SNOWY TRIP 2008

Trip leaders
Trevor and Irene,60' s Cruiser.

Followers
Colin and Cindy,GQ patrol.
Paul and Debbie, Patrol
John and Rhonda,Prado

Trevor, Irene Cindy and myself headed down to Cooma on the Friday morning, the traffic was nil and the closer we got to Canberra the better the weather got... we stopped at Canberra for lunch and then on the road again. We got into Cooma mid afternoon and did what shopping that needed to be done then went to our accommodation destination to sign in for the night. Cindy and I stayed at the High country Motel at $85 a double plus $15 each for a full breakfast not a bad place to stay. Cin and I headed down to the pub for dinner nice meal and beautiful log fire. After dinner we headed back to the motel for some shut eye. Next morning it was breakfast and then down to the golden arches for our 9am meeting. Every one was there waiting so we decided to head off. We headed out of Cooma then turned on to the Monaro highway and headed towards Adaminaby where we noticed diesel was already $1:99 per liter. It was decided that we head for Old Adaminaby to take a look at the lake, the drought has seen the lake dry up a considerable amount, and there must have been a fishing competition on as there was a large number of boats and trailers parked around the area.

Then after this short but interesting detour we headed back along the Monaro, then we made a right turn onto Tantangara road to take a look at Tantangara Dam where we decided to have morning tea, then headed for long plains road to Cooinbil hut for lunch. On our way to the hut we saw the usual kangaroo’s and wild brumbies and at the hut there were the usual cow boys and cow girls with their horses. We had lunch and a walk thru the old homestead as tourist do then packed up and headed for Blue water hole campsite. On our arrival at the campsite we were happy to notice that we had the site all to our selves. Tents were erected, fire wood gathered then off to the blue water hole.

As Paul and Debbie are new to this trip going to see the blue water hole and the old homestead are a must see on this trip. Trevor and Irene headed back to camp. We wondered around the home stead, read the wall paper, and one couple ( Paul and Debbie) showed true bush spirit and braved the dunny for two. It was getting late so we headed back to camp where Trevor and Irene had a welcoming fire going, happy hour had arrived so in true spirit not to break tradition we forced the alcohol in, hot chocolate might have been more appropriate, after a couple of rounds it was time for dinner and then more alcohol, more fire, more chit chat, as Lindsay was to be on this and leading this trip we ALL decided to fine Lindsay for everything, if something was not right fine Lindsay the list is long. The weather was great but cold so 9:30 we decided to hit the bed. Next morning Cin and I staggered out of bed at 7:30ish to find everyone up, a little ice around but I don’t think as bad as last year, breakfast, coffee, tea then pack up for day two. We headed into day two at around 10:15, back along long plain road then onto broken cart track then, Barnet road, the drive was too good, a little mud, a tree across the track, but we drove around it, nothing like it use to be, this part of the trip use to be fun now just a Sunday drive.

We arrived at camp two in the afternoon; we drove past a couple of camps on the flats on the way in but no one was camping on the hills area so we picked our sites and proceeded to set up camp again, out came the chain saw, fire wood cut and collected, now happy hour a little early but no one argued, we all sat around the fire, out came the dips, cheeses, biscuits, then dinner was decided on, after back to the fire then John cooked his famous cabanossi, later we brought out some garlic bread, more chit chat, then we had a late night 10:00. Next morning we woke early to what we believed was two gun shots, Cin and I dragged ourselves out of the tent at about 7:00 we cooked up some bacon and eggs a hot cuppa and sat by the fire before packing up camp and heading into our final day in the bush. We left camp at about 9:15, we noticed two dead kangaroo, s on the flats on the way out, we guessed that they might have been the results of the gun shots we heard earlier, we drove the Power line track on the way out a nice easy drive until we got to the interesting section where a land rover was blocking the track and no sign of movement at all. We went down to investigate only to find it was stuck fast and no one in sight, a note was left on the front wind screen, while we debated on what to do with it a hylux with some young men pulled up with the owner of the landy, he told us he got stuck the day before, slept in the vehicle thru the night then walked for help, that’s when the young guys found him. Trevor put the cruiser in front and snatched him out then he followed us to where we had morning tea then he left for home, after morning tea we drove along Tumut road then onto Gentle Annie trail, I personally enjoyed this part of the trip, the trail had been graded but a very scenic and interesting drive.

After Gentle Annie we took the climb to Mt Coree where we had lunch, it was cold, but after all it is winter, we then headed down towards Canberra, Cin and I said our good buys as we stayed in Canberra for the night. A BIG THANK YOU to Trevor and Irene for leading the trip and for the terrific weather also thanks to Paul, Debbie, John and Rhonda for making this trip pleasurable and fun. Can’t wait till next year.

From
Colin and Cindy.