Chris L

If yesterday hadn't been cold, this morning certainly was. I set off heading west straight into the "roaring forties" and freezing rain wearing just about all the layers of clothing I had with me. A few ups and downs across the western end of the plateau, before joining the Murchison "Highway" along the west coast of Tasmania (after a rapid descent through the mist). The vegetation types are different here, with rainforest dominating. It's also an area that offers a lot of mountain scenery and lake scenery.

A slight climb led me to the "highest point on the Murchison Highway", which was about 300 metres lower than where I'd camped the last two nights. Yet another screaming descent found it's way to the village of Tullah, where I wanted to get some lunch, but found nothing open. Still, it wasn't far to the bigger town of Roseberry (population all of 1,500), so it didn't really matter that much.

A 5km climb through the forest started shortly after Tullah, before a screaming 5km descent through the forest led to Rosebery. This place has an average rainfall of around 3.5 metres, and it was raining lightly when I arrived. Being New Year's day, there wasn't a lot open in the town for lunch - and one of the few places that was open apparently couldn't make any lunch for me. "I didn't cook anything this morning" was the reason given. Make up your own mind about that.

Eventually I found a takeaway shop at the bottom of the hill. That would do. Even if the guy serving the meal had dyed his hair bright red to go with the light-blue earings he was wearing. Camping at Rosebery caravan park tonight. A couple of other campers there. One of whom is a 3 year old boy, who is totally fascinated by bikes. The scary part of it all is, he seems to be able to ask more intelligent questions about touring than most adults can manage!

Late in the afternoon I took a very muddy ride to Montezuma Falls, the highest single drop falls in Tasmania. This is a very pleasant ride through the rainforest, but as I said, very muddy on this day. I returned to Rosebery to find the supermarket closed, but the pizza shop now open. The bakery opens at 8pm tonight - I kid you not.

Chris L

Leaving Cradle Mountain across the plateau

Chris L

Highland wildflowers.

Chris L

About to start the big descent.

Chris L

Mountain scenery near Tullah

Chris L

Lake Rosebery comes into view

Chris L

Another view of the lake

Chris L

At times Lake Rosebery was like a really wide river, the road followed it for several kilometres.

Chris L

On the screaming descent into Rosebery

Chris L

This is what the inside of a mine shaft looks like.

Chris L

Montezuma Falls.

Chris L

How do I get the bike across this?

Chris L

Ferns on the Montezuma falls track.

Chris L

On the way back into Rosebery at 7pm.