Cradle Peak in clouds
The hiker at the Picnic Hut
Waldheim Chalet complete with wheelbarrow
Hi All,
Once again sitting outside the kitchen at the park typing. It is somewhat colder than last night. After breakfast today we headed down into the park to Ronnys Carpark where we strolled up to the Waldheim Chalet. Built originally in 1912 by Gustav and Kate Weindorfer it was used for accommodation until 1974 when it burnt down. It was rebuilt in replica in 1976. It is currently being renovated so we couldn't see inside. There are also separate cabins for accommodation.
The morning was quite cool, grey and overcast and I was thinking we wouldn't see 3 days of sunshine in a row. Susan chatted to the rangers working on site and was given an insight into an organisation called Wildcare who are an umbrella group supporting volunteers who work in parks. The idea for us would be to join up and volunteer in various parks hopefully with free accommodation. According to the ranger there is no shortage of work at Cradle Mountain. "We have a Thistle outbreak at the moment". We then strolled around the Weindorfer rain forest reserve which has stands of King Billy pines. Some of these slow growing trees are over a 1000 years old. In many other locations the trees have been lost through logging or fire.
We returned to the car and drove back to the ranger station stopping to do the "Enchanted Forest" walk. It was then back in the car and out of the park to the Wilderness Lodge where Susan booked her hot rock massage treatment for tomorrow afternoon.
After a quick snack lunch and a rest we headed back into the park to the Ranger Station to investigate the Dove Canyon walk. This track is no longer maintained but an hours worth of walking convinced us to do the whole loop tomorrow. We will start from the other end. Walking in the late afternoon was very pleasant as the cloud had burned off by 3pm and the afternoon finished in sunshine. I actually hauled the solar panel out in the hour we were back at camp. Being in an unpowered site I like to keep on top of the battery charging situation. As long as we charge the laptops in the kitchen it is all good.
I am now inside the kitchen building. Susan has ordered me to light the fire in the kitchen which I have done very easily. It is nice when they provide fire lighters and stacks of split dry wood. Mind you for the site fees they charge they should do too :-)
The weather looks like it will hold for tomorrow however Sunday is rain. I have found the forecasting here to be pretty good so it might be an opportunity to try out my wet weather gear!
There are still some walks to do so it is conceivable we may spend our entire break here.
Cheers Simon
Pencil Pine and Knyvet Falls
Dove Canyon walk
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