Andrew Gaskell
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July 2016 - Overland Track

29/7/2016

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Day 0 - Monday 18th July 2016

In February 2013 I ventured to move from Southern Tasmania into the middle of a scorching Far North Queensland summer. Here I find myself three-and-a-half years later, having returned to Tasmania in the midst of a harsh Tasmanian winter. What better initiation, than to hike through an elevated plateau guaranteed to serve up some of the harshest conditions in the state? Today Dad and I are driving a car each from Hobart to Lake St Clair, where (after an entirely agreeable coffee) one car is left in the carpark, the other is our transport to the northern end of the famous through walk known universally as the Overland Track. At this time of year, desirable walking weather can be difficult to come by. During our drive, a significant amount of rain plasters the region. The forecast for the next two or three days is for much less precipitation, so we have hopefully timed our departure to coincide with some relatively not-too-terrible weather.

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January 2016 - Du Cane Range

3/3/2016

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​Day 1 - Sunday 3rd January 2016

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….4

Its 2016 and I’m on annual leave from the office of an insignificant little consulting firm in far north Queensland, where I spend the months daydreaming of impending adventures in Tasmania’s wilderness. I’ve fulfilled my duties as an employee: feigned interest at the appropriate times, nodded intelligently when a question beyond my comprehension is thrust upon me, and generally pretended to be a sensible member of society. These tedious responsibilities have been revoked and the sense of anticipation in the car is palpable as we make our way towards Lake St Clair from Hobart: Beneath Dad’s cool exterior as he negotiates the roads leading to Australia’s deepest natural lake is an excitement unrivalled by anything since the day he watched a slinky walk itself down a staircase, whilst Ben’s keenness is masked only by his heavy breathing as he catches up on missed sleep. The timing of our jaunt is rather delicate, as my heavily pregnant sister-in-law is threatening to make an uncle of Ben and myself,  whilst the third member of our party is expecting to become a grandfather. In universal news, another death star has just been destroyed. Nevertheless, Australia’s current Prime minister (although this could change on any given day) – Malcolm Turnbull – has recently signed a treaty with leaders around the globe declaring allegiance to The First Order in an attempt to maintain a “common determined purpose to ensure the security of our nation and its people.”

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November 2012 - Western Arthurs

15/11/2015

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​Day 1 – Monday 12th November 2012
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We’re all stories in the end. Just make it a good one. 3
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After an early start from Hobart, I can’t help but be flooded with a wave of nostalgia as I find myself negotiating the flooded mud plains between Scott’s Peak Dam and Alpha Moraine. Almost a year to the day since returning from our Eastern Arthurs traverse, our sights are set on her dangerously attractive sister. Despite the physical and psychological damage inflicted by her somewhat crazy sibling, we are far from deterred by this iconic mountain range. Much of the last year has been spent daydreaming of the impending adventures to be experienced in the presence of her cool mountain air. If she is half as flirtatious as her sister, the Western Arthur range should not be approached without a high degree of caution.

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November 2011 - Federation Peak

9/6/2015

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In the beginning the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move.2

Given the bad reputation that the southwest weather upholds, I thought it prudent to contact a high ranking BOM employee. I had decided to request a week of fine weather. Surely it wasn’t too much to ask? Don’t get me wrong, I understand that the employees at the bureau distribute weather in accordance with population density and a number of other complicated factors. But surely for just one week in a whole year they could grant me some fine weather at the expense of some inner-city slackers who would be sitting in an office drinking coffee all day anyway. Unfortunately my attempts at contact go unanswered. I will just have to hope that the senior officials at the bureau are in a good mood in the early days of November.

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January 2015 - The Spires

6/6/2015

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PictureBen casts a line
Day 0 – Thursday 1st January 2015

No, no! The adventures first, explanations take such a dreadful time.1

Our adventure begins on the first day of a new year. We have spent a relaxing few days on Bruny Island swimming, fishing and generally getting into mischief. The overwhelming density of people on our little holiday leaves us with an eagerness to escape. Our upcoming walk to the Spires should provide us with a solitary experience away from the swarming masses of the bustling community of Bruny Island.


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    When his job expired in the middle of 2016, Andrew realised that he still had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. It was then that he decided to stop pretending to be normal and stop pretending to be a respectable citizen. He abruptly announced that he planned to embark on a journey beginning somewhere in Asia, heading in a generally westward direction, for an indefinite period of time.

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