R&R Time

Lake Sambell Sunset


Ume Lake Revisited


Mt Hotham Vista


Bright Alee


Hotham Light Study


 We had a lovely stretch of beautiful weather, sunny and warm, but being spring, it hasn’t lasted long and now we are back in jeans and jumpers again, oh well.  We spent a lovely two days in Beechworth Vic, at a lovely caravan park on Lake Sambell.  It was great, right on the lake with views to the hills, and within walking distance to town.  We would have loved to stay longer but the upcoming forecast was for nasty weather so we moved on.  Before we did though, we headed over the border into New South Wales to check out Lake Hume.  This is the lake where Steve took the dramatic photos when we were here last February, that showed all the trees in a dried or mostly dried lake bed.  With all the rain that has occurred since we were here then, the lake has filled to capacity, which is why we wanted to see it.  We hardly recognized the place, water was softly lapping at the shores, only a few dead tree tops were showing above the surface, and fisherman were out on the lake with their boats.  A far cry from what we had seen.  It was beautiful instead of a surreal scene.  Then we drove back to Beechworth via Yakandandra where we had spent a night back in April.
            The next day we drove over to Bright, a town we had quickly visited in April but it was so full of visitors because of its fall foliage festival we gave it a quick miss.  This time we stopped for coffee, it’s a nice town, it reminded us a lot of what North Conway was like about 30 years ago, quaint village geared towards the ski industry and the great outdoors.  There we picked up The Great Alpine Way, and drove through Harrietville,  then 26K straight up on switchback roads until we got to Mt Hotham.  The scenery was stunning.  Because fire had ripped through here last year, all the foliage had been burned off the trees, leaving new green undergrowth with these magnificent silver tops just going on forever.  Much like at home in the winter, and because there is no foliage, you can see the bare bones of the ground and the structure of the hills.  It was just amazing, even more so because Mt Hotham and Mt Feathertop still had snow on their peaks. 
            We now started a slow descent towards Omeo, which is high plains country on thru Swifts Creek, to Bruthen, then onto Bairnsdale where we stayed in for two nights.  By this time we were both suffereing from head colds although Steve was mostly over his, I was going full tilt, so it was good to hole up for a few days while the weather  outside was raging.
            Now we are staying for a week at Karbeethong  Lodge, out at Mallacoota, for a week.  It is a beautiful old lodge reminding me a lot of Point Breeze and Steve of Lake Winnipesaukee.  We look right out over the lake with the Norfolk Island pines in front.  It is very quiet except for the vast birdlife.  One of the birds started calling out at 5:00 in the morning, it sounded like the old bicycle horns going off, then another bird sounding like someones car alarm going off joined in.  But we love it’s peacefulness.  It is good for us to take this break to rest, catch up on our photos, reading and to get germ free.  Once the weather fines up, we will do some walks around the lake and maybe some other walks as well.  The best way to explore the lake is probably to see it from the lake.  A kayak would be best, but we haven’t found anyone hiring them so maybe we will hire a boat and explore the lake.  We will see.
            At last, the sun is shining!  We are sitting on the verandah, soaking up the sun, planning the day, a walk along the edge of the lake maybe?  It is just so peaceful here I could stay napping in the sun all day, listening to the birds and the boats on the water, but walking is calling…