Thursday 10th December "Yes I know, another late start - but Mum it's cold and we don't want to get up and get dressed. Oh alright don't start yelling, we are getting up." We wander down and catch the shuttle. We miss the first one and catch the next one - really they are not quite up to the demand. The day is looking good, 75% cloud cover but maybe no rain today We ride through to Dove Lake again but this time take the path upo ay. to Cradle Lak...

Wednesday 9th December Raining and cool, the small tents are dotted around Vicki like a besieging army. Vicki is tall and white like an impregnable castle. A local wades off into the stream with his fishing rod - they build them tough down here, the fish that is. We drive the last few k's into Cradle Mountain, it is like a low level version of Thredbare, commercial facilities to service National Parks (well State Parks actually, but no one seems to admit it....