Oh Deer Bogong High Plains

hello all 
Yes, deer is spelt correct and will become apparent later on......
 On Tuesday the 8th I saddled up one again and headed off into the wild blue yonder.......
It was a hot windy trip up the Hume highway with a scorching northerly head wind. Heading from Myrtleford across to Mt Beauty the road was littered with sticks and twigs blown off by the wind. A hot night was spent in the Mt Beauty Caravan Park with, it appeared several thousand other people.
Next morning was the drive up the hill. After a quick detour into Bogong Village, I arrived at Falls Creek Ski Resort.

the Main range

some of Falls

 I travelled across Bogong High Plains road in 2008, the year before they sealed it, I think the view was blocked by dust on that trip as I had forgotten what a magnificent drive this is. The drive over Bogong is not as dramatic as Hotham but you get to drive around up on Bogong to Pretty Valley and Mt McKay. 
So off to Mt Mc Kay it was, I held my breath and went for the summit........I drove to the highest drivable public road in Australia and took the Camper along.

Mt Mc Kay

Palomino on top of Victoria (Mt Mc Kay)

1825 metres above sea lavel

 The view was amazing from the top.

looking Towards the Kiewa Valley

towards Mt Nelse

towards Pretty Valley Dam

towards Rocky Valley Dam

top of ski run just to the left of dam

My camp for the night was down from the 1825 metres summit of Mt Mc Kay to about 1600 Metres at Pretty Valley Camping Area. Bloody hell it was cold  that night..............it was 6c INSIDE the Camper when I woke up from my sleeping (shivering) To Kevin and Tania at Palomino RV Australia...tell everyone the gas heater works a treat with the battery removed from the smoke detector. I was soon able to regain feeling in my fingers and toes with a white frost outside.

camp at Pretty Valley 1600 Metres

 Now let me paint a picture....I am tootling along the Bogong High Plains sealed road probably no more than 10K out of Falls Creek. The road curves around to the right and rises disappearing amongst the snow gums. Parked on the apex of the curve are 2 four wheel drives about 200 metres ahead. To my left is 3 guys standing in the middle of open ground, I am looking at them thinking what are they doing? I look back towards the corner to discover, not more that 15 metres from their vehicles is a fully grown wild doe (female deer) I hit the skids  already had the window down and always drive with my camera on the passenger seat ready.

oh deer

deer

I managed to peel off a couple of shots before it bolted off into the snow gums. The things you see......
A bit further up the road is Wallaces Hut, I walked in there last time so gave it a miss this time and walked into Cope Hut instead.

Cope Hut

view from Cope hut

I really enjoyed my leisurely drive over Bogong but it was down the other side to Big River Camping Area at Glen Wills on the Omeo Highway. A relaxing afternoon was spent preparing my roast chicken and roast potatoes in the camp oven, followed by desert of ice cream. Gee I love camping with a freezer.........
This Morning was off to Glen Wills Historic site, it was and old gold mining area.

a photo of the sign

The photo of the DSE sign above is what I remember the area looking like when I first visited many years ago. The 2003 fires ravaged the area and destroyed most of the buildings. So much of our history has been lost to fire. Below is a photo of what it looks like now.

DSE built roof

the old compressor

mining relics

I continued along the Omeo Highway, they have sealed a lot of this road but there is still a few rough patches, over Mt Wills, through Mitta Mitta and Tallangatta. Tonight I am in Albury, I was starting to smell so bad even the flies where staying away......tomorrow I haven't decided yet, so this isn't finished yet as I don't have to be home until Monday..........now where is that map?
Well the weather clouded over and not much happened after here. I had planned to go to Corryong, then south to Taylor's Crossing and Benambra but the road climbs back up over the ranges and with overcast skies I didn't like the idea of photos of fog.......
Instead I cruised through Yackandanda and Beechworth but didn't take any photos as I have been there before, then down the Hume to home.
I don't have any trips planned, and have a week of appointments etc and a weekend in Melbourne next weekend with friends from Perth. I reckon soon after that I will be getting itchy camper legs so stay tuned....
bye for now 

Christmas - New Year Getaway 2012

Hello all
firstly Seasons greetings to all.
 
On Boxing bay I loaded up the Camper and headed off to The Honeysuckles (between Seaspray and Golden Beach on the 90 Mile Beach) and set up on the lawn of my nephews beach house. An overnighter turned into 2 and a half days....................
We rounded up the kids and headed off to have a look at the wreck remains of the Trinculo, a 320 tonne steel hulled ship wrecked on the beach nearby in 1879.

remains of the Trinculo at Wreck beach

Trinculo

After a quick trip back home, it was a quick turn around and head for Dargo. I headed for Angusvale in the Mitchell River National Park. The road into Angusvale is a strange one, the road originally was built to construct a new Dam on the Mitchell River back in the mid 1980's, but never eventuated due to the Green movement and a change of Government, by memory. This left a major gravel road leading in complete with 'Trucks use low gear signs and Safety Ramps in the middle of nowhere.

Angusvale from the road in

All the campsites by the river were packed  out, so I only stayed the one night, it would be a nice place to stay a few days with less people around.
I decided to drop into Wonnangatta Caravan Park to have a look, I have probably  driven past 30 times over the years and never been in....
what a lovely place, very friendly hosts and great setting, although the road in is a bit steep..........

By the river at Wonnangatta Caravan Park

I tried the awning out at Wonnangatta

Guy's Wonnangatta Caravan Park

Dargo was very busy with the Christmas crowd, so I kept moving heading up onto the Dargo High Plains. First stop was Grant Historic Area, Grant in the 1860's had a population of over 3000 and boasted 15 hotels but today the bush is claiming it back. the bracken is returning and there is not a lot to be seen. 25 years ago when I last visited the townsite was much more prominent. I don't know why but on this leg I took hardly any photos........even with the high plains being quite scenic.
I would have liked to drive the Blue Rag Range Track but with the camper on it was out of the question.......this is one of the most spectacular ridge top tracks in the country.
Upon reaching the Great Alpine Road I had to decide left to Bright or right to Omeo,  having only been in Omeo late November I turned left towards Bright.
Bright was full.....................I think the entire population of Melbourne had gone to Bright for Christmas, I continued on to Myrtleford for the night. The following day was a transit day getting from Bright to Jamieson. At the beginning of December when I went to Woods Point I noted what a lovely Caravan Park it was at Jamieson and promised myself a stay there when next in the area............Full......so New Years Eve was spent at Skipworth Reserve (a freecamp) on the Goulburn River.
It was a warm New Years Day I started off on the Jamieson - Licola Road over Mount Skene. the road climbed rapidly to the Mount Sunday Road turnoff. 
I stopped here to check the tiedowns on the Camper and to answer the call of nature, to my surprise upon shaking the dribbles I turned to face an elderly Canadian and his wife who were cycling the mountains. 
They had taken the train to Traralgon, riden to Licola (no mean feat 100k) ) upon finding the Licola Store closed and unable to restock supplies riden over Mt Skene (just shy of 1600 metres) down Lazzarini Spur (4x4 1300m drop tp Woods Point to restock, back up Lazzarini Spur (1300m climb) to me meeting them at Mt Sunday turnoff...................I think I need to go have a lay down now...........they were heading to Wrens Flat, Mitchell Homestead Ruins, Tobacco Flat, Sheepyard Flat to Mansfield....
For the people that know this area this would be a tough trip in a four wheel drive, they were on pushbikes................................

atop Mt Skene looking Towards Mt Buller (snowgums burnt 2007 fires)

parked at the lookout Mt Skene

 It was a leisurely run down the south side of the Great Divide to Licola, with a camp on the Wellington River for the night.

Wellington River Campsite with outdoor spa

The previous occupiers of this campsite had thoughtfully built a outdoor spa in the river and after a windy night i was off home again.
until next time folks, my guess is it won't be long ......
 


 
 

A Quick Break

hello all
I had a couple of things to sort out in Melbourne, so what better excuse to load up the camper and head off for a few days again. I didn't find out about the Diesel shortage caused by the fault at the refinery beforehand though and had to hunt around to get fuel.
After a night at a caravan park in Melbourne overrun by backpackers who decided it was a good idea to yahoo until 3.30am it was over Black Spur towards Eildon.

Lake Eildon Caravan Park

From my camp at Eildon

 After a very relaxing evening at Lake Eildon I took the Eildon-Jamieson road through the Eildon National Park. This road has now been sealed since I last came this way about 5 or 6 years ago.

Lake Eildon - Jamieson arm

 Along the road from Jamieson to Woods Point the Mansfield Shire has done a fantastic job along here actively promoting camping free of charge. Every few kilometres there are lovely freshly mown areas most with near new picnic tables and thunder boxes all in picturesque settings. Well done Mansfield Shire...............A nice but stormy night was spent at Snakes Reserve with several good light shows through the night.
The following morning I headed through Gaffneys Creek, and A1 Settlement to Woods Point. This is an area I had not been to for many years and I will have to go back and spend a week or so in this area. the area is an old (and current) gold mining area with lots of relics and old buildings around.

The old Woods Point servo

Woods Point

Woods Point

Woods Point Post Office

 Climbing over the range to Matlock I headed to Aberfeldy along the Walhalla Road, this is a road I used to know well from 30 years ago, a good gravel road............not any more. I don't think anything has been done to this road since I last used it. It is now overgrown and rough, I hardly got above first gear the whole way to Aberfeldy.

looking south from Matlock towards Baw Baw Plateau

 Not long after i got my license in 1975, I used to get around this area in a little LJ80 Suzuki. I remember the Donnelly's Creek Track as being narrow, heaps of side angle and following the creek most of the way. I had heard that Merringtons Track was fairly easy access to Donnellys Creek so I stopped at the top of Merringtons track to have a look. The track had in the last few days had a dozer down it so I off I headed.
About 500 metres along Merringtons I had my suspicions confirmed when I had to give way to a Falcon station Wagon coming out................

Junction pool Donnellys Creek

I have done a little off road stuff since having the camper, but still a bit cautious about getting somewhere and getting stuck, unable to turn around or get back up the hill with 480kg of camper on the back, so with this in mind I made the decision to retreat and return later for a daytrip without the camper, look around and see where I can and cant get the camper, then return for an extended visit. this area is only a couple of hours from home. Heading back out I was overtaken by a Falcon Longreach Ute complete with two motorbikes in the rear and P plates. Maybe I AM getting old...............

Junction Pool

 That night I spent at North Gardens Free Camp at Walhalla, this is an area I will cover later as it is only about 35 minutes from home.
The evening was spent around the camp fire in the company of other travelers discussing life and waking up to Liar Birds flitting around the camp.
For the moment the camper has been parked up, with school and christmas holidays approaching fast it might be time to stay home for a little while. 
The next planned excursion is the Mountain Cattlemens Get Together    http://www.mcav.com.au/.
11-13 January at Basin flat near Licola, but then again if i got away early tomorrow.............................

bye for now

Omeo to Home

Hello all
I left Omeo under overcast skies, but the skies soon cleared to warm the place up again. I headed up the Nunniong Road to the Mt Nugong fire tower.

From Mt Nugong fire tower

The road up on Nunniong was terrible, I don't know if it was yesterday's rain but all the road surface has been washed away from heavy rain, leaving just the rocks making the road pretty rough. I continued on to Nunniong Plain Scenic Reserve but the ground was so sodden I wasn't game to get off the main road in case I sank. There was plenty of fresh Brumby tracks around here also. It was back to Bentley Plain and Moscow Villa.

Nunniong Plain

Moscow Villa

Moscow villa was built in the early 1940's by Bill Ah Chow who was employed in the nearby Mt Nugong fire tower as a spotter. My Own Summer Cottage Officials Welcome Visitors Inside Light Lunch Available, he named it when visited by some 'shiny bums' from town.
The run down to Bairnsdale was uneventful and I headed to Eagle Point for the evening. The Silt Jetties, while impressive stretching almost 8km out into Lake king weren't very photogenic.

 While this trip has finished it isn't the end of this blog, I will be updating with a lot more trips as I trek about this great country. I have a few things to sort out here at home but plan to do at least one sneaky trip away to the mountains before school holidays gets unleashed on the country in a few weeks time. I also plan to spend a few days at Basin Flats near Licola mid January for the Mountain Cattlemens Annual Get Together. 
I have enjoyed the Camper and the versatility it gives, I tried a bit of off road stuff with it and found while it does limit where you can go, it certainly makes things a lot more comfortable when you get there. I much prefer driving down steep hills than up with the Camper on.It also only adds 1-1.5 litres per 100k to the diesel usage.
As I will be randomly going away over the next little while, why not 'subscribe by email' feature on the side so you wont miss out....
Bye for Now

Jindabyne to Omeo

Hello all
I am back in civilisation once again, I left Jindabyne and headed south along The Barry Way, this is a spectacular drive following the Snowy River.

seen better days

This old Bus caught my eye sitting forlornly in a paddock at Ingebyra. A bit further along  is Wallace Craigie Lookout.

Wallace Craigie Lookout (see the road on the hills in the backgoround)

The narrow windy road drops of the Plateau and descends about 1000 metres over about five kilometres to thre Pinch River below. The Pinch then flows into the snowy a short distance along.

this is my sat nav, the orange is my route and the darker line is the same route behind a hill (i told you it was windy)

Pinch River

The weather was stifling down in the Snowy Valley, I don't think I have ever been through here when it hasn't been hot. My guess would have been mid 30's. The Snowy was looking the best I have seen it in many years with good healthy flows of water.

The Snowy River

The Snowy

I arrived at Wulgulmerang to hang a right turn along the Limestone Road. This is a magic part of the country I first started visiting in about 1979-80. I was just poking along slowly as the road had a good surface but was fairly steep and windy when I spotted some wild Brumbies off in a clearing not far from the road. I stopped, crept out, got the camera out and managed one quick shot before a troopy came screaming around the corner at a great rate of knots and scared them away.

my only brumby photo

Camp that night was at Native Dog flat, a magnificent place on the headwaters of the Buchan River. the large Brumby population keep the grass mown like a lawn and with a nice Alpine stream flowing through doesn't get much better.

Native Dog Flat

That night was spent around the campfire chatting to a lovely couple from Paynesville and listening to the Brumbies snorting and fighting.

my camp

During the night I could hear the Brumbies walking on the rocks to drink from the creek, they seem quite used to people and the smells etc. People camped there the previous night were woken in the night to look out and see brumbies fighting right next to their camper.

my camp just left of centre and the couple from Paynesville at the right

Parrots

The bird life there was amazing with numerous Parrots of all sorts and Robins with a bright orange/red breast. The morning broke to rainy skies, although still very mild. but that was only the start. I packed up in the wet to head off to Omeo. About 5 kilometres down the road the sun came out which had me looking for shorts again, but wait another 10 kilometres and I have thunderstorms, lightning, and torrential rain. Yep I am back in Victoria, if you don't like the weather, wait a minute........

Lake Omeo

Even Lake Omeo (which is actually at Benambra) had water in it and the countryside was looking good. Lake Omeo is usually dry with the locals using it as a paddock. The storms have cleared for tonight at Omeo. I am heading to Bairnsdale tomorrow to have a look at the Silt Jetties on the Gippsland Lakes.
This trip is nearly over far too soon but I am looking forward to getting home and putting all my camping gear into the camper. I could only take what I could fit in the passenger seat of the ute with me, so the next trip will be good being equipped with camp ovens, outside tables and so on. Silk Jetties here i come.....
Bye for now
 

Canberra to Jindabyne

Hello all
I am safely at Jindabyne, right beside the Lake and the weather is superb........

The Carillion in Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra

I spent last night at Cooma, and did an easy 60k run today to Jindy. I like area around Cooma and over to here, it varies from about 800 to 1100 metres above sea level so it reminds me of some of the High Country in Victoria - but better roads.
Unfortunately Cooma and a lot of the old towns and settlements I enjoyed has gone to the latte set. Omeo and Mansfield have gone this way also, instead of beat up old cars and four wheel drives the streets are full of BMW, Audi and Mercedes.

set up at Lake Jindabyne

the view from my window

 I have hung back a bit, as I want to watch 'All4adventure' tonight as this will be the last time I have electricity or TV reception for a little while. Tomorrow morning I head off down The Barry Way and with a week of 25-33c forecast should be brilliant. This is one of the most spectacular drives in Victoria (and a bit of NSW)
With the good weather I have stocked up pretty well with food and might stay a few more nights if the weather holds out. 
I won't have phone or internet reception until I pop out of the scrub again in Omeo, my thinking is if I find a nice spot away from people I might have a rest day and stay put an extra night.
I should have some good pictures next time.
bye for now

Sydney and Canberra

hello all

After getting the vehicle was fixed it was off to Toyota Warehouse at Taren Point for Lunch. The boys at Toyota showed me all around the complex and bought me lunch to boot .......
I had been speaking to the boys up here for over 6 years at least a couple of times a week, so it was good to finally catch up.

Bondi Beach

After a long lunch with Toyota I started the trek southward, staying in Goulburn last night. under overcast skies I headed off to Canberra, the skies clearing and getting to 24c today (a Canberra heatwave.)

Lake George with water in it...it doesn't happen often

 Canberra has changed a lot in the since 1979 when I was last here.........and those people in Melbourne that think the Federation Square is ugly have never seen Parliment House............it's a shocker.

Telstra Tower at Black Mountain in Canberra

Cbd and Lake Burley Griffin

Telstra tower from the lake

ruins at Mount Stromlo

The mount Stromlo Observatory was virtually wiped out by a bushfire in 2003.

a lot of the historic buildings were lost

more ruins

 After Stomlo I went to see if I could find Donald and Daffy Duck.....

No not there.....old Parliment house

found them but they wouldn't come out.......

Well folks I must go as i need to put on every piece of clothing I have with me.....the forecast is 5c tonight. I have not worn long pants since October 27th and only worn runners twice since then.........it is going to be 26c tomorrow.
I am heading to Adaminaby, Lake Eucumbeen. for tomorrow night, then into Cooma for Saturday night. After Cooma I am heading to Jindbyne and going down the Barry Way to see that magnificent scenery once again. I never get sick of this place. Weather permitting I hope to head across the Limestone road to Omeo and home, maybe another week, maybe two.........
bye all I am off to turn on the gas as at 5c I am going to need the heater tonight.