Day 3, Saturday 28/12/2013, Devonport to Cradle Mountain.

An early start to the day with a wake up call over the intercom at 5:15am (Even the memory kills me a little inside – Jordan).  We had to be down in the car before 6am for departure. First we had a moment to capture a sunrise over Tasmania.

The Laneway café in Devonport was very quaint and arty farty and had delicious breakfasts. They even had gluten free toast for Amara.

Next was a quick grocery shop at Coles (the markets weren’t open). Col and I bought paddle ties from the canoe shop and Leah and Gary bought a gas bottle.

We all met at La Trobe at the Chocolate Factory

 I enjoyed tasting all of the fudge several times and concluded that cappuccino was my favourite. It sprinkled on and off but nothing that dampened the spirits. Next on the list was a cheese factory and then a raspberry farm. Jack bought a tub of strawberries and a jar of strawberry jam. Col a tub of raspberries and me some yoghurt with raspberries.

 It was a lovely stroll around the property which included a Monet pond with bridge and waterlilies. I almost got a photo of Leah, but it’s blurry as she was running to avoid it and I didn’t have it on ‘sport’ mode. (Next time).

Then it was a hilly/mountainy drive on narrow roads past rivers and ‘road kill’ to a town called (Kurri) Sheffield. It reminded me of Kurri in the age of the buildings, but it was much nicer with cute galleries and cafes. Col bought a drysabone vest, Jordan a long cardigan and we all had fun in the marble shop, especially Eliza and Amara. 

A fun spur of the moment stop was halfway from there to Cradle Mountain where we came upon the state wood chopping competition and watched the world champion chopping. Amazingly strong and fast, lots of excitement.

We’re now starting to see beautiful rocky peaks. After crossing a bit of a gorge and damned river we rise into Alpine Country with the familiar rocky territory with stunted shrubs and short spongy grass.
Our campsites at the Big 4 are near the entrance to the National Park. The sites are tiny little pockets in the bush. All separate and private with a kitchen/fireplace building and amenities block that are made from bush rock and blend the roof into the ground like a hobbit’s house. Beautiful. More amazing is the local wildlife. Either it’s a stunted wallaby or some marsupial wandering our site (turns out it’s a pademelon) and even better were the echidna and wombat wandering around when we went for a walk 20m up the road to info. So beautiful!! Fiona got some good photos. Then I found a very strange creature on the log behind our tent. About the size of Jordy, black and white stripes with a pink belly. 

The gas bottle Gary bought has a different connection so Col lent him one of ours. We all had tea together in the rock building with a fire blazing. One lady there had done the summit walk plus Lake Dove perimeter in 4hrs. She also said that snow was expected on the peaks tonight. With the change blowing over and the icy wind I’d believe it. It is now raining and only too dark to write at 9:15pm.
An early night to bed to keep warm. Jack has had a temperature this evening but has perked up after some Panadol. Eliza had one 2 days ago and Col a week ago!