This morning I drove off still not sure of my route - left to Yass or right to Cooma? The sun was shining - I turned right.
The rain and roadworks caught me up at Michelago! Cooma was bustling, full of cars so I continued on to Jinderbyne for lunch.
I contemplated the Barry Way down to Buchan. The helpful staff at the Visitor Centre discouraged me: 100k of rough, narrow, corrugated dirt road with long drop-offs, no phone reception and rain expected. I opted for the Alpine Way down to Khancoban. The rain pursued me past Thredbo and beyond to Dead Horse Gap.
Cresting the Great Divide at 1580 metres the rain stopped. Patchwork blue and white clouds, a myriad of greens dappled by sunshine and an excellent black ribbon of road stretched away to Victoria. Inexplicable as ever the bushfires of 2020 burned selectively, tracts of green between blackened trees and rocks. Recovery has been slow! Through decimated forest tantalising glimpses of mountains once hidden illustrate the devastation.
Plenty of campers at Tom Groggin, Leatherbarrel Creek and Geehi and the rivers are running free. The road surface is excellent although narrow and very twisty with long downhill grades: drivers heading north obviously feel they are entitled to 2/3 of the road! Maybe they have practised on the Boboyan road!
I stopped at Scammels Lookout to view the main range - Mt Townsend, Mt Carruthers and Watson's Crag look very different from this angle.
Shortly after the mighty Murray 1 came into view - what an extraordinary enterprise this was. Even today it still ranks as 1 of the 7 greatest engineering achievements in the world.
After a chat with the ranger at Khancoban VIC and a free cartoscape map I took the Murray Valley Highway through Corryong - home of The Man from Snowy River festival. Corryong is full of "the man" - sculptures, cafes, pubs proclaim a loved association. Maybe not the place to discuss the brumby issues! I didn't see any today- not even a sign. On to Bonegilla, Yackandandah and Beechworth.
A really lovely day - easy driving, beautiful countryside, a quirky town or two, friendly folk and a comfy bed!
Off to Mt Buffalo for a walk tomorrow morning.
Love that drive - we sometimes follow the Murray down to Albury. I had to stay at Cabramurra for work once. It proudly boasts it is the highest town in Australia; I still have the fridge magnet.
ReplyDeleteSadly Cabramurra still closed! I really enjoyed the drive - countryside is magnificent.
DeleteSo you couldn't wait and had to get to Geehi before Girts and I.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are having a great time and producing this wonderful and informative blog.
I saw the road off to Olsen's lookout on the road to Geehi dam - looked in good shape. Think we will really enjoy our day up in the area.
DeleteIts a very long time since I was at Scammels lookout, its just a vague memory. I only remember the name Watsons Crag.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to a drive out that way again!
Wow .Love your informative information and photos, great to hear you were back at the Beechworth bakery,loved the time we were travelling, Thankyou so much again.
ReplyDeleteSince arriving home it has rained constantly over 200mls a day,local council checking waterways regularly.
The Redland bay senior ladies and i drove through pouring rain to Toowoomba on Sunday, hoping it would clear. Motel had golf course views. Ha ha, had drinks and got to know the ladies stayed overnight still hopeful we would play golf😪.Worried about flash flooding on the way home .
Enjoy your lovely holiday, and travel safe.
Joanne.x