I'm walking, yes indeed and I'm talking...

I do believe I'm back in Kansas, Toto.

Ok, not Kansas but definitely in ye olde Englande. I've been in Launceston for four days now (and I've extended my stay by yet another night) and I would swear I was in Kent. The weather, dad, is decidedly chilly but not horrible.

The day before yesterday I went to Cradle Mountain and walked around Dove Lake. The guide, Axel, was well informed and he and I had an interesting conversation about life, the universe and everything. There were seven of us on the walk and mostly it was in single file. We got to see some unusual (for me) vegetation, although we were all getting annoyed by the two young women who insisted on walking at the head of the file and then stopping every five yards to ask daft questions. My favourite quote from them... "This looks like a Swedish tree" - maybe it was carrying it's passport (please don't tell me there is a tree called the Swedish tree). Unfortunately it rained almost non-stop, varying between a light drizzle and torrential downpours. On the few occasions that it did stop raining we were still splattered by water from the trees. And with rain comes the absence of wildlife, although we did see some wombat poo and some wallaby poo (I didn't take any photos).

Yesterday was bright and sunny, so what did I do? I stayed in the hostel, did my washing and avoided a cold. I did go out for a walk around town in the afternoon, though.

Today I planned to go up the gorge but somehow I forgot my map and ended uup in town in the internet cafe - ah well, maybe tomorrow. Talking of which I'm going to a wildlife park to see the Tasmanian Devils and maybe even feed them - now that should be interesting.