This morning I surprised myself by jumping out of bed at 7:00 am, much earlier than my usual start. Since I tend to stay up quite late most nights, early mornings are not always my strong suit. But today I woke up with a sense of purpose and a little burst of energy, eager to get started on cleaning the house.
We both like to keep the place tidy, especially when we are staying somewhere as lovely as this. It feels like a small way of showing respect for the home and also makes the space more enjoyable for us each day. Tom tackled the vacuuming and gathered up the trash while I worked my way through the bathroom and kitchen. After that, I dusted every surface I could find. It always amazes me how quickly dust appears, even when we feel as though we have just cleaned.
By the time we finished, the house felt fresh and comfortable again. There is something deeply satisfying about completing those simple chores. Laundry will have to wait for another day. Today is cool and very overcast, only about 60F (16C). We have learned that doing laundry here is best saved for a sunny day when everything can dry properly outdoors. There is no rush. One advantage of our lifestyle is that we can wait for the right weather rather than forcing things along.
Food preparation today was blissfully simple. We still have plenty of delicious leftovers waiting in the refrigerator, so the only task in the kitchen was to prepare a large salad to go with dinner tonight. After the busy morning of cleaning, it felt good knowing that cooking would be easy.
Once the house was sparkling again, we sat down together in the lounge room, overlooking the sea, with our laptops to tackle something far less exciting but very necessary. It was time to begin booking our flights to South Africa.
Our departure will be from Minnesota after two special family events that we would not miss for anything. Our grandson Miles will be graduating, and shortly after that, we will attend another graduation celebration for Megyn, the daughter of our son Greg’s girlfriend, Heather. It will be wonderful to be there with both of the kids as they celebrate these milestones. Those moments with family are priceless.
Since we are staying a few extra nights in Minnesota to attend Megyn’s graduation party, we were grateful to use our Marriott Bonvoy points to cover those additional hotel nights. That felt like a small victory amid so many travel expenses. Thankfully, we had already paid for the main hotel stay and the rental car in Minnesota earlier, so those costs are behind us and do not hit quite as hard right now.
With our revised departure date set for June 9, we focused on flights from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Nelspruit, South Africa. That airport is the closest gateway to Marloth Park, where we will spend several months once again. As we searched through the options, we quickly noticed that the prices were higher than in past years.
The total airfare for both of us came to about US $4200, roughly AUD $5740. That is several hundred dollars more than what we have paid in prior years. Still, after looking at all the options, it was clearly the best route available, so we booked it. This time we won’t have that awful nine-hour layover in London; instead, we will have a 3½ hour layover in Atlanta, a much easier option.
There was one bright spot in the process. Through the flight booking, we were able to add a rental car for our first three months in South Africa for an additional US $1350, AUD $1954. That works out to only about US $450, AUD $642 per month. In the United States or most other countries, that price would be almost unheard of, but in South Africa, we have consistently found rental cars to be much more affordable.
Soon, I will sit down and enter all of these updated details into our Cozy Calendar. It is the shared family calendar we have used for years to keep track of all our travel plans, bookings, confirmations, and important dates. With so many flights, hotels, and reservations scattered across different countries, having everything organized in one place has saved us countless headaches.
Tomorrow, we will make a trip back to Ulverstone to do our grocery shopping. After that, we will stop at the butcher shop in Penguin to pick up the barramundi fish we ordered. We absolutely love preparing that fish. I coat the fillets in egg, then dredge them in seasoned coconut flour before gently sautéing them in coconut oil. The subtle coconut flavor pairs beautifully with the mild taste of the barramundi.
I suspect we will order it again before we leave.
With only thirty-four days left here in Penguin, we are savoring every moment. Tasmania has been as wonderful as we remember from ten years ago, in so many ways. This little town, with its quaint charm and relaxed pace, has truly captured our hearts. Each day we look out over the ocean and feel grateful for this chapter of our travels.
The stunning views, the friendly community, and the peaceful atmosphere of life here make this a special and memorable time we will not soon forget.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, March 9, 2016:
