Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport

Camp at Blowering reservoir

Tie me kangaroo down, sport 
Tie me kangaroo down 
Tie me kangaroo down, sport 
Tie me kangaroo down 

Dozens of kangaroos grazing

After our feast of art galleries, museums, politics, history and environment in Australia's National capital, Canberra, we turned Snowy around and headed for home. Southbound, down the Hume Highway to where the dog sits on the tuckerbox (9 miles from Gundagai) and then turn off to Tumut. And this is what I love about Australia. Stop in any country town and visit the Information Centre. You'll always be greeted by a welcoming smile from volunteers who love to tell you about the area. They'll shower you with maps and local knowledge to help put you in the direction that you want. When you have the good tips, it's time to enjoy the town. Picnic in the pretty gardens or wander down the main street for a coffee and a spot of local op-shopping. When in the mood, fossick through the shelves and racks and chat to the ladies from the local church charity.You never know what treasures or good read you'll find.  Just love the country towns. 

The lull before the storm

It came to pass that afternoon
At the Info Centre in Tumut
"Take The Snowy Valley Highway, a glorious drive
I promise you won't regret it."

T'was great advice we did receive
The countryside so peaceful
At Blowering Dam we camped the night

Snug inside Snowy

With very few other people.

Kangaroos grazed in a void of hush
Not a breath of wind on the shores
Mirrored waters reflecting the sky
Perfection, demanding applause.

And so we sat, ignorant of fact
Of what was about to unleash
Kangaroos wink at the warning signs
In Nature's diverse pastiche.

Chiaroscuro effect surround us now
As the first great blob crashed down.
The lull before the storm had gone
And we were about to drown.

Around these parts, things change quick
And in a wink, no doubt.
"Better get in and pull down the roof," 
Intrepid Bill did shout.

The wind did scream and the rain did pelt
As safe inside we huddled.
Kangaroos grazed, undeterred,
nibbling the grass untroubled.

Shirley.      


NEXT MORNING.......                                                                     

Morning coffee at Corryong the next day

                                      

Bright and sunny as clouds raced away

Leaving our camp, we drove across the ridge and through the hills, passing  apple orchards with crops shrouded in white nets against birds. Sleepy Sunday morning... perfect river setting in Corryong... coffee break. Back on the road...a leisurely meander... views across the valley to Mt Kosciusko, Australia's highest peak. 

By afternoon we pulled into Henry Angel track head. Here we rediscovered the trail that explorers, Hume and Hovell walked from Yass to Port Phillip in 1824. A gloriously spacious and well provided camp spot...HOT WATER! Not to be missed.

Our camp at Henry Angel off Tooma Road

Hume & Hovell walking trail

Creatures you're likely to encounter along the way

Huge wombat holes abound everywhere

Must have stick to deter copperhead snakes

Around the swamp we came face to face with a herd of cows...who ran!

Little Trees

I'd like to take a walk in the woods

Entrance to the Arboretum

Come with me, do you think you could

We'll find a tree that we can climb

We'll have fun all afternoon

Chorus:

Little trees need a chance to grow

It takes time and care                            

They're a lot like us you know

So many kinds of different trees

They look like one big family

Big ones, short ones, baby ones too

I'll name this one after you

It'll be a long time before he

Is tall and strong like a grown up tree

For now he's just a kid like us

Playing out in the woods

Michael Mitchell

Still in its infancy, the Arboretum in Canberra is a perfect place to visualise what is to come. With great views across the city, the apparent bare hills are dotted with little trees that, in the years ahead, will provide leafy walks, stunning colour and smells to excite the senses. We'll go back in a few years to note the change.

The Margaret Whitlam Centre

                                                        

Views to Canberra

   

                                                        

The Village Green

Out in the country 

far from all the soot and noise of the city
There's a village Green.

 It's been a long time
Since I last set eyes on the church with the steeple    
 Down by the village Green                                         'Twas there I met a girl called Daisy

And kissed her by the old oak tree
Although I loved my Daisy, I sought fame
And so I left the village Green

I miss the village Green and all the simple people

I miss the village Green
The church, the clock, the steeple
I miss the morning dew, fresh air and Sunday school

The Kinks

More Canberra attractions

What a contrast
What a delight, 
From bureaucrats and politicians 
To gardens colourful and bright.
Visit Cockington Green,                     
A miniature village,
Those Canberra politicians
Could never tax or pillage.
A must-do stroll on a lazy afternoon
A quintessential English countryside signature tune.

Shirley.

Fortunate Son

Coat of Arms

Some folks are born, made to wave the flag
Ooh, they're red, white and blue                                 And when the band plays, "Hail To The Chief 
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord

It ain't me, it ain't me
I ain't no senator's son, son 
It ain't me, it ain't me

I ain't no fortunate one, no

John Fogarty (Creedence Clearwater Revival)

And so here we are in Canberra and the political songs start playing in my head...and I ain't no senator's daughter.

           
From the dusty, dirty Barry Way

We moseyed into town.

"Better have a shower Bill or we'll generate a frown."

It's Canberra town and we must look right;

Squeaky clean and all.

Once that's done, we'll look the part,

To give the Prime Minister a call.

                                           And so we climbed the flight of stairs

To enter our Parliament House

Democracy on Capital Hill

A value we all espouse.

With eyes agog and keen to explore

We stood inside the lobby.

"Better take your hat off Bill coz the protocol is snobby."

We sat inside the House of Reps and gawked at what we saw.

But it wasn't long before I heard a familiar little snore.

"Wake up Bill. We'd better go. The Senate might be better."

And that it was; a corruption case

Correctly to the letter.

A coffee was needed to wake us up

As pollies can be quite a bore.

So under the gaze of Elizabeth the second

Our energies we did restore.

This building is a masterpiece;

Kind of simple, yet complex and grand.

A fitting place to celebrate well

Our democratic law of the land.

Shirley.

                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Can you spot Bill?

Love this painting...a tapestry replica is in the great hall

Up to the House of Representatives and the Senate

Cuppa tea with Elizabeth

Just feeling important

After the politics, some culture.....

On Lake Burley Griffin

Outside National Art gallery

Walkway to Lake Burley Griffin

                                                                                                     

Entrance to museum...fascinating building

Lunch on the lake

View from War Memorial to Parliament House

War memorial

Commemorative path to War memorial
(Bill resting under tree)

              

On the roof of Parliament House

Purple People Eater

Well I saw the thing comin' out of the sky
It had the one long horn, one big eye.
I commenced to shakin' and I said "ooh-eee"
It looks like a purple people eater to me.
Sheb Wooley.

We were approaching Canberra, our political capital, so anything can be expected...and I wondered if this little cloud formation could be dropping off a politician or two at Capital Hill for the next sitting at Parliament House.

Lake Jindabyne

Not just cows in the paddocks

Irrigation. Overnight camp near Murrumbidgee River.

So, out of the hills little Snowy emerged
Cruising carefree and cool into Jindabyne.
A pleasant picnic upon the lake
And we're sleepy, relaxed and sublime.
But the day not yet done and a schedule to keep
We stirred from our midday slumber.
Carefree, indulgent of Nature's gifts
Life's woes could never encumber.
Shirley.

We found a tidy camp spot not far out of Canberra and along with a handful of other campers, we watched the sun set over fields of irrigation. In the morning we would drive into Australia's political capital city for a feast of culture. 

Politicians
Politics
Public servants
Policies
Economics
Exchange
Export Import
Empty change
Referendum
Rights for all
Reform now
Roll call
.................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz goodnight.