We stayed a couple of nights and Kieran and Bec's place in Craigieburn Melbourne.

Swifts Creek is a small old gold and timber village on the banks of Tambo River where it is joined by Swifts Creek. The is a nice cheap camp across the river on the high banks. The river has a good flow I suspect because of the snow melt as well as the persistent rain that is around.

This obliging farmer was moving his mob of sheep while I was out and about with my camera.

Swifts Creek farm house.

I think this Llama or is it an Alpaca need a hair cut.

Starting to get up towards the high country. The blue mountains in the distance are part to the Kosciuszko National Park. This signage tried to show us where Mt Kisciuszko was but we couldn't really see it.

Getting higher now. There was even some snow about.

 

The snow mounting near Dinner Plain. I am not sure that I would want to pitch a tent here. Apart from the cold the ground was very wet from the mounting snow.

Still plenty of snow around Mt Hotham. I didn't realise the road when through the Ski Village. to the extent the road goes through a tunnel with people skiing over the top and then under the ski lift taking them back up.

I was disappointed that we could pull up and have a quick look around. There were no parks along the road and you need some form of pass to park in any of the off road car parks.

Tuan is a quite nice small camp near the township of Chiltern. I should have gotten my macro lens out more often.

Is this a ground orchid? There were quite a few around.

The trip from here slipped into just travel to get hope. There was a bit of rain coming the roads were close to being flooded. The Newell Highway turned out to be very potholed but we made it safely.

Osaka castle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is this a ground orchid? There were quite a few around.

The trip from here slipped into just travel to get hope. There was a bit of rain coming the roads were close to being flooded. The Newell Highway turned out to be very potholed but we made it safely.

Nice bus trip up to first post village.

country side small rice paddies right up to houses

Had from seat in bus

Post village kept from days before cars and roads and traveller rest stops on the route between Koyoto and Tokyo

most are now gone but some preserved.

 

After first village stopped for lunch at local rest area. No English guide Joey pretty much had to order our meals for us.

very nice pork cutlets with curry and rice.

Staff came out to say thank-you and bow us off. Don't think they had seen a bus load of foreign before.

 

second post village much more commercial and having seen the other one first was less authentic. Also had started raining so perhaps did dampen the mood as well.

300 year old wooden bridge over the Narai  river.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is this a ground orchid? There were quite a few around.

The trip from here slipped into just travel to get hope. There was a bit of rain coming the roads were close to being flooded. The Newell Highway turned out to be very potholed but we made it safely.

Weather permitting bus trip up Mt Fuji to 5th Station. (As high as you can drive)

Bleak and cold and in thick cloud. Did lift a little very briefly. Had a few flakes of snow before the rain settled in just before catching the bus.

Finally tried melon cake. nice and in the shape of Fuji.

Good luck from start of trip with Fuji visible from Tokyo running out.

Lunch disaster. Menu English but didn't want 3 types of intestine for lunch.

While not raining for the cruise there was no miraculous lifting of the cloud and siting of Fuji.

Decided to have lunch at the restaurant in hotel for tea. went down but resturant was full 🙁

Walked a reasonable for pretty average tempura take away and steamed bun for ann.

 

 

second post village much more commercial and having seen the other one first was less authentic. Also had started raining so perhaps did dampen the mood as well.

300 year old wooden bridge over the Narai  river.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is this a ground orchid? There were quite a few around.

The trip from here slipped into just travel to get hope. There was a bit of rain coming the roads were close to being flooded. The Newell Highway turned out to be very potholed but we made it safely.