3/2/26 Day out in the mountains

 

   Spent some time down at Bungendore and surrounds . Took a drive out to Captains Flat - I went there with a friend over 45 years ago !! We took some back roads and found this old road bridge . It's  a single lane bridge now , with a structural steel beam across the top about midway across the bridge . It was quite well built back in the day , but like everything else these days it's seen it's best 

   About 40m away is a railway bridge , built with steel and concrete - could have been a lesson here !

     The approach to the bridge on the southern side looks like a wombat city - holes everywhere . Onwards to Captains Flat , arriving and driving through town . It was a mining town , with the town itself seemingly surrounded by mining activity . Predominantly Lead , zinc & pyrite , as well as some significant quantities of copper , silver & gold . There's plenty of remediation works happening at the moment . No photos sorry. We continued up into the bush , finding some of the old fire trails I had once been on , the forest is pretty thick .

 

    Following tracks , we made our way to Lowden Forest Park , where there's a camp ground and an old water wheel . When I saw it 45 odd years ago , the wheel was turning with water flowing down the sluice - it's a bit dry now , but still there .

     Had some lunch nearby , everlasting daisies growing happily .

    There'a an old timber jinker - used to carry logs to the sawmill .

Possibly pulled along with this old steam engine .

    Another day we ventured into Canberra to do some shopping and some sightseeing as well - the view from Mt Ainslie .

          And again

     Storms were also present , this is looking back toward Bungendore from the showgrounds .

     It's been a long time since we've seen Lake George full , this is the view from the southern lookout . Last time I was here , I towed up from the lake bed in my hang glider and flew back to Sutton Forest . Bit difficult to do that now !!

    And we had a few stunning sunsets as well 

         Our site at the showgrounds .

    Stay tuned , things are a changing . Here's a map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1gDIsjq628W6aqxrVSKzUa1w-FtoHSYg&usp=sharing

28/1/26 Some local sites revisited

 

    Okay , back in Moss Vale for the doctors check ups and friend & family catchups , even a game of golf or 2 . Caught up with the family in Calderwood , hectic with all the kids there , but worth the effort .       We headed out via Fitzroy Falls and through to Belmore Falls , then to Robertson . Weather was turning into a beautiful summer's day , good for a drive to see how things have changed since we'd last been here . Great to see a lot of the countryside is still just that , and not overdeveloped . The roads have aged a bit without a lot of maintenance by the look of it . It was good to be out in the forest again , winding our way down to Belmore Falls . The water still crosses the road , and is clear as ever - something that is taken for granted over here ! Clear and running water seems to be restricted to the eastern states , except for flooding of course .

     There's plenty of new growth in the banksia's , as well as others .

    After a wander around near the top of the falls , then we went out to the falls viewing points , not disappointing at all .

    Banksia's in various stages of flowering were all around us .

     Scotch thistles also thrive here , and aren't really friendly , but look good .

    Time to find a good spot for lunch , preferably with some shade and running water . There's a spot I know , where the water flows down to the falls , nice and quiet . It has a natural bedrock causeway that the creek flows over .

   Plenty of tree ferns and natural bush.

    Lunch was consumed , and we attempted to catch up with Frank at Robertson , but he was busy , so we will catch up with him & Doris in a couple of weeks time . 

     Fast forward a couple of weeks and we caught up with them for a great catch up and cuppa . It turned into a busy day . From Robertson we headed out through East Kangaloon and into Bowral where we caught up with Wendy ( Hi Wendy ) for several more hours of chatting and laughing . 

  Corbett gardens were showing off a little - in this garden bed at least .

   In between these catch ups , we had another interesting Saturday at Berrima pub , a school reunion for anyone who was at the MV High in 1975 . From being unsure of how the day would pan out , to spending 6 hours catching up with many school friends who we hadn't seen for along time - some since 1974 !! 

  We are enjoying our visit this time , quite entertaining .