Reached the highest spot in Australia!

 Saturday started as a rainy day - it didn't seem heavy at first but typically, as I started a walk it became so heavy that after 30mins I had to retreat back to my room and dry out! As the torrential rain lasted a couple of hours I used my time wisely and read a book!

Eventually the rain cleared and it was a lovely afternoon. I took the opportunity to take a walk along the river. Having had so much rain the river was pelting along.

It was a relatively dry path and the walking was easy. I took my time checking out the plants, etc.

I ended up skirting the highest golf course in Australia - no one was playing on it as I would think it was waterlogged!

Today was one of those amazing blue sky days so I decided it was time to go up the mountain!

For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to reach the highest spot in Australia!  Although the scenery was beautiful I was questioning myself about whether I would make it or not!!!

I used the excuse, only to myself, to take photos and that gave me time to catch my breath.

 I did reach the stage where I thought there was no way I would make it but looked down and there was a sign which said 2.5km to go! Well I reasoned with myself and said as you're over half way you might as well continue! So I did!  You forget  what a big country Australia is until you see some of the wide open spaces.

 I plodded on and with encouragement - "You're nearly there!" - made it to the top!

Only trouble was there were 7.5km back to the chair lift!! I was determined to make it back before the last chair lift at 5 - made it with hours to spare!! On completing those 7.5kms I, literally, dragged myself up to the cafe and downed an icy cold beer - I felt I'd deserved it. 

One big problem was getting back to the hotel - numerous steps and a steep hill! On reaching my room I  collapsed onto the bed unable to move - well I did take my walking boots off oh the bliss and agony!

Hoping that I will be able to walk and also drive I will head back home tomorrow.

 

And so toThredbo!

 My dinner at the Austria restaurant, last night, was delicious and the big surprise was not the huge pork knuckles a Polish group was eating but the fact that the German red wine was very good! I was shocked about the wine because I had always thought that white was the German style - how wrong can you be! I had a pork dish followed by Apfelstrudel and a cherry schnapps - my sinuses needed help, well that's my story!!

I woke this morning to rain and it hasn't stopped all day - it has varied from light to torrential to bucketing! I wandered around the Information Centre in Jindabyne - my plan had been to go for a walk along the lake but that was out.

I made tracks towards Thredbo when I came across a sign to Wildbrumby Schnapps distillery, cafe and art gallery. Remembering my last excursion I 'girded my loins' (prepare oneself for something difficult or challenging) and knowing that it was only 300m from the turning decided to go for it! What a delight! As it was a cold miserable day I decided on the Hot Chocolate with Butterscotch Schnapps. There were tastings of a variety of schnapps and gin but I erred on the side of caution and enjoyed my drink! I did buy a couple of things to take home!

I did like the roadside sign as I  drove away  - 'Buy Australian!' I did my bit. Unfortunately it was very  misty on the drive but as there was so little traffic it wasn't a problem. On entering the National Park I gladly showed my pension card because it meant that I didn't pay the Park fees!

Finding my hotel was relatively easy but parking was a different matter! When I  did park I then started on a long uphill walk to the hotel. Once checked in it was off down the hill to drive up to drop my bag off, then back down again to park and a walk back up again - I am not going to be worried about eating Apfelstrudel while I'm here!!!

Luckily I bought clothes and shoes for every type of weather so I'm able to get out in the rain! There were rather a lot of soaking wet, mud splattered bike riders as I  wandered around. It was rather strange as I recognised the places I had been to about 20 years ago when we came skiing with Sue!

  

My room, while old, has a great view although it is a bit like 'Where's Wally' trying to see  Mount Kosciuszko - hopefully tomorrow!

It was interesting to see the chairlift working although I didn't see anyone on it!

 Dinner in the hotel was very pleasant. Very much German/Austrian food with a very impressive Schnapps menu - the picture just shows one side!

Another grey day!

 Unfortunately the day started grey and drizzly but I was determined to get out and about!

I decided to head towards Dalgety, which is on the banks of the Snowy River. It was an interesting drive and the wide open spaces are wonderful.

This town, more like a village, was once considered as a potential site for the nation's capital! Back in the 1800s it was an important river crossing for cattle and sheep. 

I had a wander around the place with a local map and there were some interesting buildings. One of the strangest was the Catholic church which was called ' Our Lady of the Star of the Sea' - it wasn't the building that was strange but the name! The sea is a  considerable way away from Dalgety but someone decided that the noise from  the river sounded like the sea and hence the name of the church! 

I took a different route back and came across a sign advertising a winery and microbrewery. Why not have a look I said to myself? So I headed off down the dirt road (pictured) for 8kms of lumps, bumps and bidders!

Only to find that it was closed! 

Back in Jindabyne for the afternoon I had a lovely walk along the lake - luckily the rain held off. 

Dinner tonight is at an Austrian restaurant so should be interesting!

Off on my travels again!

 So schools are about to return after their summer break so it's my turn to get 'Far from the Madding Crowd'!

I decided to head for a slightly cooler area after the high temps and humidity of yesterday not only was it cool (15C!) but also raining!!! Instead of using the highways I opted for the byways! My journey south took me to Nowra where I veered off into unknown territory! I was slightly worried when I saw a sign which said, 'Gravel Road unsuitable for 2 wheel drive in wet weather'! The rain kept pouring down! Take a chance I convinced myself - well almost! As I travelled I noticed  that a number of the vehicles heading towards me were definately 2 wheel drive which gave me more confidence.

 I was told by a friend - who will remain nameless! ( Sorry MR) - to visit the Tianjara falls in the Morton National park. As you can see from the photos the day was less than perfect!

 

Onward ever onward! I certainly came across many gravel roads and apart from the fact that the car is now brown instead of red all was well - so there had been no need to worry!

Passing scenery!

With the weather being so awful I did venture on to a better road to continue the journey to Jindabyne. It was interesting to see how dry the country was - I thought it would be greener. I was impressed to see huge solar farms and it was lovely to see Kangaroos safely bounding along in the padocks. Driving along brings the reality of how bad the fires had been last year. Many trees didn't survive but the ones that did look so 'fluffy' with their new growth.

     I made it to Jindabyne, booked in  at my hotel and then had a wander around the local area. It was still drizzly and misty but the lake looked impressive all the same! It does seem funny to see the signs for 'Ski and chain hire'!

The day brightened up as I was having dinner.

I'm hoping tomorrow is brighter!

A week in northern NSW.

 An early start saw me heading north on the road to Kurri Kurri - a small town a few hours from Sydney. It's sad to see the way these towns are dying. The reason I stopped here was because it is known for it's murals and the kookaburra seems to be rather popular. 

I managed to find one cafe open so fueled up before the next few hours of driving.

My overnight stop was at Taree. I had a very pleasant dinner at the Aquatic Club. I was sitting overlooking the river and that is when the rain started! 

The weather the next day was absolutely horrendous the further north I drove! I did stop for a couple of breaks, one was at Woolgoolga to see the painted watertower.

 The weather was even worse and the ocean swells were quite big. I finally reached my destination mid afternoon and the rain was still coming down!

Monday dawned very wet but we decided to have a drive to see the damage the floods had caused in Byron Bay and managed to get up to the lighthouse without getting too wet!

 

With the weather still wet and miserable we drove to Murwillumbah to a really interesting Art gallery - in fact it is the best gallery I've ever been to! Inside the gallery is the recreation of the house/studio of one of Australia's most celebrated painter of still life and interiors - Margaret Olley. There was hardly a space to sit as every spare inch was covered with art supplies, flowers and other items that she would have used in her painting. Some of the art works in the gallery were facinating and it was set in a beautiful area.

We have been very relaxed with plenty of reading and swimming in the pool. Lazy really!

On Friday  we went to the market at Mullumbimby - anti vaxa 'country' - it's obviously very expensive there because the women couldn't 'afford' bras and most people couldn't 'afford' shoes. It was a very interesting 'people watching' place. 

We had brunch in Lennox Head on Saturday before my friends went to a wedding.

Today we went to Ballina - saw the Big Prawn and bought prawns for lunch.

The sun has shone for three days but it is very muggy!

Start heading back tomorrow. Spending tomorrow night with kitty's sister in Coffs Harbour and then a very long drive back on Tuesday.

I hope that everyone has a great Christmas - Covid allowing!

  

 Well winter gave us one last blast with a temperature drop of 10C from the day before and it was back to jacket wearing! I had a drive out to Lake Wyangan and a good walk.

 

I then went to see if any of the small food provider were open and selling. First stop was Codemo Smallgoods where the owner told me about all the great events that had been cancelled because of Vivid! The food and wine festival, which should have been about a week ago, sounded really good especially the 'Festa Del Salsicce e Salami' - a long lunch celebrating the winner  that year's best 'homemade' salami!!

Another festival, which lasts for two weeks in October is the Spring Fest, where more than 100,000 oranges and grapefruit are used to make citrus sculptures  - I might need to remember that for next year!! The trees are laden with oranges. 

and the blossom of other fruit trees is beautiful.

 

     

   

                                                                                                                        

I also visited a producer of sustainable Murray Cod. They are in collaboration with some orchards by using their open 'ponds' to raise the cod. They were very obliging and packed my small piece of cod in ice in a special box so that it was fresh when it got back to Wollongong.

A very cold start 1C and ice scraping of the windscreen was the start of my 520km drive home.

I have enjoyed the wide open spaces but it's good to be back by the coast.

If yellow is your colour i suggest you head west as there is 'yellow' as far as the eye can see!!