Janet SWAN Nov. 26, 2008
As a girl who'd grown up on the red quilted earth of North West Tas with Dial Range precipitous drop my panoramic view on waking, I was comfortable with silence, the sound of rain and the call of the cows.
With my nerves on edge adjusting to life in the city, I scooped my kids (9 & 5yrs)into the car and onto the ferry leaving my husband to his idea of quiet time.
The next morning I was amazed to find I was at Cradle Mt, a destination of ol' Sunday arvo drives within 30 mins of docking - a fairly relaxing exit from city stresses. As my daughter at 5yrs wasn't into walking, I imagined we'd fossick around the lodge and Dove Lake. (She was actually happy to stay in our accom and watch the unpeturbed wallabies and potaroos foraging outside.)
At dinner in The Lodge that evening we met a family with a 3 yr old who were trekking overland!
The next day we set off with backpacks loaded with chocolate, rainjackets and water and my reluctant daughter while my son was in expedition mode! We scrambled and walked - overtaken by the hikers and their three year old - to find the ascent of Cradle a struggle in squalls. Big slabs of rock like Stonehenge made a good shelter for my relieved daughter. My son and I pressed on only to be met by hikers descending who warned us of the force of winds on top.
Concerned about restraining the intrepid 9 yr old while his sister waited in the wilderness, we headed down.
On the next beautiful sunshiny day, we enjoyed a view of the plateau from the cabin of a light aircraft while my beautiful daughter who'd come a long way from the city watched the wallabies through the window of the logcabin. But then she's a city girl!
***
15 yrs on planning bayoffires ALONE!!!!!!
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