Australia 2009/10
All images copyright Keblawben 2009/10
Australia 2009/10
All images copyright Keblawben 2009/10
We leave the surreal city of Canberra and set off up into the Snowy Mountains. It's the wrong time of year for snow, but the highest mountains in Australia are still an impressive and formidable obstacle to cross.
 Our first stop is the historic town of Gundagia for coffee (an iced one for Kairen!) |  The June 25, 1852 flood swept the town away, killing at least 78 people (perhaps 89) of the town's population of 250 people; it is one of the largest natural disasters in Australia's history. |
 Gundagai rail bridge over Murrumbidgee River. This bridge was still in use until 1986 ! |  This is a timber bridge construction on a grand scale. A multi-span, high level viaduct of timber deck trusses and timber trestles, it is one of the most impressive old structures in Australia. It dominates the crossing of the Murrumbidgee flood plain. |
 The adjacent road bridge is now preserved as an ancient ruin | Snowy Mountains Alpine Way  We could see the devastation caused during the 2003 bush fires that struck the Snowy Mountains and Victorian Alps. The trees have not recovered due to the intense heat and the furious fire which lasted for over two months. |
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 The Snowy Mountains Scheme is a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex. The waters of the Snowy River and its tributary are captured at high elevations and diverted inland to the Murray River, through two tunnel systems driven through the Snowy Mountains. |  The water falls 800 metres and travels through large hydro-electric power stations which generate peak-load power for the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Victoria. |
 The whole scheme took 25 years to complete, mainly by workers escaping the aftermath of WWII in Europe. For most of the 25 years the construction was employing 5,000 people. |  |
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 The Murray 1 power station |  |
 |  Scammells Ridge Lookout, built for the Queen's visit to the scheme in 1963 |
 We had a great meal in Brumby's Bar |  |
A rest day in the ski resort of Jindabyne. The weather is overcast but very warm 28c for this elevation (3,500 feet)
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We descend the steep and winding road from the mountains, back down to the coast.
 The Fred Piper lookout | Tilba The entire village is classified by the National Trust as the Central Tilba Conservation Area |
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 |  Bum Hummers Pickles (the label says '1,000 farts in a jar !!!') |
 Narooma |  |
 The hole in this rock has a familiar shape? |  |
 Wallaga Lake, Beramgui |  Beares Beach |
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 Our wifi internet connection in Merimbula was bit flaky, we had to use the laptop in the loo! |  The water stain on Laurie's trousers has nothing to do with the location....it had been raining (so he says!) |
A whole 27km down the road from Merimbula to Eden
 Merimbula |  Pambula Beach |
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 Christmas is ...soon |  Eden |
 Our excellent accommodation at the Heritage House Motel |  |
 Eden Museum |  The Jetty at Snug Bay |
 |  Boyd's Tower Lookout |
 The new board walk built under the Australian economic stimulus scheme |  Time for a paddle |
 |  Kairen's being artistic now |
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