After the reception, Kristian wanted to take Dad for a drive in his car that he had for the weekend. "Only" an E350 with Panoramic Sunroof ! An ex service loan car, with 7k on the clock. Not bad heh...
As you can see a chip off the old block.
Posing beside said wheels, makes his Dad very proud...
How's that for a spot to park the van !! Even makes the M-B look good...
As you can see the weather was kind for the ceromony...don't they look fabulous?
Hazel (Stephen's Mum, on right) had made the trip over for the wedding from Perth, leaving Greg to his own devises. On the left is Barbara's Mum, Maria, who had got up from her sick bed to be there...great effort by both ladies...
The cake..delicious...and the kiss.
Stephen and brother Paul at the reception, glasses in hand .. naturally!
This ready made family includes the boys, Ryan and Jack..who look great in their little Tux's.. very difficult to get a photo when they don't keep still! Beautiful wedding and well worth changing our trip to accommodate it....now it is the long haul home!!
While in Rutherglen we came across a car yard that had a couple of Old Mercedes Benz (Kristian must be rubbing off on us!), along with this sign that I could not resist...now this is how we would want to work...that rude work....maybe we will just visit home and move off again!!!!
While visiting Pat and Bill in Cobram, we had the opportunity to catch up with Peter and Kerry. They had been with us on the Great Ocean Road last December. Last seen soaking wet, in Apollo Bay on December 13th 2008. They had a Kimberley Camper then...got too wet so changed it for a Kimberley Caravan on their way home. They were just completing a 3 month trip to S.A. and had managed to find a cross over point with us so that we could catch up....great to see you guys again.
They had lost a lot of their stickers with the changing over....to my mind that is a very good excuse to do it all over again!!
We had another fabulous two nights with Pat and Bill. On the second night they were holding a Street/Court darts challenge. Very boozy and amusing...I actually came first in the challenge by default..default that the organisers could not win and Bill had beaten me. Thanks again , Pat and Bill for your hospitality and your use of Site One.
I have to say that the variety of animals at the Zoo was not that huge but they were all in a good space. The fact that you could get quite close and personal was fabulous and the talks that they give every day at different venues around the Zoo were great! These Meerkat's have always amused!!
The hair on this Monkey is really this colour and that is a baby in the centre!!
Love this picture........................
White Lions...a feature of the Zoo....
Snow Leopards are another of their success stories. This Zoo appears to be very involved in the breading process for the endangered species...they are doing a fantastic job..so anyone in the area of Mogo should pop round to support them!
Stephen was highly amused when we discovered they were having a session....yep a session...that lasted a good hour...those were the days!!!!!
Can't resist these furry friends so you will have to put up with a few more photos and I will post another blog of some of the other animals.
Would you like a profile....
a portrait.....
or a straight at the camera.....doesn't matter to me they are all great!
Onwards and upwards we went..to the Horn....the wind got up some more and the rain came in....
Still pretty special..even in those conditions...
The flora and fauna was picturesque, with ghostly trees and bright yellow alpine flowers below. Yep we like Bright and most of the surrounding area...you never know????
On our last day in Bright we actually went to the top of Mount Buffalo, this is the Ladies Bath by Eurobin Falls. You can see there is bright sunshine...then the weather began to come in....
The Look Out at Mount Buffalo Chalet, this is a huge drop from this point...Stephen took a video and apart from the wind noise all you can hear is my moan of horror...
Mount Buffalo Chalet is up for tender...this magnificent property has been empty since 2005/6 Christmas and New Year celebrations. She is such a majestic building , it is heartbreaking to see her falling into disrepair.
The gardens are still outstanding...the pool dirty and crumbling..but the views are still spectacular!!!
This is the take off pad for the hang gliders...bloody idiots............not on your life!!!!!!
We also got reacquainted with Karl and Sylvia, and we spent a lovely day with them.. here we are at Brown Brothers...
The chauffeur driven car (thanks Sylvia) beside Lake Buffalo....not a bad spot, there was even a camp area...maybe next time..
Mount Buffalo in the sunshine...what a spot..not a bad shot either.
We hit the Top and arrived at our highest point which was the town of Cabramurra which just happens to be the highest Town in Australia at 1480 mts. This town was and still is the centre of the Snowy Mountain Scheme...all I can say is, it was a good thing that we had had the brakes done for the next section....
From here it was a long way down...
With brakes that were almost on fire we arrived at O'Hares Rest...good little free camp on the Talbingo Reservoir. The fishermen were in evidence again...they seemed to be having a little more luck...Stephen still was doing casting practice!!!!
This is the view from Southern Cloud Lookout. This was the area were the plane the Southern Cloud had gone down and it was many years later that they found the wreckage..it still amazes me as to how much of this country is still inaccessible. It was a good feel to be on the other side, all those drops from the car window were not my favourite...but the views were well worth it!
On the back roads to Eucumbene Dam was this picturesque dirt road..almost looks like a Aussie version of the Yellow Brick Road.
Toby enjoyed the day.
And Turtle had to get in on the act..this is the Trout that got away..the biggest Trout in the world and is situated in Adaminaby....say that after a couple of reds!
The old snow plough at Kiandra where there is very little left of the old Gold Town and the first Australian Ski Field.
Looking back at the water at Three Mile Dam..a lovely spot but we decided not to camp there..the wind was coming up and we had to move on......
We travelled the next day to Lake Eucumbene, to a little spot called Buckenderra. Right on the Lake with views from our door.
Not bad hey... we watched as the fishermen tried in vain to catch the Trout...we only saw one caught as there had been a competition the previous week. Now they had either frightened the fish or fished the Lake out...which ever it was we decided not to go for casting practice!!!!
Sunrise was a picture too. It was nice to be on the road again, though we had had a fantastic time with Sandra and Richard we had more to do before we headed home. This certainly was a good beginning of the trip over the Alps.
Continuing our trip around this is still the War Memorial and in the Centre of the building. This is Sandra and I standing by the water feature.
Each corridor and archway has another War and another list of the dead...we were here just before Remembrance Day and the Poppies were being put by loved ones into the small area beside the names of the dead...all very moving.
Then on to the other end of the Avenue is Parliament House..the new behind the old. Nothing was happening while we were there so we manages to get into both Houses.
We even managed to get up onto the lawned roof...right under the flag....
And here we are with the shot from the roof looking back to the War Memorial...great day even if a little rushed..it was well worth the visit and we could say now that we had been to every State and Territory!!!!!!!
