Our week in Bega

the view from the back of our van

We have spent a couple of days just around town and relaxing at the van.  The outlook here is so lovely and there are not many other vans so the days are lovely and quiet and restful.  We had rain showers through the first couple of nights but then Thursday dawned full of fog so looks like a promising day. 

Bega Cheese Co-operative building and museum

milk coming to the Bega factory

part of the first prize winning mural at the 2000 Royal Easter Show in Sydney

the murals were constructed from various seeds and fibres, this one from seeds

part of the display in the cheese factory museum

lovely old building in Carp Street Bega

We packed the esky bag and headed down south to Eden along the Princes Highway.  There are no other options but the traffic was light and we enjoyed the green scenery along the way.

Bega countryside

Our map showed us a lookout over Twofold Bay so we headed for there.  Picnic tables, toilets and a lookout deck are all provided for the visitors.  We certainly made use of the table for our cuppa and enjoyed taking in the view across the bay to the wood chipping mill where once the whaling fleet brought their catch. 

part of Twofold Bay with the ocean beyond

Whaling was carried on from this area for many years and now there is a whaling museum set up for visitors to learn from.  We enjoyed the view and took the Lion’s cliff top walk that leads around to the old ‘pilot station’, past the current Marine Rescue station.  The water was a strong azure colour and the waves broke gently across the rocks surrounding the bay.  In the park there is a Seaman’s memorial erected and there are plaques detailing many of those seamen lost at sea, washed from rocks or the victim of boat sinking over the years.  The ages of many are so young, they make you pause and reflect.

The local fish co-op is back towards the main street and near where the trawlers are moored. We decided that if we couldn’t get fresh fish here we were never going to find any so we enjoyed sitting in the sun and eating flathead and whiting fillets with the freshest chips we have ever enjoyed. Following our yummy lunch we took ourselves a stroll up and down the main street to walk it down and admired the old buildings that have been preserved with information plaques attached

                                               .boat moorings in Twofold Bay

Back along the highway and we left the highway at Pambula and headed to Merimbula on the coast.  This seems to be a popular place for holiday makers as there are holiday flats and units along with motels etc just everywhere.  We did find a couple of caravan parks out near the beach and the ocean views from some of those cabins would be spectacular……never mind pricey I should think.

entrance into boat ramp area at Tathra

view from Chamberlain lookout

Driving back north from Merimbula we headed back along the highway to Tathra where there is a small community on the headland.  One of the hotels is over 100 yrs old and the pine trees were planted in 1887 when the building was erected.  A lovely memorial park has been set up on the headland by community members  as there is no cemetery in Tathra.  This park was opened in 1997 and there are various information boards around the path advising of various happenings in Tathra over the years.  These include the restoration and historic listing of the wharf which till 1962 was the main link with Sydney for the transportation of stock and produce.

historic pub at Tathra

There were signs along the road in the various creeks etc of where the water level had risen to during the recent flooding that threatened this area earlier this year.  The surrounding hills etc were green, green and more green.  They fields looked so lush and the animals so healthy.

We move on to Ulladulla on Monday for a week and then finally up to Nowra to catch up with friends met last Easter at Penshurst in Victoria before heading back up to Cessnock for some of the school holidays to share with our granddaughter.  What a wonderful life.   

Heading to the South Coast

our 'friendly' horse trailer in front

Time to leave after our week in Cooma and we headed out on our trip towards the coast.  The Snowy Mtns Hway down to Bega is currently blocked at Brown Mountain so a detour has to be made via Bombala and then across to Pambula.  There was plenty of pot holes and work gangs were slowly working their way through them all trying to repair the damage from the recent heavy rains. 

beautiful muntain forest as we descend to the coast

Unfortunately the road contains many twists and turns and overtaking lanes are in short supply going down.  We had a horse carrying vehicle in front of us and for a while there were just the two of us so no great problem doing under 40kph however, once the cars started to catch up we thought it best to pull over and let them past, 3 times in total but did the leading vehicle…..well no he just kept on crawling down the hill.  Needless to say when there were overtaking opportunities the poor car drivers had to go for broke to get past.

We had lunch at Merimbula overlooking the water before heading up to Bega for our next campout.  We have checked in for a week ‘again’ and will take our time to explore the surrounding area…and visit the Cheese Factory!    Lovely quiet van park and not many other campers so surrounded with green grass and an outlook from the top of the hill we are quite content.

Perisher Valley and Charlotte Pass

'determination to survive' at the van park entrance

Friday we set off back up the mountains again.  The sky was clear and the breeze was light so we were hopeful of some special scenery.
Well of course the best laid plans do not always eventuate and just because the weather was great down in Cooma does not mean it is the same up in the mountains. 

We stopped for a cuppa in Jindabyne by the lake and took some photos.  It was evident the level the water had reached and explains why there is still water being released from the lake.  We found it interesting to see printed signs placed strategically around the rest area advising that ‘swimming and recreational pursuits are banned due to the presence of snakes’.  Well that made us look twice where we were putting our feet as we took a short wander.  We found out later that tiger snakes live in the rocks surrounding the lake and with the water level so high they have had to move out of the rocks!!

Jindabyne Lake

note the 'high tide rubbish' level

By the time we reached Perisher Valley we were in the clouds and light rain so needless to say for the rest of the time up high we had the windscreen wipers on and we stayed in the car! 

Perisher Valley village

Charlotte Pass was at the end of the road and was where you can park to take the walk to the top of Kosciuszko.  Charlotte Pass in winter is only accessible by snow vehicle as the road is impassable to vehicles.  Sitting there we were 1815m above sea level.  Many years ago we did the walk to the summit however today was certainly not going to be the next time.  That will have to wait till another day.  Something else to add to the ‘next time’ list.

Returning back down to Perisher we then turned off at Smiggins Holes and took an ‘interesting’ road that loops around past Guthega and Island Bend before returning to the main road to complete our return to Jindabyne.  Approaching Jindabyne we drove out of the clouds and once again back into beautiful sunshine.

Guthega Power Station on Pipers Creek

Pipers Creek tumbling down the mountains

From Jindabyne we headed east to Dalgety, the last remaining town on the Snowy River.  There are still some historic buildings from the late 1800’s in use within the village and some are open to the public.

bridge across the Snowy River at Dalgety

country around Dalgety NSW

From here we looped around and headed back towards Cooma so a shorter trip than last time, just over 200km and a very enjoyable day.

Snowy River at Dalgety

Our last few days in Cooma were spent enjoying the sunshine and also having the opportunity to share a meal and some country hospitality with a cousin I had linked up with.  Thanks Jenni, Brett and Hannah for a warm welcome and an enjoyable visit.

one of the historic buildings along Lambie St in Cooma

Cascades on the Tuross River

Thursday we decided on a short drive out to the Cascades on the Tuross River.  Just under 50km out of town we thought this wouldn’t take long and maybe we would do a roundabout trip back to Cooma.  The last 13km is through forestry and National Park so the tracks were rather interesting!  Lawrie enjoyed the challenge remembering we do not have 4wd.  We went up and down and through the forest in the clouds before finding the end of the line and the short walk down to the Cascades.  The Tuross River flows to the coast to enter the Pacific at Tuross Heads (no less). 

heading into the clouds

real Australian mountain bush

log pile along the road

top of the Cascades

middle

bottom of the Cascades

Well after the drive there at no more than 20kph (if we were lucky), we decided that we may as well head straight back to camp as the afternoon was closing in and there was washing on the line to rescue.  The day had mainly been overcast and threatening showers but the afternoon had cleared to sunshine and fluffy clouds so all was different when we finally came down out of the clouds into the bright sunshine on our drive back to Cooma.  

Numeralla River

returning to Cooma

Cooma in the distance

Cooma and the Mountains

Heading out of Canberra we travel the 123km to Cooma and arrived in time for lunch.  We settle in for a week and visit the local Info centre for all the necessaries to assist our planning.

Man from Snowy River in Cooma

Setting off Wednesday we head out for the mountains to Jindabyne where we find a water release happening from the dam.  The water flows from the dam into the Snowy River and this ‘flooding’ is meant to assist with the enlivening of the river after many years with little or no flow. 

water release from Jindabyne Dam into Snowy River

road marking change colour for the snow area

definately not a road for Destiny

this was just one of many along the Alpine Way

Thredbo is our next stop for coffee beside the Thredbo River followed by a wander around the village and visiting the site of the deadly road collapse that resulted in the deaths of 18 people on 30 July 1997.

Thredbo River

landslip area - new retaining wall at top of slope

2 chalets were buried with loss of 18 lives

 

Dead Horse Gap is our next stop along the Alpine Way which will take us to Khancoban on the other side of the mountains.

Thredbo (in the valley) from Dead Horse Gap

We called in to Tom Groggin Rest Area for our lunch and then drove down to the mighty Murray River and there was Victoria just on the other side.  The track is supposed to be able to be used by 4wd in summer however the entry into the river crossing on our side was very broken up and it looked as if the exit on the Victorian side had been washed away, maybe by the latest heavy flood rains etc.  I sure wouldn’t want to try the crossing.  The water did not look too deep and the bottom was stony however….

the Murray with Victorian exit on other side!!

We turn off for the 10km drive out to Olsen’s Lookout and found there were a work detail along the road. Grader, roller, two tip trucks, so it made the going ‘interesting’.  We could hear them talking on our cb radio so knew they were there.  The views from the lookout across the mountains were spectacular.

levelling just for us!! check out the flat tyre on the back

view from Olsen's Lookout

Scammell’s Ridge Lookout, Murray 1 Power Station and finally Khancoban after many miles of twists and turns, up and down.  This is a small village and the countryside changed dramatically on this western side of the range.  Green rolling hills, cattle, sheep and horses everywhere and such a pretty drive.  The normal route through to Cabramurra was closed due to a landslip so our journey took us further out through the country side until we headed towards Kiandra on the Snowy Mts Highway and then down to Adaminaby and back to Cooma.  All round was 420km and a 10 hour day, but what magic scenery, we were so glad we had made the effort.

country past Khancoban

Murray 1 Power Station

Canberra tit bits

sunrise over Lake Burley Griffin

Another 5.30am morning today (Sunday) and we set our selves up on the northern shore of Lake Burley Griffin to await the lift off of balloons on the last day of the festival.
Beautiful morning, chilly breeze straight off the water so we were pleased to be rugged up.
Seems however that the breeze may have been too strong as we saw 2 balloons 'stand up' but then after a while they were deflated and others did't appear.
Finally we saw 5 balloons that had taken off from the airport and that was all that took to the sky today.  We had hoped to gain pictures of the balloons over the water however not this time so now we will have to return next year and try again.

2 balloons heading for the city

Canberra will be celebrating it's 100th birthday next year so with a year of celebration it will be a good reason to come down and visit our son again.
Oh well we can always have a 'nanna' nap later today to catch up.

We leave here tomorrow and plan to head down the highway to Cooma and stay there for a few days and hopefully the weather will allow a venture up into the mountains.