Adelong

 My day started with breakfast in an orchard at Batlow! I left with a bag of apples and some cider!

My main destination was Adelong. I must have been living with my head in the sand as I had no idea that there had been a major flood here about 3 weeks ago! 

A walk along the river showed signs of the destruction the flood had caused. I did a  Google search about the flood and was glad I  hadn't been around! The car,  which ended up in the river, had been removed by the time I arrived but paths had been destroyed and there was a lot of clean up still to do!

I started on the walk and disobeyed the notice and barrier which stated that the path was closed! I didn't go all that way not to see the sculptures! They had some great footpath signs.

One of the sculptures  had been washed away and was in the river a considerable distance from where it had been placed!

Another one had almost toppled over when the water undermined it.

Luckily others had remained in place.

My final stop was Gundagai - another country town which, although also affected by the flood, was in better shape because the town had been built on higher ground. When the town was first inhabited, 1800's, it had been settled next to the river but a terrible flood destroyed that! There is a dedication to a couple of indigenous men who saved many people at that time!

One very noticeable thing about travelling around is how difficult it is to find decent places to eat in the evening! Fine if you want 'fried pub grub' but nothing else. Plenty of cafes for lunch time but not for later in the day! On a Sunday the pubs only serve food at lunchtime - thank goodness for cheese and biscuits!!!

 

Continuing the trail!

 This morning I headed to Batlow - we'll known for apples! I must admit arriving in the town I felt as if I was the only person left on earth! It was deathly quiet with no people around and the town looking like it had died! There were numerous abandoned buildings but this made me scratch my head as there was a message in the top window which said 'HELP ME'! Weird!!!

I was able to find the couple of sculptures I'd come to see and found a cafe open!

This is a permanent sculpture called the 'Apple peeler ' and relates to fact that this is an apple growing region.

I headed back towards Tumbarumba and called in at Johansen Wines where I  saw the couple of sculptures and of course tried some samples of their wine. Lots of white wine in this area of which I'm not a fan!

 Driving out of town I visited the Pioneer Womens Hut museum. There was a Button but displaying buttons through the ages. Another hut showed different quilts and use of quilting.

There was the usual area of old machinery.

Heading back to town I called in at another vineyard, Courabyra Wines, for the last sculptures.

Hard to see because of the trees but it's like a giant egg whisk!

This one moves  and is from Japan.

This is definately the vineyard to come to for lunch!

 I've had a few encounters with wildlife today. First a young Echidna ambled across the road, then there was a snake - looked large but it was newly flattened - and then a live brown snake a metre in front of me - thankfully I was in the car and had pulled up before a cattle grid when I noticed it slithering along! It shot off like a rocket as I crossed the grid! Back at my accommodation a big red roo was trying to get out of a paddock but a fence was thwarting it and finally a couple of rather frisky lizards joined me for a cuppa!

Snowy Valley Sculpture trail

 Nearly 5 hours of driving got me toTumbarumba for my few nights accommodation. I had decided to check out the various sculptures along parts of the Snowy Valley - for the Aussies it's based on Sculptures by the Sea.

I obviously picked the right days because 'mein host' mentioned that it had been raining solidly for the previous 4 days!

 My accommodation is along a narrow, pot holed dirt road and is in the middle of 'farm land'. I hear nothing but birds twittering - one baby magpie nearly didn't see another sunrise! One more whine for food and he was going to end up in a pie!!! There is a very occasional bleat of sheep or moo of cows.

The rain has really affected this area causing vegetation to grow at a rate unable to be controlled - ground is too wet for mowing! It has also caused the roads to be in a terrible state which haven't been helped by the logging trucks belting along them. No speedy driving here! Luckily traffic is light as you never know when you have to take action to miss a pot hole! I don't fancy being stuck by myself with a dodgy wheel because I didn't  take evasive action!

I ventured out to the local golf club for a meal. The few locals at bar stopped talking and drinking as I walked in - it was as if I'd just landed from Mars! I can only say that the food was edible, just!

Nights are cooler here and instead of sleeping under 2 layers I had 4! Still I slept well!

Breakfast in a local cafe was good and set me up for my day of checking out the sculptures at Tumbarumba and Tooma. The creeks have risen and the paths are muddy and wet but it was an interesting walk around the sculptures here. 

Made of timber, luckily no one has set fire to it!

Tooma was 35kms of pot holes to Tooma. It was suggested that I call in to Paddy's river falls as the water is pounding and it certainly was  - normally it's a trickle!

I could see snow in the distance as I continued my drive.

When I reached Tooma - don't blink or you'll miss it - I called in at the pub which has stood since 1893. Got chatting to the landlord who had obviously bought the pub unseen from his place in north Queensland and was now in no man's land! Tooma has a population of about 100 people which includes the surrounding area!

Heading back to Tum.... I  called in at a vineyard which housed one of the sculptures - well it did until it was taken away to be repainted, I think it had been part of Sculptures by the Sea! The salt and snow hadn't helped the paint! I took a moment to check out the wine they produced an bought a couple of bottles - have to help the local economy!

Driving to Hamner Springs

 We left Blenheim on a sunny but very cold morning heading for Hamner Springs. Part of the journey was along the coast where the Kaikoura earthquake had been. Mike explained how the landscape had changed with the uplift of the earth causing many more 'rock formations' to appear along the coastal edge.

 It appears that a lot of the marine life had also disappeared. With this in mind we pulled into a stopping point to see if there was any life on the rocks. To our immense surprise the were dozens and dozens of seal pups and the 'mums and dads'!

The pups were so funny, especially in the little pools, diving and leaping like little acrobats. They kept Mike and I amused for quite a while!

From the coast we turned inland with lovely views of the mountains.

Hamner Springs was rather reminiscent of Switzerland with the mountains in the background and chalet style houses. The town was awash with cherry blossom.

My nephew, who lives in Christchurch, drove up to see us which was lovely. 

After dropping our bags  in a really lovely apartment, I headed off for a massage while Mike and Joe went for  a walk.  My massage was wonderful - I recommend it! A short walk around the village was interesting - it had such a diversity of shops and eateries. 

The following day we took a walk through the forest around  Hamner. It was an interesting walk along the paths seeing the sculptures which had been place there- some quite humorous ones! It was amazing to see so many tall, straight trees.

 I had a bit of a nostalgic moment when we came across bluebells - the garden of my childhood was full of them in spring!

Following our walk we 'wallowed' in the waters of the hot springs. It was an overcast day but many people looked rather sunburnt as they left the pools. It wasn't  the heat of the water because Mike is know walking around with a very red face!!!

Tuesday saw us driving back to Picton. We travelled through the mountains, coast and vineyards on the way.

Even checked on the seals again!

We had a very early start as we caught the 7:45am ferry. The trip back was smooth and we were able to stay out on the deck for an hour or so as it was sunny and clear. Had to retreat inside as well sailed closer to the North Island!

It was a long drive back to Mike's - so many road works! 

Tomorrow, Friday, it's up to Auckland for the flight home.

Have had a great time with my little brother - so many laughs and reminiscing!