getting ready for tasmania

well as you all know....if you know me well:
always an idea or a thousand on the go, well the new one is to take our beautiful and newly kitted out bicycles and head for tasmania and cycle some of the parts there before it gets too cold to camp and cycle comfortably in this the most southernly part of australia.

we are currently finding bits and pieces for the bikes and doing general overhaul on such things as breakpads etc. i scored some very retro-80s looking panniers in embarassing bright neoncolours. great, all the better for discouraging thiefs from snatching them.
the goal of today is to get a good map and a decent sleeping bag that doesn't take up too much space, since all the gear, including tent and camping stuff have to fit on bike.
it's a learning curve how to plan for a longer bicycle journey and it's very exciting. love every minute of it!
i shall let you know how we go, for now be well and enjoy this thing called life.

hello again.10/3-2009
if everything goes to plan( whenever does that happen) we will leave tomorrow on the ferry to devonport, tasmania.
hopefully we will be able to move the bikes with the heavy load that they now carry. considering that there could be snow up in the mountains we don't really know what to pack so we have packed a lot!
as soon as i have the pix for it i will post them and you can see how bronco looks in real life.
here she is, still a bit naked without all the peraphernalia that later on will be attached.
i must admit that i am a little bit nervous about this expedition..partly because my bike is a 25dollar bike and the bikes that "cycle australia" talks about are in the cost bracket of 800 dollars(!)and according to them the westcoast of tasmnaia are one of the harder routes in Oz....and that is directed at fit people. i am not in that category and wonder how it is all going to work out. but as they said in the bikeshop...you will get fit as you go and if the bike breaks down and you can't fix it, there is always the bus or hitching a ride to the nearest town.
i think it will be a great trip and i am excited to see taz. also very excited about getting fit and active again after way to much nice food and relaxation.
until next time cheerio!:)
kitted out for snow in the mountains of tazzie