.

The next point is "The Nut" in Stanley, an ancient lava plug, the chairlift takes you up to 143 m and there is a 2 km circular walk on top of the old magma plug. What is special about it is that a poisonous plant grows here, from which the brew Hemlock was made in the past, which also brought about the death of Socrates and many other people. The stuff still grows here and there. As a sign proclaims, it also has good properties, remedies for asthma, anxiety, and much more. But you shouldn't eat the Hemlock pure.

From above, we can see that there is not only a holiday and caravan park in the town, but also a showground with an RV parking space. We drive there and only pay 10 AUD. There is no toilet or washing machine, but who needs that anyway. There is also a meat raffle at the golf club, the operator of the RV site. (recreation on vehicles) I say as if we don't have beer on board. Frank says he wants to see how the people live, but the fish to be won was already gone.