2020 was a bit of a write off year for most people I think , in terms of excitement - work from home, restricted travel or lock down.

.A couple of years ago, I heard about the Penguin-Cradle Trail; a walking track from Penguin, on Tasmania's north coast, up to Cradle Mountain. This sounded less tame, less organised and more like walking used to be. No boardwalk, no huts, no crowds so we thought we'd do it while we still can. We planned to walk last December, but there was a covid border closure which stopped that; so we re-booked it for February.

Then, a week before we were due to leave, another covid outbreak led to another border closure which led to cancellation again. But... it was all controlled quickly and two days after cancelling everything I re-booked everything - and now it has finally happened!

 We can't say we have walked the whole Penguin Cradle Trail as there were two parts we missed but we have had a good look at the Dial range, the Leven River Canyon, Paddy's Lake and Black Bluff and more than enough of Bare Mountain. The trip notes said "The Black Bluff Range is no place to be in bad weather and if caught out south of Bare Mountain, ... head towards a lower, more sheltered location"

We have made it to Cradle Mountain. But we had to wimp out of doing some sections, getting here as planned only due to a lift from Gunn's Plains to Loongana (thank you so much Leisha and Steve) and being able to hitch a ride from Belvoir Road to Cradle Mountain (thank you, unknown Tasmanian bloke.)

We have both independently come to the conclusion that more long-distance wilderness walking is not for us any more. The packs are too heavy and I appreciate niceties like a table or a seat too much, let alone a roof.

To see why - have a look at my attached journal below - Sunday 21st, and especially Thursday 25th February.

But we cannot complain at all because everything has gone so well for us here. We have ended up with four nights at Cradle Mountain, which has allowed us to explore more of the area than we ever have before (when we have mostly just passed through); climbed to the very top of Cradle Mountain for the first time, and been to the excellent Wilderness Gallery.

So, now it's back to normality again and to planning our next adventures. With retirement just around the corner we have to make the most of the rest of our lives!

Simon's Journal