Canberra
After a short drive, we arrive in Queanbeyan by the river. A beautiful spot, close to all the shops and attractions that the town has to offer.
This is the big weekend, the reason we are in Canberra, two of our grandchildren, Aiden and Tiarni are 21 and 18. Many of the family are flying in from Melbourne for the weekend.
The two special grandchildren. Rosi & Sean, have done a wonderful job preparing and organising this special day. We helped Rosi where we could, and we had a lovely meal together with Vince and Sue, Kylee and family up from Melbourne.
Friday, Joe and Leslie arrived from Melbourne. They had driven up that day and arrived in the middle of the afternoon. Queanbeyan is a lovely town, pop. 38000, with plenty to keep you active. We went to watch Channelle play soccer near home late Friday afternoon. 1-1. Good result Channelle, you played so well.
Saturday was active, picking people up, both family & friends arriving from Melbourne, into Canberra. We are only 10 mins from the airport, so a busy morning. Lunch outside the van, beautiful sunshine.
Phil, Sarah’s cousin from Liverpool UK, staying with us, who has decided to settle in Australia. Phil was born in Melbourne, but left when he was five, has decided to try to work in Australia. A talented and entrepreneurial spirit, he joins us for the birthday celebrations.
A great night was had by everyone
A wild & whirlwind visit for the Melbourne family visitors.
An afternoon of sight-seeing around Canberra for Joe, Lesley, & Phil. Mt Ainslie, Manuka, The Lodge, Parliament House, High Court, & Lanyon Homestead, and an afternoon drink in Rose’s Cottage, with Sean, Rosi and Family, also Janae, Sandra and Ginette.
Salute Rosi & Sean. Monday, the rest of us hit the road and go our separate ways. We depart on Monday for Jugiong, a free camp, 150klm from Canberra, on the Murumbidgee River.
Jugiong
Love an open fire, even though this fella with the spiky hair doesn’t look happy.
Jugiong is 40klm north of Gundagai with a small pop. of 250 just off the Hume Hwy. It is a quiet and pleasant stopover for travelers. Quickly set up, enjoying wonderful sunshine, we walk over to the St George for a drink. Met a lovely couple who lived in Albury (Peter & Steph) and invited them back to the van to share some stories and a drink around the fire.
The early days of settlement in the region, saw bushrangers pretty active, so travel in the region was fairly dangerous. Notably, Ben Hall was prominent, and in 1864 a confrontation with the police, saw one of their men, Edmund Parry killed in the line of duty at Black Springs. After over 100 robberies, his luck ran out the following year, when he was ambushed and killed.
The showground is a wonderful facility, over 200 acres, plenty of space. about 40 vans for the night. Highly recommend the site for a stopover
Bright
Bright is a very popular town situated at the southeastern end of the Ovens Valley. Surrounded by The Victorian Snow Fields. Mt Buffalo, Mt Hotham and Falls Creek.
Gold deposits were discovered in the 1860’s, around The Buckland River and Morses Creek. Tensions arose, as was common amongst these early periods, between the various ethnic groups, such as Chinese, Anglo Irish, and other early settlers. Riots were not uncommon, and some deaths occurred.
Tourism is a major source of revenue for the town, timber industry, paragliding, mountain biking, hiking etc. Mt Beauty is on the other side of Tawonga Gap is well worth a visit. Take a walk thru the gorge and have a freshwater swim at the end.
Myrtelford is close by, also the beautiful town of Beechworth, rich in colonial history. The gaol is superb. Bushranger Ned Kelly was imprisoned here
View across the river from the caravan. 
It also has a movie theatre, so we went to see the last of Downton Abbey.
