TUESDAY 24 MARCH     QUEANBEYAN

Wishful thinking about the cool change as it is another hot day.  It is more humid – some cloud too.

Another trip to Namadgi National Park today. We enjoyed the last one so much that we want to go back for further exploration.

Followed the same route as last time. Had our sandwich lunch at the starting point for the Settlers Hut walk, on the Old Boboyan Road. We passed an intriguing old homestead on the way up that side track; it looks as if it might still be used.

Near Tharwa – the Murrumbidgee River

Cycled down the Old Boboyan Road. It was quite hilly and rough, with some sandy patches, for the first 6 or 7 kms. I had to walk up hills a few times. My bike chain came off at one point, but I managed to get it back on myself, as John was some way ahead. Grubby hands!

We got to the point we reached from the other end, the other day.

Then out in this place that felt really isolated, we met another cyclist. He suggested to us that we continue up the Naas valley for a way, to where there was an old hut. He seemed a little strange and made me uneasy. He said he brings his family here sometimes, but did not seem to really be familiar with the geography of the area. He said that he was going for a walk – that he was in the habit of leaving his bike and walking.

We did ride up and have a look around the hut, and rode a little further up the valley, which was very pretty. But I was uneasy, and John shared the feeling, so we turned back. Could not see the walker. I was glad to be away from that area.

Snow gums in the Naas Valley

We found the ride back much easier – the rough stuff was easier going downhill.

In the distance, across a valley, we saw what appeared to be a couple of dingoes. Wondered how pure the strain is, in these parts? One would assume considerable inter breeding with wild dogs.

Pastoral era remnants in Namadgi National Park

We cycled 25.5 kms – a substantial ride in these conditions.

Back at the van, John packed for his Melbourne trip. He is just taking the day pack.

He phoned S and arranged to go there for tea on the day of his return. When he told me, I pointed out that it would be quite late, as the bus is not scheduled to get in until 8.20pm. He had thought it was earlier, so he was cross. He had to phone back and make a later time to visit.

Tea was salads.

THURSDAY 19 MARCH     QUEANBEYAN

Hot day – 29 degrees, with clear blue sky.

John phoned Trakmaster. He has to call another day to speak to the person he wanted, about the fridge shifting forward in its space. We have noticed that on a few occasions, after we’ve towed, that the fridge protrudes out by several cms, and has to be pushed back. There does not seem to be anything to stop this happening. However, he was advised how to shift the window handle at the foot of our bed, from one side of the window to the other, to make lifting the mattress up and down easier. He did this – it did not take long.

We went for a drive south, with the bikes on the back, to Namadgi National Park. I had not heard of this Park before we got to Canberra. It is within the ACT. Took the same route out to Tharwa as we’d travelled the other day. Got fuel at Conder on the way through – 73 cpl.

We stopped at the Visitor Centre, just south of Tharwa. It had some interesting displays. The National Park came into existence in 1984, so it is not that “old”. As well as the expected natural country, it also contains areas that were used for grazing, in particular the alpine meadow sections.

From the Visitor Centre proceeded south on the Naas Road, initially through farmland – the Orroral Valley. The Naas Road became the Boboyan Road. Saw two big foxes in that section.

Then it was into the Park proper. We ate our picnic lunch at Glendale Crossing – a pleasant spot beside the Gudgenby River, with toilets and tables, but many hungry ants.

South of there, took the Old Boboyan Road, which was unsealed. Parked in a cleared area by the roadside and rode the bikes up the Naas Valley track – a management track. This was a shallow valley, mostly alpine meadow, with wooded slopes at the sides where snow gums were dominant. Very beautiful. Could see why this part of the  Monaro region attracted some settlers.

Found some interesting old homestead ruins – chimney, bits of timber, and what appears to be a stone covered grave. There were gnarled old orchard trees and wild roses. This would have been a very isolated place to live and subject to severe weather conditions. We could see where there were frost hollows in the valley.

Sundance or Cassidy?

The management trail made a great riding track – we did 5 kms along it, then returned the way we came. A 10km ride in all. Cycling on this little track kind of reminded me of a scene out of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid! It was quite exhilarating.

Saw no other people in the Park. The road through it becomes gravel, and eventually goes on in NSW to join other tracks to Adaminaby, but it is 4WD in NSW.

It was dark by the time we got back to the van. Tea was simple – warmed up leftover chow mein and salad.  Drove 158kms today.