Van Journal Week 7: Tassie Tour with Dad

Van Journal Week 7: Tassie Tour with Dad

The value of time...

They say that with each year that passes, our days seem a little shorter. As these weeks in Tassie fly by, I can definitely confirm that. It's hard to believe that we've been on the road for seven weeks again and that scares me.

The truth is that since I was a child, I have always been aware of how limited our lives are. In fact, I would say I still think about it almost every day. How many times have we been told by our elders to cherish our youth because for them they blinked and it was all over? I have always taken these words very literally.

To some, including Haylea, this sounds like a curse, and perhaps in some ways it is. But I think one thing this curse has taught me is to fear any wasted time, which in retrospect I can see as a benefit.

As the current pandemic wipes out many people's freedoms and opportunities, I can imagine the deep dissatisfaction felt by so many who have put off for so long the things they have always wanted to do or achieve. Only when these freedoms and opportunities are gone do they realize the danger of complacency. Only then do most people begin to fear the sands of time.

But I also understand the need for balance and the importance of living in the present. Getting too caught up in these types of things can cause you to lose sight of the very thing you're afraid of losing. It's a delicate balancing act that I'm still working on.

Someone I have always admired for his grounded sense of time is my father. The last time I mentioned him on this blog, we were sailing together up the east coast of Australia aboard Malaika, a 50-foot steel yacht that he had built on his own over the course of ten years with no prior experience. This level of dedication, devoting a decade to achieving a goal with no short-term rewards in between, is something I deeply admire.

This week it was his turn to fly in to join us on our adventures in Tasmania.

The Tasman Peninsula & Port Arthur

We started the week with a trip to the Tasman Peninsula. This region is full of history and incredible nature. We experienced both on the first day with my father, exploring the rugged coastline on the Waterfall Bay Track and learning about the life of the early convicts in Port Arthur.

Port Arthur is truly a special place and gave us all a new appreciation for the hardships faced by the ancestors of many Australians. Read more: Waterfall Bay Hike

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Amos round two

On the second day our father visited us in Tasmania, we were thrown a curveball. We had received a last minute offer to photograph and promote Picnic Island, one of Tasmania's most beautiful private islands, and we definitely didn't want to turn it down.

However, this meant we had to make a pretty big trek back to Freycinet National Park.

When we arrived we had to show Dad Mount Amos, which was definitely one of our personal highlights of the trip. So we went into the second round.

Read more: Hike to Mount Amos
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Picnic Island

Staying on Picnic Island was a great experience to say the least. We were also gifted with fantastic conditions. We had virtually no wind, clear blue skies and fiery sunsets - a stark contrast to the previous week in Tassie.

Read more: Stay on Picnic Island
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Mount Field and the Styx

Next on the agenda was a trip back to one of my favorite national parks in Tasmania; Bergfeld. The original plan was to explore the alpine part of the park, but unfortunately the conditions didn't allow us to get there in a large van.

However, Dad didn't mind at all and he loved the opportunity to see the Tassie rainforest and Mount Field waterfalls.

We also made a quick stop at The Styx, a vast forest area known for being home to some of the tallest flowering trees in the world. Unfortunately, much of this region is devoted to logging, but thanks to sustained activism, the tallest trees in The Styx have been saved for conservation.

Read more: Styx Tall Trees Walk

Read more: Three Falls Circuit & Tall Trees Walk in Mount Field National Park

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We ended this great day of exploring with a stay at Bethune Park, a perfect secluded spot right off the highway next to a beautiful lake. It was great to spend time with Dad outside by the fire, a moment I will always treasure.
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Hobart and Mount Wellington

As quickly as the seventh week had come upon us, it had flown by. The final day is spent with Dad exploring Hobart and earning the views from Mount Wellington by climbing the steep trails of The Springs.

Again we had great weather and a clear view of Hobart from above.

Read more: Hike to Mount Wellington

Read more: Snug Falls Tasmania

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Triggers and timing

My father has and still teaches me many things. Like most people, I longed for independence when I was younger. But the older I get, the more I turn to wiser men to help me make better decisions.

While Haylea and I instinctively know that the path we are on is the right one for us, the unorthodoxy of our lifestyle also brings with it insecurities. The reality is that giving up the traditional nine-to-five to live a more fulfilling life is much harder than simply taking that dreaded desk job.

But without risk there is no profit. Growth and progress do not come from convenience, but thrive in a world full of challenges and uncertainty. We reject the path of least resistance because we know that path only leads to short-term victories and skips the greatest rewards.

I consider myself very lucky to be surrounded by unconditional support. Dad reassured me this week by giving me some valuable advice; trusting our instincts and being aware of what he calls “triggers.” He explains that these triggers are events that should be taken as catalysts for action. This requires a shift in focus to the present so that you can better understand where you are going in the future.

Timing is everything. Live now, trust your instincts and the triggers will guide you into the future.
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