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| To Canberra and Tasmania |
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December 15 - January 20 |
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Canberra for an enjoyable Christmas and New Year. A bit
early for dog and cat minding. Logistics dictated two Christmases and One
New Year.
In between we admired the sky as a storm passed.
The plan is to attend a Mandolin Festival in Melbourne, then carry on to
Tasmania. |
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Down the Barry Way. The scenic route to Melbourne. |
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Part of the way along the Snowy River. We've driven this
way several times. And never tire. |
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We camp at Pinch River. Access for vehicles to the
riverside blocked. We walked. The higher than normal temperature meant we
had no energy for walking away from the river.
An uncomfortable night. |
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We'd planned to stay in the high country. But warnings of a
heat wave with high fire danger suggested the plan was not a good idea. We
headed south to the coast and camped for a few days at Pettmans Beach.
The temperature maps show a narrow coastal strip of at least possibly
tolerable temperatures.
We were visited by a Tree Goanna (Lace Monitor).
We were also visited by the local fire service. We will probably be ok
here, the vegetation is still green.
Nevertheless, we listen to radio warnings, and look at maps on emergency
apps. |
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The beach is just about safe for swimming, but uninviting
for us. A handfull of birds. No waste. Some small shells. A bit barren. We
enjoy our walks. |
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An occasional grey thrush next to the truck. |
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There are several goannas. |
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A walk along the road whence we came. Watching the height
of vegetation increase further from the sea. |
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Another occasional bird. Possibly a white browed scrub
wren. |
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A white eye. |
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The nearest fire was about 100km north west, in the
mountains. The wind at ground level southerly. At higher altitude northerly.
Smoke turned the sun purple.
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A lonely greater crested tern on the beach. |
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With yet another goanna at the campsite. |
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We became a bit nervous watching the helicopter with a
water bucket making slow headway into the wind. Took a while to figure out
that "other" meant "house fire". Initially we thought a grass fire at a
campsite. About 10k west of us on the coast. It was rapidly extinguished. |
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After a few days rest time to drive to Melbourne. A week
staying in the University College while Ali became part of a 105 member
mandolin orchestra. |
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Two days between mandolins and ferry to Tasmania. We camped
in Brisbane Ranges National Park. A walk from Boar Gully campground. |
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A wedge tailed eagle on the way out. |
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A walk through Anakie Gorge, the southern end to the park.
We noticed the track was substantial. |
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Eventually an exposed pipeline. |
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An interesting gorge. |
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The pipeline left the bottom of the valley, over a ridge.
An 1870's project to provide water to Geelong. |
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A chance encounter with a yellow tufted honeyeater. There
were three that briefly crossed our path with a fanfare. |
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A couple of hours to waste in Geelong before ferry check
in. We found a comfortable spot to sit beside the Barwon River.
Amused for a while by the Pacific Black Duckling. Mother not far away. |
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A passing Australian Coot. |
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Rowing a very popular sport. We counted 20-30 boats. |
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| Leven Gorge and Winterbrook |
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January 21 - 23 |
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