The Wild Brumby

Last Sunday we all decided to go out on the Alpine Way towards Thredbo, and have lunch at the "Wild Brumby Schnapps Distillery" The forecast for Sunday was "mountain" changeable, starting off with a sunny blue sky supposedly lapsing into the wet and cloudy later on.

This cottage above is just a few kms along the Alpine Way

Entrance to the Wild Brumby

The Schnapps Still

Butterscotch and Peach schnapps were the favourite of the day - I abstained from the tastings, but not from the food - wonderful german menu - and it was top quality - owners are Bavarians.

There was some fun accordian banter from the owner.

While we were consuming this bavarian fare and tasting the schnapps, the weather did do it's mountainous thing - rain and clouds covering the hills around us - but a super day for all of us.

The Kosciuszko National Park is home to some herds of wild horses - known here as "brumbies".

Gardens in the Snowy

Spring has well and truly sprung in the gardens around the Snowy, and I must say we enjoyed seeing all those winter loving plants. First garden was in Cooma - we had been shopping for certain grand kids at the Cooma "Rivers" store, and went for a walk down the historic Lambie Street. Stopped at this place below and started taking photos, the owner came out and invited us in to peruse his works of "garden art".

During our "floral" discussions, it turns out he had come back to teach at the Monaro High School in 1968, the year we started work at the Snowy Hydro Scheme.

The Monaro High School was only one block away from the "shack" we lived in.

He loved his irises My favourite as well

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Uncle John and Auntie Neirdre's new abode.

We spent a night with my youngest Uncle at their new house on 25 acres in Bombala in the Monaro - 1 hour from Cooma.

Spring colour everywhere

Country garage on Uncle's property

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Next Garden - and Church

Was at Springfield - between Dalgety and Nimmitabel (an hour from Jindabyne). My friend Heather (we first met in 1968 when we both started working at the Snowy Hydro Scheme on the same day) married a Grazier - Roger, and they have been farming some 10,000 sheep on huge property ever since - and right now hold the record top price for "wethers" (neutered meat sheep) in Australia - how great is that!

They were married in this church on their property.

I remember this property when we first saw it in drought in 1982/83 (Frank's two, Ian and David were with us), no garden at all then.

Heather has done wonders with this layout around their house - her parents had a wonderful property, called the "Willows" just out of Cooma years ago as well - I got my first "bottle fed" lamb from them in '69 - we called it p..s pot!

"Old Springfield" looks incredible even on a dull day

Heather and Roger's son, George, will be marrying his fiance under the willow trees on the property - they are naturally shaped in an arch, then the party will follow in their parent's garden.

I am amazed at Heather's photos, hope to get them to post at some stage - she has won a few prizes and they really are incredible.

It was so great catching up with her again - it has been about 10 years since we last saw each other

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Winter gardens at the top- or not!!

The same day we were enjoying the garden above, another 4 of our group decided to do the walk to the top of the mountain from Thredbo. The chair lifts were full of mountain bike riders.

Unfortunately the weather had set in and they had to turn back pretty early. Not looking too comfortable below.

Bevan and Cheryl before their turnaround

Ted looks uncomfortable in his "plastic" outfit above as well

Cheryl says - down is the only choice!!

It was and interesting "Happy Hour" this night.

Colours around Jindabyne

A few more photos around this wonderful man made Lake which is now 85% full, highest it has been for a couple of a decades.

Poplar trees have self seeded on the lake bed in the drought, they are now under water.

Happy Hour at Gail and Steve's abode - on wheels.

Another beautiful night sky hovering over the lake

Cheryl took these 2 shots

Rainbow Lake

Rainbow Lake is another man made lake at Diggers Gap. It was created by a dam which was built to supply water to the Hotel Kosciuszko built in 1909. Below is an old photo of this lovely old timber building, and behind it sits the "staff quarters".

In 1951 the whole Hotel burned down, leaving only the staff quarters standing.

These quarters are now called the Sponar's Ski Chalet and is open all through the ski season for accommodation.

Unfortunately I didn't take a photo of Sponar's on Friday, so here's how she looks in our winter. The walk is 3 plus kms long, winding through snow gums

small streams

and snow grass

This purple plant resembled rosemary

Lake Rainbow below Next stop was Guthega

A windy Snowy Hydro road below

Overlooking Guthega Dam

Snowgums at the Pass

Charlotte Pass's "snowgums" are truly colourful - the trunks are amazing, so many shapes and tones - a eucalypt artist's palette. The one Frank is looking at is over 300 years old. Truly a wonderful walk amongst these Australian beauties.

Australia is the only continent in the world that has a single genotype of tree (the eucalypt) which grows from the coastline, through the deserts to the alpine region. There are over 600 different species in the Eucalyptus family.