Wednesday 13th March 2019

We woke to clear skies but a bit of frost! Not what we have been used to on this trip!! We were driven into the National Park and to Dove Lake which we were to walk around. We were probably wearing the same amount of clothes as we did when we went down to London the day before our flight out, plus hats and gloves! However it was worth it for the views we got along the way and then as we arrived at the lake. So for you, Margaret and Russell, this is the view of Cradle Mountain that you couldn’t see!

The walk around the lake was lovely and most of it on good paths, including a lot of boardwalks. To start with we were in the shade, at times crunching over little ice crystals that had formed under the chicken wire on the boardwalks. Every so often there was a view of the lake, the mountains, or a detour to a tiny beach. As we rounded the southern end we came into sunshine which soon began to really warm us up! For a short distance we walked through Ballroom Forest, a peaceful, green, fairylike piece of woodland, with lots of mosses and lichens growing on the trees and rocks.

It only took 2 hours to get round which meant that when we returned to the National Park entrance where we were to have lunch there was time for another short walk there first, and then after lunch another one along the King Billy Pine track. The King Billy Pine is obviously a pine tree, but it is quite enormous and mixed in with other trees we again enjoyed a walk in beautiful woodland. Snakes were not a problem as it was too cold. I just kept an eye open for them in sunny spots, just in case they were warming themselves up!

And then it was back on the road to Launceston and the end of our trip. It was a long drive, back on the same route as yesterday so nothing new to see. We arrived at teatime so little time to look around, but we did have a nice view over the river from our little balcony which was benefiting from the late sunshine, so enjoyed a cup of tea there!

There was also a washing machine and tumble dryer in our little apartment. Washing all up to date again ☺️😇