A last ‘holiday breakfast’ and then cleaned up the back of the van.

This involved re-packing, cleaning the cutlery and crockery that I’d used and then cleaning the floor.

I headed off on the trip back to Hobart (Cambridge) down the Midlands Highway.

It was largely freeway conditions with occasional road-works passages.

It was very easy, even boring, driving.

The countryside could have been anywhere in southern Australia.

Ross

I pulled off the highway at Ross, specially to view the bridge.

I walked around the picturesque village marvelling at the old (largely convict built) sandstone cottages.

I had coffee and “the World’s Best Vanilla Slice” at a bakery cafe.

The slice was pretty good, but I’m not sure that it was “the World’s Best” .

Richmond

Back on the road (over the bridge) and on to Richmond.

I visited the “Old Hobart Town” tiny village, a very pleasant way to spend the time.

I had lunch in the Richmond Arms – a genuine, old-style, affluent, country pub.

I drove out of Richmond unexpectedly past Prospect House. I’d stayed at Prospect House some 30 years before.

I should have stopped for photos. It looked quite majestic, just as I remembered it.

I drove into Cambridge, filled up the van, and cleaned the remainder of the interior.

I handed the van back (no cleaning fee!) and then taxied to the airport, very early for my flight.

The plan was to check my bag and hang out in the Virgin Lounge.

The reality was that check-in didn’t open until 90 minutes before the flight and there’s no Virgin Lounge at Hobart.

I spent the time ‘land-side’ in a cafe. I got talking with a guy who sat with me who regaled me with his stories of constant heavy drinking while here on holiday with family and friends.

His name was “Dodgy” and he had a mate called “Shifty”.

He was a truck driver, forced to take a sabbatical because he lost all the points on his license.

The flights home were on time and uneventful.