Nat’s diary 2025

[Blacky]

Then off to the Junee rail museum










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[Blacky]

Shot through to Gundagai for lunch at the historic Niagara Cafe then a look at the dog on the Tuckerbox





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[Blacky]

And into Tumut for the night , went for a walk around town and then off to the pub for dinner




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[Blacky]

Brekky in Tumut , fuel and off to Talbingo



We said goodbye to Greg & Anne , Brian & Kerrie plus Ken


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[Blacky]

Stopped in Talbingo, went for a look at Tumut 3 power station - past a road closed sign and was told we can’t be in there but got to talking to the guys and they were pretty chilled and we had a good conversation about the power station






Then into Talbingo to pick up our snow chains and a coffee - place is old and dead , nothing much there at all.


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[Blacky]

But then we headed off to Adaminaby over the mountains, and WHAT A DRIVE




Awesome scenery, we stopped and threw snowballs at each other for a bit at one point but I got no pics

Then at Adaminaby we pulled up right out the front of an old servo and the bloke came out and invited us in for a look-












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[Blacky]

Off again for a short run into Cooma and a scratch through Flynn’s wrecking yard






Found a good quarter glass in this door but at $150+ GST I figured the next bloke can have it




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[Blacky]

Then we booked into our accommodation and went to the pub, we will be peeling off in the morning- only got a few Kay’s left to go



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[In the Shed]

Great pics Blacky. Must be the first time your Ute has seen snow?

That is fabulous country up there. Have great memories of touring those power stations, trout fishing and camping around Khancoban with my late Dad back in the early 90’s. I recall there is a model of the entire snowy mountains hydro scheme in Cooma if I recall.

The scale of the snowy scheme i reckon is just awesome and a true credit to the trades who built it in some very harsh and rugged country. I have some doubt that today’s tradies would get the job done and probably including myself in that statement

In the mid 90’s my now wife & I drove the FB sedan from Adelaide to Canberra then returned home via Cooma, then to Cabramurra (highest town in Australia) then down the windy road to Khancoban heading home. That decent was interesting with the old drum brakes but we made it.

Safe travels.

Regards
Stephen

[62ekute]

only got a few Kay’s left to go



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Thanks for all the pics ... route looks the same as when we drive across .... (via Coffin Bay and Esperance) .. though lately we take the ferry from Wallaroo to Cowell .. safe travels
Patrick

[Blacky]

Was considering the ferry trick but it is not really worth it when coming from the east as it’s only going to save a couple of hundred Kay’s - Clay and I discussed this over a few glasses of Guinness last night

We said our goodbyes to our Nats family this morning and jumped in our frosty old ute and pointed it North






Was -2 or something ridiculous this morning- clear skies mean cold mornings I guess
Saw 2 cars on the side of the road both of them around 4 or 500 metres past a freshly dead ‘roo - was quite foggy but everyone was still doing 100

[Blacky]

Through Canberran peak hour traffic and stopped in Jugiong for breakfast and fuel, had no idea it took nearly half an hour to make a toasted ham cheese and tomato sandwich

Back on the road and into Wagga and had a quick stop at the RAAF museum





Just out of Wagga the speedo decided it had enough and stopped working, cable has given up the ghost- had a half arsed go at finding a replacement but will deal with it when I get home.

Quick stop in Narrandera for fuel and onto the boring bit - the Hay plains.


Most of today’s roads from Canberra onward are 110 zones- the bloody thing must have jumped out of top gear 100 times today
Might have to stick to 100 ……. Maybe

Parked up for the night in Balranald - did about 750km today I think



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[Errol62]

Yeah Guinness is not my favourite tipple but they’re bloody Philistines in NSW and there ain’t much else to choose from. At least they have a few stouts to choose from in Victoria, mebbe even a coopers if you’re lucky. The ferry is a great experience and I used to rate it in favour of driving as long as the departure time aligns with your eye-tinnerrerty. Now, I don’t know. I think the fare might outrule it.


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[62ekute]

yeah, not a timesaver but Sharon likes the water

[Errol62]

It’s fun. First time I did it was about 2.5 metre groundswell out in the middle. My offsider got queasy. You can see Mt Olinthus from about the middle.


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