Smithton - Vale of Belvoir February 25 - 27
 
  Seems impossible to explore Tasmania without retracing our steps, without driving the same road more than once.

Logically Corinna was easy, three roads means either miss one or travel one twice. The rest, we had dreams of driving in a big circle, but not going to happen.

So, leaving Tullah, and Mt Murchison, we head north, again.

First to Burnie, to a truck workshop, to look at how to fix an exhaust leak. A leak in front of the exhaust retarder (brake) which means the retarder is not effective.

Then west, to Smithton, again, for reliable camp and laundry.

     
  Crossing the bridge between Lake Mackintosh and Lake Rosebery. Looks (to me) like channel was cut to join the two hydro lakes. Reece Dam between the two lakes has a power station.
     
  The B18, through Ridgley, is a far easier road than the A10. And it landed us close to the truck workshop.

Parts ex Japan. The workshop suggested wrapping a collar around the hole in the exhaust to seal it. The hole has been worn by a bracket, probably too many corrugations, the remaining steel in sufficiently good condition.

Earliest workshop time is a week away, Friday morning. Which sets some sort of timetable.

     
  West again to Smithton. We have a sense of advancing seasons.
     
  Past Port Latta. We think stock piles of coal. For drying ore recovered from the slurry pipeline. No wonder we saw smoke.
     
  Laundry done, rested, we head towards Cradle Mountain, to take advantage of a couple of days fine weather.
     
  Our first real glimpse of Cradle Mountain.

So called because of the resemblance to a miners cradle, used in sluicing gold.

This perspective reveals the mountain is about 1km long, with four named peaks, plus the knobbly bit at the left end.

The approach from Dove Lake is more of an end on view.

     
  From the same lookout we see Vale of Belvoir. A very English sounding name. We will camp there.
     
  We pass the high point in the road over Black Bluff Range.

Winterbrook Falls, where we started our walking adventure, is about 10km north west of us, on the northern edge of the range.

     
  A stony potholed road into the Vale.

Camping is a small circular area. Fairly full with 6 vehicles, including one caravan.

A few overflow campers in various spots, as well as at the boat ramp into the lake.

     
  A walk to the lake.
     
  The rain forest mostly gum.
     
  There's a map at the lake of vegetation types.

Lots of small areas and variation. More than I've seen anywhere in such a small area.

     
  At times the river Vale disappears underground.

I think through limestone.

This perhaps a sinkhole.

     
  Wallabies at the campsite. A little bigger than padmelon, and different ears. We think.
     
  Black Bluff Range as the sun sets.
     
  And the trees. We hear, and see a couple of parrots in the trees, but too far away for a pic.

Pics of small birds just silhouettes.

     
  An early start, ready for Cradle Mountain.

The campsite being inspected by a possum.

     
Cradle Mountain February 28
     
Gateway
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