Cradle Mountain - 7 September 2013

Woke a couple of times during the night to the sound of rain and it was still raining when we got up. It was very windy as well. We had to drive down to brekkie.

Mid morning we drove out to Cradle Mountain so we could get a couple of photos when the weather clears - the weather continually changes here. As we stepped out of the cabin it was snowing! It quickly changed to sleet but it was lovely to see the snow. Hope to get more of it while we are here.

Peppers Lodge is the first accommodation outside the National Park and it is 8km from Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain. We got a bit more snow on the way and the temperature was 1 deg. The wind was very icy. There were quite a few people setting off to do one of the walks from Dove Lake. We had already decided not to do one today. Thank heavens. It would be very unpleasant to be walking with this wind. When we arrived at Dove Lake, Cradle Mountain was obscured by cloud but we managed to get a few pictures of it reasonably clear. You can see the snow up the top of the mountain. It is a very distinctive looking mountain and very beautiful. There were even waves on Dove Lake from the wind. By the time we left and headed back to the Lodge at 12.15, the temperature had risen to 2 deg.

We have a resident currawong on the deck of our cabin. When he sees us he flies in and sits on the railing and then jumps over to the back of the chair which is just outside the window. He sits there looking in at us. This afternoon he started making noises to attract our attention.

 

We went down to the Lodge to have afternoon tea. More snow showers while we were there. After afternoon tea, we decided to do the short Enchanted Walk, which is only 1 km long and an easy walk. It follows the Pencil Pine River on one side, crosses over and then comes back the other side. It was a lovely walk, along a timber boardwalk the whole way. It was a lovely walk and we saw pademelons and more wombats. I love the gnarled trees covered with moss and all the moss that covers the ground. It makes everything look so old.

 

We had an early dinner and sat down to watch the election telecast and a change of Government.