Now we faced a dilemma, we could get a free ferry ride across the Bass Straight if we left about a week early, this would mean we had an extra week to kill in Tasmania. The ferry company offered us free passage in return for what they mysteriously called 'promotional opportunities'. We accepted their kind offer and had a comfortable night crossing into Devonport. The sting was that there were 3 photographers, journalists and a TV camera waiting for us! With about 3 hours sleep between us (we were sitting next to a human howler monkey who SNORED all night at around 100db) we were easy prey for the fourth estate. I heard things coming out of my mouth I would normally not say. Next morning we awoke to find ourselves on page 3 of the Mercury 'The cycle of love comes full circle!'.... I ask you, ‘does nothing happen here in Tas’?

I had just stopped laughing when the phone rang... 'ABC Radio here, can we do a quick interview?' Which was a bit surreal - I was standing in the pasta section of Woolworth’s!

The East Coast of Tas is famous for its turquoise seas and white sands and we were lucky to see it at its best. The sun shone and with about 15 days to do 400km we had a VERY relaxing last few hundred kilometres. We even managed to run into Mathew Bell whom we’d cycled through Tibet, China, Laos and Thailand with. He had completed his Perth, Scotland to Perth Tasmania journey and had now stashed the bike and was walking the mountains of Tas with his stunning German ‘friend’ Babbette. This was his first time in Tas and I don’t think it would be his last!

Just outside of Hobart on the opposite side of the Derwent River there is a hill which hides the city until you are almost upon it. As we crested the hill I saw my new hometown for the first time. Eighteen months, 21,000km & most of our life savings later I finally saw Mt Wellington. Well that was an over statement, I saw the bottom of Mt Wellington, the top half was hidden in cloud.

IT IS BLOODY ENORMOUS!

And we had to cycle up it the next day. But first we had to survive the dangerous crossing of the bridge, the city fathers had put in a completely unusable bike lane (20 odd steps at the end no less) and a dangerous drop! So, yet again, we cycled where we ought not to and came into a city on the main road, cars and buses hooting their displeasure at us as we dared to slow down their progress by a nano second! Ten minute later we had made it to Knopwoods Retreat, Jen’s old student watering hole and a nice place for a quiet celebratory pint.

After an excellent night in Taroona (10 km down the coast) at Jens fathers place (and another ABC Radio interview) we headed up the 600m climb to Jens mums house in Fern Tree. The warmth of her parents’ welcomes was only beaten by the roaring fire that greeted us in Fern Tree. We were thankful of that as we were freezing; Tasmania’s fickle weather was doing its usual and changing hourly, just like Scotland!

I had imagined sunshine for the finish, I had also imagined having my minidisk on for one last time, Fat Boy Slims 'Praise you' blasting my eardrums as we reached the top of the mountain in glorious sun.

Well life wasn’t that kind; it was murky, cold and windy at the top. I forgot the minidisk and by the time I remembered I wasn’t going to go back for it.

As we reached the top out of the thick mist we could hear voices, giggles and 'Now!'

Two shadowy figures leapt from behind a rock hold something between them, only when we were 2 metres away did it dawn on us that it was Tony, (Jen’s dad) and a friend Rachel holding a huge finish line ribbon.

Before we had time to think we rode straight through it and taken by surprise it took a few minutes to sink in...........

We’d finished!

Coldness can account for some numbness of the brain, champagne for some more but reaching the end most of all. We descended to warmer climes (it was only 8 degrees on the top of the mountain), for celebration and mumbled conversations.

My mind kept flashing to distant places we’d passed through, people we’d met, things we’d done. FINISHED...FINISHED..

Where to next?

Well we’d always planned Tierra del Fuego to Lake Titicaca, and there are the Galapagos Islands and I have always wanted to go to Alaska and cycle across the USA.

Many more plans, many more dreams, many more futures, I wonder which ones we’ll choose.

As they say 'Watch this space!'