After the drama of the Gordon Rec ground we slept back in Franklin on the Huon River, and we're only woken up by cherry pickers slamming car doors at 5.30. We didn't mind this so much as we were keen to go to the beach we saw the day before. It was going to be 30 degrees Celsius so chilling by the water was really the only option.

Randalls Bay is near Cygnet in Tasmania's stunning Huon Valley. Driving down the hill towards it you pick up the serene coastal vibe. The bay features a pristine beach - honestly, it looked like a picture postcard tropical beach without the tropics. The tranquil waters had already invited in wild swimmers, kayakers, and fisherman, and people did their morning walk and run. Saying that, it didn't get busy until about 11 and even then not too bad for a hot Saturday.

We spoke to a local couple who told us of hikes in the area. There are several trails that show off the region's beauty. A notable trek is the Echo Sugarloaf walk, which begins at Randalls Bay and leads you to a summit providing panoramic views of the surrounding hills and coast. We eschewed that in favour of swimming in 16.2 degree water.

There's also a rich history here, mixing early settlement and Indigenous heritage. The area was originally home to the Nuenonne people of the Palawa Nation. You can still find shell middens along the coast which testify to their life here. The arrival of European settlers in the 19th century soon saw them off completely though, and it became a hub for fishing and small-scale farming. The sheltered bays in the area provide safe and calm anchorage for boats..

We got busy making pancakes with buckwheat flour - yum. We certainly have been having some amazing breakfasts on the road and I'm loving my kitchen set up. When you are travelling like this cooking becomes more enjoyable as you have more time to do it I guess.

Buckwheat pancakes are high protein and delish. 1 cup of flour, a cup of milk, an egg, a tsp of baking powder, a few dollops of yoghurt and a mashed banana is all ya need. Serve with whatever ya like. Blueberry season here so... You know.

If you've got this far, here's a rare picture of me on the block chain, hair all salty and a happy smile on my face. I really must do something about my eyebrows. Hope you are happy too. Xx

With Love,

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