I'm back again. My first Australian expedition was just a 3 day trip on the rail trail from last Wednesday. The rail trail is called the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail but it essentially, at the moment, is just a rail trail from Bright to Wangaratta. The first day I cycled from Bright to Beechworth (75 km). This was a real killer as the last 15km was (gradual) uphill and I was out of condition (also there were a few trees across the path due to a storm the previous day which resulted in landslides across the Great Alpine Road). The second day was from Beechworth to Wangaratta - a short and easy 43 km. The final day was the return to Bright (85 km) - a lot easier than I thought - probably because it was cooler, and I had less weight (both in my backpack and on me). Nappy rash was the only problem (I will leave that topic there).
Not a lot happened on the trip - there weren't a lot of people on the trail - a school group and a women's cycling group. There were a few animals: rabbits, rosellas, and an echidna that I nearly ran over on the trail (he reacted quicker than I did). Then there was the eagles, hawks etc. They would disconcertingly fly over - have a look - think, no, too big and then fly on. Then there was the football field in Wangratta which, as it it was not being used for football, seemed to be used to grow wheat or something.
On the domestic front, there have been a few more adventures - mainly with animals (and I have only been up here in Bright just over a month):
- Local television news is interesting. Apart from what rates as news you learn about interesting things. There was the story about COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). COPD is a term used to describe a number of lung conditions and the support group in this region calls itself the Murray Wheezers. Then there is the the trial of bow fishing in rivers that is to commence - yes, fishing with a bow and arrow. At least a fishing line gives them an even chance and only the dumb fish die. I wonder whether fish shooting is next.
- The animal interactions have been many and varied. There is the the two blue tongue lizards that have moved into the garage. I inadvertently gave the younger one a ride on the garage roller door the other day as it decided to take a rest on the lip of it. There is the blue wren that comes to visit everyday - mainly to look at its reflection - and it usually comes when I have the musuc on. Completely non-fazed with me being here. When I went walking I saw this weird dog - it was a kelpie in the front but it had a white wolf/coyote shaped tail with black stripes. Mated with a Tasmaian Tiger? Zebra? Then there was the spider in the tolietr roll - as in between the sheets of paper - that was a surprise but the spider was cleaely worse for wear. Anf finally, I had a thrip infestation when I had all the windows open. I only noticed them when there was a pile of the insects on the floor. They had apparently cooked themselves on the light. Annoying and stupid.
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| Lake Sambell, Beechworth |
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| Beechworth |
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| Beechworth |
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| Beechworth |
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| Beechworth |
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| Lemon Scented Gum plated in 1901 to commemorate Ferderation at site of old Tarrawingie station |
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| Wangratta |
