This wasn't actually going to be my last day, but while I was staying at the whispering ponies saddle club, I found myself feeling a bit miserable, especially staying there where it just seemed forever a little bit chilly.
Waiting to board the Spirit of Tasmania II
I had intended to stay one more day in Tasmania, but with the cold and everything it had started to drag my mood down a lot, and I'd decided to change my plans and return home a day early.
In looking at the drive from Bruny Island back up to Devonport I didn't want to just drive along the Midland Highway, so opted to go a little inland and take a detour to Richmond and towns around and along the route as I headed north.
I just chose Richmond as it was on tourist maps and made for somewhere to aim for.
While in Richmond I had a look inside one or two antique shops. Some nice stuff, albeit expensive.
Driving from Richmond north on the B31 made me realise what I actually enjoy, and what I'd enjoyed on previous visits to Tasmania and to other places in Australia, and that's driving along the not main road.
The slightly twisting, very quiet road that linked small towns, this was something I really enjoyed and allowed me to properly sort of relax and look around at the landscape.
Somewhat disappointingly the B31 rejoined the A1 in Jericho, bringing an end to that route, but bringing 110 km speeds, something as a native Victorian I'm less than familiar with driving on a regular basis.
In fact, Tasmania's highways and freeways which are set at 110 km are I think the roughest roads that have a 110 km speed limit of any of the states I've driven with this speed limit.
Return.
The return journey on the ferry was worse than coming over to Tasmania.
Coming over, the sailing was noisy with the waves crashing into the ship.
But returning, the sea was extra rough; when I was in bed I at several points felt weightless as the ship pitched up and down.
I do wonder if part of it is because once the ship leaves the Mersey river it's in Bass Strait, while when it leaves Melbourne it has to transverse Port Phillip Bay before it gets into open water.
The night was far more eventful returning to Melbourne than going over. But as I had a much shorter drive upon returning I wasn't as worried about the the sleep I had.