On the Road Distance 54km / 34mi | Elevation 1307m /4288ft.
Watch Relive video here: https://www.relive.com/view/vPOpkxdm7Rv
Starting at just over 150 metres above sea level, today’s ride climbed to a maximum elevation of 945 metres at Dove Lake before finishing at the Cradle Mountain Hotel.
To begin we climbed out of the basin surrounding Lake Rosebery and back into a mixture of rainforest and buttongrass, which gradually gave way to sparser vegetation as we reached higher ground. While there was a lot of climbing on the menu today, it’s dished up in a series of steps, with no individual course being too filling. The two most notable climbs include a hill 13.5 kilometres into the day that averages 8% over a distance of 5.3 kilometres followed by another at the 39 kilometre mark which ascends for 3 kilometres at an average gradient of 7%.
The riding today was truly sensational, especially once we turned off the Murchison Highway onto Belvoir Road. We enjoyed views across the Vale of Belvoir and to the mountains of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. And then there’s that section to Dove Lake, which was simply sublime.
Cradle Mountain in the distance, our road there below, with 3 cattle grids, I crossed the first one at 72km/hr!
It was a magnificent day’s riding finishing with a wonderful view, but I didn’t have anything left in my legs, the trip to the lake with its view of Cradle Mountain will be one of the things I will do after a little nap!
Destination – Cradle Mountain
Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park, with its ancient rainforests and alpine heaths, is home to the world-famous Overland Track and iconic Cradle Mountain. Part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the park is one of the state’s most special places, where ancient pines fringe glacial lakes and icy streams cascade down rugged mountains.
Tomorrow is a so-called rest day but a few of us are going to ride for sunrise, 6:15 am depart and back for breakfast. Tomorrow afternoon a visit to the wilderness museum, tomorrow night a night walk to see some nocturnal creatures.
Life is good at Cradle Mountain…