Cradle Mountain

After a relaxing last day in Strahan checking out Ocean beach and the other side of the harbour (which was in sunshine) we packed up and headed to Cradle Mtn. More great views along the way. But we were a little nervous. The forecasts were not looking good....rain....cold temperatures.....and snow above 1300 metres....but it was so nice out... This was taken coming out of Rosebery. There were blue skies and it was warm in the sun....

Sure was a cold wind blowing at the lookout towards Cradle Mtn tho. Even Cherry Bear was cold to the touch. We forgot to bring our jumpers and nearly had to run back to the car to keep from freezing!!

Decided we better put up the tarp. Best decision ever! Rain and sleet were of the order, all night. And it was fierce. Lots of wet campers that night who were digging trenches and then packed up and went the next day. We got water through our kitchen also, but we could live with that. It was freezing, but there was a great camp kitchen with fires going and plenty of tables. Everyone was in there unless they were sleeping or taking a shower!!!

Started to stop raining around lunch time the next day so we ventured out....to what I called the K-Mart car park of wilderness experiences. So many people.... Here we r with the crowds at the beginning of the Dove Lake loop walk. 

We didn't really have time to do the whole thing. Just part. Spectacular country. So I can understand why it is so popular. Even in the cold....

We spent the rest of the afternoon taking the bus back to do a few bits and pieces of the short walks at the other end of the park, including a boardwalk thru gorgeous moss forests. The rivers and creeks were raging of course after all the rain and the moss forest particularly pretty with so much water finding its way over rocks and down embankments. Saw a wombat asleep in its burrow as well as a few bits of sunshine and blue sky. So lucky to see it all!

The rain returned overnight and the temperature got back down to two or three degrees. Was challenging packing up the next day with everything so wet. But it didn't rain too much while we were at it, so that was lucky. 

We had an easy drive to Devonport to get the ferry. We had heaps of time before our evening boat departure time of 21:30. Certainly time for a ride on the little steam train at Sheffield and then happy hour and dinner at the Formby Hotel in Devonport overlooking the boat coming in from her day sail. 

It was a good end to the Tasi part of our adventure.