Hey everyone!

Yes another mass email from me but unless I write about every two weeks there is no way I can keep up with what is going on since I have been traveling every single weekend.

This email is going to be dedicated to this previous weekend.  So here is what I was doing Saturday evening: I was strolling barefoot down a deserted beach with beautiful, soft, white, sand spotted with shells like you would see in a store and crystal clear water while the sun set behind the mountains.  No cars or pollution, nothing to disturb the magic of the place - a place you can only get by boat or by hiking with your food, clothes, tent and sleeping bag all on your back.

Let me just continue by saying I have never seen such beautiful scenery as I saw this weekend and I am dying to travel around the United States and find all its beauty now. 

So let's start from the beginning of my weekend.  Seventeen members from the bush walking club including me drove up to Freycinet Peninsula Friday night.  We arrived there at about nine thirty at night and then hiked to Wine Glass Bay in the dark. (Mom and Dad that's part of the hike that I did with you two when you were here).  After hiking over the saddle between two mountains we hiked along the beach.  I was kinda bummed because the clouds had covered the moon and stars.  But it was still so nice out.  WE arrived at the campsite around midnight and set up our tents and everything in the dark.  I fell asleep to the sound of waves crashing upon the shore.  Although it was hard to sleep at night because the possums kept fighting (which I have learned are totally different animals then our opossums).

It was still cloudy in the morning but I took a nice walk along the beach in the morning.  Around ten o'clock in the morning we packed up camp and set out for Cooks Beach which was on the other side of the mountains.  If you look at the picture of me at Wine Glass Bay when Mom and Dad were here you can see the mountains we had to hike over in the background on the other side of the Bay.

We reached the top of Mount Graham around one in the afternoon and the sun began to break through the clouds.  We stopped to eat lunch at the top of the mountain.  We then continued on our way down the mountain.  To get a great view we left our packs and hiked up Mount Freycinet but I only went half way up until I found some rocks I could climb out onto.  From there I got my wish...to see Wine Glass Bay in the sun with a blue sky:-)  And it was worth every step I had taken that weekend.  I sat out on the rocks with my friend Keya and just enjoyed the absolutely amazing beauty.  I keep searching for words to figure out how to explain to you what it was like sitting there on the rocks that afternoon but I can't find any.  It was so magical.  There I was sitting with the sun warming my skin over looking deserted beaches surrounded by mountains.  Air fresher than any air I have ever breathed before.  The only sound were the birds and flies.  No cars, nothing.  It was amazing.  I could have sat there for hours just looking.  I wish I had a video camera so I could have tried to capture some of the beauty that I was witnessing because the pictures I took don't do it any justice at all.  If you ever get a chance to go somewhere, anywhere where there are no people and just amazing nature I would urge you to go.  I can't explain the emotions in being part of it for just a moment but it is amazing.

We arrived at the next campsite around seven at night.  That's when I got to walk along the beach and watch the sun set.  Which was almost as amazing as sitting on those rocks on the mountain.  We all sat around and laughed and ate dinner while possums and wallabies drove us crazy that night.  I then walked along the beach with a couple of people and gazed at the stars.  I have never seen so many stars in my life.  It must be what it is like when you are out in the middle of the ocean.  I could see the milky way so clearly.  I never knew there were so many stars surrounding Orion.  I saw two shooting starts too. I once again fell asleep to the sound of waves crashing on the shore.

I can't believe that God created so much beauty.  From the stars to the waters to the mountains.  I had it all this weekend right there before me all in one spot.

Sunday we got an extra hour of sleep because it was daylights savings time here. (I'll tell you the time difference later).  We set out around ten to walk back to the car park.  We stopped at Hazards Beach for lunch where I went swimming.  I was able to walk out up to my next and still see my feet as clear as daylight.  The and was so smooth with no rocks on the bottom, just the ripples the water left in the sand.  The sky was so blue and it just felt great to swim.    We only stayed there about an hour before we continued on to the car park. 

We arrived back around four.  Towards the end I didn't think I could lift my legs any more even though most of the walk back was on flat ground.  The walk back was around the base of the mountains along the shore line so it took a lot less time then the way there.  But I made it back, all in one piece.  It is such a exhilarating feeling to finish a hike like this.  I wasn't sure I was going to be able to do it but I did and I will never ever forget it.   I can't wait to see more of Tasmania's wilderness and go on more camping trips.

I took so many pictures so that I could try to share some of what I saw with you all.  This Saturday I am suppose to be going horseback riding along Seven Mile Beach.

I thank God right now for my health all my senses and creating an earth filled with such beauty.  I can't wait to see more of it. If I close my eyes right now I can imagine sitting right there on those rocks.  

Now about the time change:  We were sixteen hours ahead of you all but we just had daylight savings and gained an hour or rather moved back an hour in time so right now we are fifteen hours ahead of you, but this coming weekend if I am correct is your daylights savings and you all lose an hour or move forward an hour in time so I will only be fourteen hours ahead of you after this...make sense?  If not just trust me.

 I hope all of you are enjoying spring.  I love it here but I miss home and school and all of you terribly.  Keep in touch and take care!

Love, Michelle