NOVEMBER 2020 : CANBERRA : Centenary Trail : One Tree Hill circuit walk : 8.4 kms : 3 hours

In 2013 the Canberra Centenary Trail was launched. Today Pam and I walked part of the trail, known as the One Tree Hill circuit, which you enter from Hall Village. In 1910 surveyors marked out the ACT border and this walk signifies the northern border with NSW.

From the onset the path is well defined and has sweeping views of the Canberra landscape.

There were lots of wildflowers bordering the path today,

An unexpected sighting of not one but two Shingleback or stumpy-tailed lizards. Too elusive to get both together. We think they may have been planning a mating session.

The path up to the lookout veers off the main path.

We appreciated the shady walkway in the heat

Clear views of the main Canberra valleys and the surrounding peaks

A very enjoyable and popular Spring walk

M

NOVEMBER 2020 : SYDNEY : Birthday weekend

A lovely weekend in Sydney with Nick and co for my 68th birthday.

The weekend included swimming lessons, ballet, Nippers at Bilgola beach and free surf time.

On my birthday we had breakfast at a Greek beachside cafe at Sydney’s Balmoral Beach

The highlight was the Arthur Streeton (1867-1943) exhibition. My favourite Australian artist from the Heidelberg School.

The works included spectacular landscapes, seascapes, scenes from European travel, war zones, mythical interpretations and still lifes.

I particularly love his delicate strokes. They are like exquisite calligraphy.

A four hour drive home to Canberra to take Mum out for dinner at Molto at the Foreshore near home.

A special few days

M&M

NOVEMBER 2020 : SNOWY MOUNTAINS, NSW : Charlotte Pass - Blue Lake Circuit Walk : 10 kms : 5 hours with lunch

We arranged to meet our friend, Julie, at her cabin on Braemar Cove on Lake Eucumbene.

It is in sheep and cattle country south of Cooma.

Early Tuesday morning we set off south to the Snowy Mountains, destination Charlotte Pass, gateway to Mount Koscuiszko, Australia’s highest mountain, albeit only 2,228 m above sea level.

A beautifully clear spring day - max 20o - as we arrive at Charlotte Pass

Our choice today was the Blue Lake circuit moderate walk. About 10kms. It’s also possible to link this to the Mount Koscuiszko loop. We did that section in May 2019.

From the lookout you can see the wide, direct path, heading to the right.. To the left in the distance is Mount Koscuiszko.

The first section is through a snow gum forest.

As we head down the steep path, our first adventure is rock hopping across two river crossings. The only colour is in the bunches of alpine buttercups.

Fabulous rock formations provide the only shade.

As we head towards the Main Range Track we encounter some snow, which provided a spectacular contrast as we travelled up the pass.

Blue Lake is one of the few glacial lakes in Australia. It is 28m deep.

After lunch, we returned down the track

Back to the river crossings

And up the steep path 

to Charlotte Pass

Quite a strenuous walk but on a relatively well-maintained path and in perfect conditions.

M&M