Day 5 -9 Wow Hard to believe it has already been 9 days. I have managed to do 90 min yoga class or a 3 hour hike every day. Today I rented a car and drove to Pt. Arthur. This is my first go at driving on the left but so far so good. Tomorrow I will hike to Cape Raoul. Still getting a kick out of running into wallabys in the woods.

Well, the flu like symptoms finally hit on day 9. I was driving down the Tasman Peninsula, having a really great tme feeling euphoric. I was thinking to myself is there some happy pill in this? The euphoria wa short lived because about 20 minutes later my throat started to hurt, and a short time later I couldn’t even swallow. I was planning to do a day hikes to Cape huay and Cape Raoul, but that was not to be.

Day 10. Upon waking I knew that a 4 hour solo hike was not in the cards, so I booked a Wilderness Boat Trip instead. It was an auspicious day and we were able to cruise the bottom of the peninsula where the Tasman Sea meets the South Ocean. then we spotted the dolphins. There were hundreds, frolicking around our boat. Jumping, doing back flips. It was amazing. I shibvered on the ride back and by the time I got back to the self contained I was shattered. Full blown fever flu. I crashed at 1:30 pm and didn’t get out of bed except to eat. I had a fitful sleep and began to wonder if the situation warranted a consult with a doctor.

Day 11. Big improvement and feeling like the worst was over. Went to see the Devils and kangaroos and visitor Port Arthur. Still not feeling energetic enough to hike, but the weather was gorgeous and I had a lovely day.

Day 12
Started at Fortescue Bay. What a perfect place. White sand beach surrounded by old growth forests. Almost all the symptoms gone including the cough. Felt like a real bout of the flu and not clear if it was the flu or sx. Drove down to the Huon Valley to stay with Chester for a few days. Lovely here, different character. Tomorrow the forest walks, I hope.

Hard to believe this is Day 20. The sx seemed to have waned and I am enjoying the Great Eastern Drive. Spent two exquisite days hiking in Freycinet and now in Bicheno waiting for the penguin tour to start. Everything seems pretty normal, sometimes I feel I have more clarity but hard to measure.
In Chinese medicine the appearance of the tongue is one of the markers. When liver is inflamed there is a dark red stripe around the outer edge of the tongue. I observed this in myself. My liver stripe is gone. Tongue is pink and consistent in color. Will confirm with blood tests next week. Feeling lucky. Maria Island on Tuesday.

Hi Magpie

Maria Island is brilliant. I dtayed at the penitentiary for a night. I hired a bike so rode around the first day and hiked to Bishop and Clerk the 2nd. You could easily stay for 3 to 4 days. I didn’t realize in advance that there are complete kitchen facilities. So everyone brought really delicious food. They have push carts to use at the ferry. I had everything in one backpack. Good thing is that the m8ce were not interested in my room as neighbors had better selections.. I am waiting for the righ5 moment for the scallop pie. Going to the West tomorrow.

I had my blood test yesterday and expecting results on Monday. Fingers crossed . I am optimistic.