Left Deloraine and really did not have to far to travel up to Devenport for our next stop prior to the boat but we did a huge round about trip going up and down different sides of the river. The weather was clearing slightly and we did some high mountains as they were in our way. A spot we did stop at was notifying us of an easy walk for 30 minute return to a gorge view. So yes we could do this - I lasted maybe 50m before having to go back to the car, the track was straight up and my knee is not doing inclines etc, so Wally continued and he said luckily I didnt go on cause it went over one hill and then down again. The views spectacular though and this was in the middle of farm land and noway would you have thought there would be a gorge up over a hill One particular point we came to had a off road to Devil's Gullet Gorge Lookout sounded good so we decided to travel the 28 kms of dirt/gravel road to this phenomenon and it was not a pleasant road but we did see some quite spectacular views of Cradle Mountain from a totally different perspective than usual. So on we trekked until we were at about 1200m above sea level and finally found the lookout sign, turned off for another 100m got to the end and there was a sign saying the lookout and boardwalk closed cause of fire (went thru 18 months ago - workers on Tasmania time). Why they couldn't tell us that back at the start 56 kms of dirt was not much fun. Anyway back again and up one side of the valley leading into Devenport, still way too early so we decided to drive down the other direction and head for Sheffield (mural town). Really pretty and different hills and hollows we actually passed four bikies doing the same thing but in the opposite direction to us. Finally arrived at Sheffield and as we were driving in we spied an Alpaca crossing the road being led by a man of course. Wally said lets park and see where he is going which we did and met the most delightful fluffy cutest alpaca, Zita, with her crazy hair do. Talked to him and her for a bit and decided to have lunch in the cafe right beside where they were sitting. Gorgeous lunch, best I have had in Tas of hummous, flatbread, lamb vegies and rocket with balsamic. Wally enjoyed a salad of lots of good things. So I decided whilst sitting there that a photo of the two of us was needed as not a one had been taken our whole time in Tas. So under sufferance he agreed. The gent was an authorised busker so it did cost us $5 for the photos but well worth it he was a lovely gent and does this for the tourist trade, sits outside a cafe and does photos and the cafe is more patronised because of this also, so a win win situation.
We eventually left and went into Devenport and found our motel for the night. Wally particularly picked this one as it had a restaurant attached and he wanted us to have a special meal for our last night in their french restaurant. Guess what for one night a month they have a special dinner organised by other chefs featuring local produce and this was the night, totally booked out by the locals and so all the guests had to find somewhere else to eat grrrr. We ended up having Indian takeaway which was delicious and stunk out our room and also about a fifth of the price we would have had to pay at the restaurant. Anyway we just needed some sleep prior to our trip to the mainland.
x