Day 26 Cradle Mountain to Strahan

I decided to sneak out again before 6am to get some good photos of the platypus, but he apparently decided to sleep in with the rest of the crew(obviously the platypus is smarter than I).  After an hour or so, I gave up.

Found a Pademelon, though

                                      

The morning weather was cold and rainy, not at all conducive to a hike before leaving Cradle Mountain. So, after doing some laundry and internet stuff, we left for the Tasmanian west coast and the town of Strahan.  Before leaving the area, we stopped at the Tasmanian Devil Sanctuary and Rhonda and Milt adopted a young devil, Mollie.  They were hoping for  a Grace or a Sophie, but there were none. Driving on these curvy mountain roads was becoming old hat for me at this point, though the 2 hour drive was still a bit stressful. We passed through mining country that had seen several boom and bust cycles with mining of tin, copper, and other ores.

Strahan also had seen better days when it was the 2^nd largest seaport in Tasmania from which ore and timber were shipped.  Now it is primarily a tourist town for boat trips into the Gordon River National Park and Macquarie Harbor (or Harbour as they spell it here).  

We stayed at Franklin Manor, a beautiful, old B&B, a ten minute walk to the harbor.  Our hosts, John and Jane (no, these are not aliases), gave us some tips on restaurants and mentioned that a platypus had been sighted at a nearby park.  We had planned a hike to a waterfall here anyway, so went off to check it out.  The walk was an easy 40min in and out. And the waterfall was pretty impressive.  



                                                
We met a woman walking a dog here, and figured she would have good local knowledge of any platypus in the park.  She showed us where a platyfamily  lived and recommended dusk. So we decided to stop here on the way back from dinner and get one more viewing of beast.

We made it back to the spot we were told would be best by around 8:30, and stayed until 9:30 when we decided to quit due to darkness and the beginnings of a rainstorm.  As we emerged from the trail at the park entrance, I noted a man standing by the portion of the river that ran into the harbor staring intently at the water. He told me he had seen a platypus there after looking for 2-3 minutes about ½ hour before.  We probably walked right by it!  We got platypused (a new descriptive word to replace “skunked”) again.

                                     

Best we could do for a platypus today


Tomorrow, cruising the Gordon River and then the long (4-5hr) drive to Hobart

Day 25 Cradle Mountain

We were all up at 0 dark 30 to stalk the elusive platypus. We met outside our cabin with cameras and binocs in hand at 5:30 a.m as planned and hightailed it over to the pond. By 6 we were getting a bit restless when we spied something breaking the surface at the far end of the lake.  When we finally trained the binoculars and my lens on it, it was gone. But a few minutes later we saw it again and confirmed that it was, in fact, our platypus.

PLATYPUS!!!!

                                       

                                       

We spent the next 45 minutes watching it swim at the surface for a few seconds then dive and resurface at another point in the pond.  It was like trying to figure out when and where a whale or a loon will resurface. The platypus never came out of the water nor did it get close enough for  great photo, but I was at least able to get a shot off that proves the existence of the platypus of the pond.

Heady after our conquest, we went in the lodge for a hearty breakfast to prepare gastronomically for our long day of hiking ahead of us.  We drove to the Dove Lake parking area and began our walk circumnavigating Dove Lake, with an extension to Crater Lake and finally back to the parking area, about a total of 15 km with several areas of steep ascent and descent. Views of the lake with Cradle Mountain in the background were perfect with great morning light behind us. 


                                         


The wildflowers were also in bloom, so there was quite a bit of color as well. We particularly liked the peculiar, bright red warpath. 

Waratah

Waratah

The I have no clue flower

The trail split off to extend to Crater Lake passing Lake Lilla and “the Wombat Pool” where we stopped for a picnic lunch of PB and banana (again). 

Lake Lilla and Dove Lake

Lunch at Wombat Pool

Wombat Pool

Wombat Pool

Washing up

The trail ascended sharply to a lookout affording views of both Dove Lake and Lake Lilla.  We then descended again past Crater Lake

 through a lush rainforest along a beautiful waterfall then out into open areas with a patchwork of button grass and some unidentified rust-colored ground cover. 

One more climb got us back to the remainder of the Dove Lake trail and the parking lot.

When we got back to our cabin, Jeri noticed a wallaby in the backyard, and on closer inspection, noted that there was a very young joey in her pouch.  I got some great photos of the baby on board, and after he came out as well. 

Mamma and Baby

                                          

Joey

                                         

We had a wonderful dinner at the lodge that evening.  Milt and Rhonda had wallaby as an appetizer, but after watching the mother and baby, Jeri and I needed a little distance before we could consider chowing down on wallaby. We stuck with pumpkin soup and filet.  Great chocolate fondant and boysenberry ice cream for dessert.  After dinner, we did a quick, unsuccessful, platypus check of the pond, then off to visit a Tasmanian Devil Sanctuary. (check back for this part of the blog- I’ll write it on the way to Sydney)

Eastern Quoll

                                     

                                     

                                     

                                                

             

Petting the Devil