Cradle Mountain

For the last two nights in Strachan the heavens opened and the rain bucketed down.  During our last day the rain stopped and we were able to go out and visit parts of the surrounding area we had not seen before.  We drove out to Macquarie Heads and walked quite a long way along the beach and watched a couple of cruise boats negotiate the very narrow opening to the harbour called Hell's Gate. Later in the day we discovered a little place in town called The Peoples Park.  Here we wandered through a beautiful rain forest for about 30 minutes, arriving eventually at a place called Hogarth Falls, so very picturesque. The rain forests here in Tasmania are exactly the same as those up around the Daintree in Queensland, only these are 'cool rain forests' - they have palms and ferns etc, just like their cousins up north.  Ain't nature a wonderful lady.
Of course, the rain came back again that last night and we dreaded the next day having to pack up in the rain, but our prayers were answered and the rain had gone by the time we were ready to pack up, the canvas was a little damp though.  But with only a 2 hour drive to Cradle Mountain from Strachan we were not worried about a little damp.
Ha, but when we got to Cradle Mountain the rain was tumbling down and we had to make camp in the wet.  No fun at all.  The rain continued all day so we only ventured out to drive down to Dove Lake so Mike could see Cradle Mountain in all it's glory.  Chris, do you remember when you, Julie and myself went to Cradle Mountain years ago, hopped out of the car into a biting wind, couldn't see the mountain for the rain and decided that anywhere else was better than where we were?  Then that's what it was like.  We could not see the mountain at all.
Anyway over night the rain seems to have gone, the sky is blue when its not grey and we managed to 8.5 km walk from the ranger station to Dove Lake before deciding that that was far enough for the day and Mike got to see Cradle Mountain in all its glory. Tomorrow we will do another walk, weather depending.
Barbie, I checked out where you stayed, Waldheim Cottages?  Looks like it could be fun, maybe next time if we come back.
So that's it for now.  We will be here for another 3 nights then we will hop over to Launceston for 5 nights then go down to New Norfolk for another five.