In The High Country

Honey pack your bags, grab your old blue jeans
We're gonna go fishin' in a mountain stream.

Well I know a little shack way up in the hills
Twenty five miles from Harrietville
In the High Country.

Lee Kernaghan.


Up we drove to where the air was crisp,
Following the Snowy River.
The road was narrow and dusty and steep,
A quick glance down makes me quiver.
At the halfway mark we decided to stop
And set up a spot for the night.

The structure that gave us delight

The enticing factor that caught our eye
Was a structure that gave me delight.
Suggan Buggan,
Now that's a good name
For this little spot in the bush.
A house or two and historical school
Where the seats would harden your tush!
As water rippled over rock and fern
And feathered friends settled down for the night,
A hush descended upon the valley
As the sun disappeared from sight.
Over billy tea we soaked in the peace
And jolly glad that we did,

Suggan Buggan school

For within the space of a minute or two,
Came the invading takeover bid.
In they came, a convoy of 10,
Weilding winches and shovels and tents.
They surrounded little Snowy
As the Apache would,
What an amazing turn of events!
Shirley.

NB
The convoy were expert campers. Highly organised, they set up camp quietly and quickly. We were invited to join them for a drink or two but decided that the sleeping bag was somewhat warmer. In the frosty morning, a camper did what was apparently quite normal; he had his morning bathe in the mountain stream. I wish I had the nerve! A bucket of left over warm water was more than adequate for me...as was that hot cuppa.   Aah, thanks Bill.

Alone, before the convoy arrived.

Morning cuppa

Down Down

Buchan Caves 

Get down deeper and down
Down down deeper and down 
Down down deeper and down
Get down deeper and down.         
Status Quo.

Through beautiful country we drove, north of Orbost, following the Snowy River. Arrived at Buchan to enjoy the last of the afternoon sunshine. Tomorrow we go underground to explore the amazing Buchan Caves.

Camp at Buchan

My formative years, in Morwell town,
Just a three hour drive away,
Never included a trip to the Buchan Caves
So now, there'll be no more delay.
Down, down we ventured,
A fairytale world of delight.
Stalactites and Stalagmites
Nature's perfect building site.

The Times They Are A-Changin'

Information Centre at Orbost

Come gather 'round people 
Wherever you roam 
And admit that the waters 
Around you have grown 
And accept it that soon 
You'll be drenched to the bone 
If your time to you 
Is worth savin' 
Then you better start swimmin' 
Or you'll sink like a stone 
For the times they are a-changin'. 

Bob Dylan.
WHATEVER HAS HAPPENED TO THE BUSH CAMPS? 
Did Bob Dylan see the changes coming to these hidden, isolated, quiet bush camps of yonder years? 
Let's start at Orbost, 
In the east of the state
Just a little country town
With a low birth rate.
The info centre,
A quaint little shack 
Was the first port of call
To find the right dirt track.                                 

"Cape Conron," he said, "to start off the trip."
"Just a turn to the left, hop, step and a skip."
And what a beaut little corner at the end of the road,
A bushy, beach retreat, to lighten the load.
But the ranger in the office 
Made it clear we understood 
When he said, "$50 for cold shower, if you kindly would."
I chickened out of the shower at the end of the day.
But for such beauty and the wildlife, a fortune I'd pay.
Oh the times, they are a-changing.

Shakespeare.

Out, damned spot! out, I say!...

 ... Yet who would have thought the

 old man to have had so much blood

 in him?

Lady Macbeth.

A bloodless coup 

A can of Mortein

Out damned spiders! Out, I say!

Yet who would have thought little Snowy to have so much dust in him?

And so the rumblings of a journey mark a new adventure. Away we go to explore the high country of Victoria and New South Wales. Venturing toward Australia's Capital city, Canberra.

A short trip that has been many years in the "talking"...we must go there! Camp on the beach at Cape Conran and head up through the high country to Canberra. Spur of the moment (let's go now while things are quiet.)

Out damn spiders! Out I say!

Some Like it Hot

Top Spa 42 degrees with magnificent views

Some like it hot, and some sweat when the heat is on
Some feel the heat and decide that they can't go on
Some like it hot, but you can't tell how hot till you try
Some like it hot, so let's turn up the heat till we fry.
Robert Palmer






What a treat
What a day
The day before Mothers' Day
Down the Eastlink
Not that far
Out of the city
To the Peninsula Spa.

Thank you Pamela for a beautiful day!



Natural Springs, full of minerals, bubble out of the soil.
We soaked in varying temperature pools and wandered around the beautiful setting. 

Worth the drive down to the Mornington Peninsula.

Phew, getting hot here.

I wonder what everyone else is doing?

Day Trip to Bangor

A beautiful day, an autumn day, the day we went to Kyneton.

Didn't we have a lovely time
 the day we went to Bangor.
A beautiful day, we had lunch on the way        
and all for under a pound you know.
But on the way back I cuddled with Jack
 and we opened a bottle of cider.
Singing a few of our favourite songs
 as the wheels went round.

Fiddlers Dram

On top of the rock

             



Suburbia fades
Nature's palette adorns Her canvas
Her studio crisp and clear.
Your steps echo
Up, up, up Hanging Rock
Below, farms decorate 
Silent at distance.
Flocks in formation escape
First smoke plumes 
Victoria yawns and stretches
Reconciled to winter slumber.





Trentham
Coffee shops
Quaint, quirky, quintessential

Old Railway

 Wafting aromas
 Warming senses.



 Maldon
Remnants of golden days
Restored  
Promenade down Main street
Wide verandahs
Olde shoppe, opp shop
Ladies chatter
Selling old lace.












                                                                   

Bendigo
Busy city
Beautiful buildings
Botanical gardens
Bustling trams

War memorial at Mt Macedon

Bloody parking metres
Buy coffee
Bye for now
Be back soon.



                          




                                                         Anzac Day 
                        
                                                     Lest We Forget

Thanks to Max for allowing us to enjoy your Time Share in the bush at Kyneton. The early morning swims before breakfast in the heated pool and, even better, the hot 39 degree spa, were treats...not to mention the early morning song from our feathered friends and the company of kangaroos.

Kyneton...a town of childhood memories for Bill.

An area only an hour out of Melbourne but offering a feast of activities and attractions.

Boondocks

Leaving Melbourne from Station Pier

I feel no shame
I'm proud of where I come from
I was born and raised in the boondocks.
One thing I know
No matter where I go
I keep my heart and soul in the boondocks.

Little Big Town

Out of the car
On to the bike
Set off to explore Melbourne town.
Peak hour gone
Hit the track
Obliterate what weighs you down.

Watching Williamstown from Princes Pier

Sun on your shoulders
Wind in your face
Follow the bay to the docks.
Cruise ships wait
No bustling trade
Offload disparaging flummox.

Remember the past
When migrants came
Disembarking at Princes Pier.
It's changed now
The planks have gone
Sit down, have a coffee or beer.

Fishermen sit
Not caring to catch
Just talking and doing nothing.
It's how we should be
For a part of each day
Free yourself from the pushing and shoving.
   Shirley.

From Princes Pier to Station Pier