Back up the hill

We have a few things to do in Canberra so headed up there on 13 April.   This was after an attractive, albeit low key sunrise.
My first thought as we drove was to notice the rather heavy traffic coming in to Mallacoota - possibly the seafood Festival is a big attractor?

The heavy traffic continued when we got to the Princes Highway with a lot of caravans being a notable contributor.  Nothing dramatic just a bit surprising.  I presume it is folk seizing the second half of the school holidays and the Easter/ANZAC Day weeks coming up.

Getting on to Imlay Rd and the traffic dies away.  We saw 2 other moving vehicles in the 57 km.  No log trucks, possibly explained by:

  1. all the signs about smoke hazard; and
  2. the number of State Forest fire-fighting utes around Imlay Creek.

I think a fair chunk of forest is about to be lit up.  According  to the RFS the plan is for 2,000 hectares to go up.

The issue of Habitat Reduction Burns continued in the ACT where the appalling extent of these infernos was visible from Comma all the way to \Tuggeranong.

Including a stop at the Fyshwick Markets it took us about 4:30, which isn't too bad.

Sunset was rather more intense than sunrise.
 I have no idea why Black Mountain Tower was purple!
Sunday 14th turned out to be a bit busy.  We started with a dog walk.  Commonwealth Park has adopted the concentration camp look it will have until about September as work proceeds towards Floriade.  It really is a shame that this pleasant area has to be a building site for half the year because the National Capital Authority won't let the ACT make the Floriade site permanent.  They have the power to be bums and (ab)use it.
Down by Nerang Pool some attractive fruit were on one tree.
The next tree was in flower!
Some early competitors in the Running Festival.  I think these folk are in the half marathon.
The closest table was for the special drinks and had greatly reduced in supply since we passed by on our way in to the park.
About an hour and a half later I went down to see a friend pass by doing his 100th marathon.  He was 5 minutes ahead of schedule so I just got this rear shot of (from the right) Rob Ey, Carol Ey and Dylan (son the the late Milton "Floggo" Valentine) heading out on Parkes Way.
Waiting for them to come back past I spotted Roger Pilkington trotting along  His name doesn't fit on the bit as easily as Rob's!
Here are the gang of three coming back with an obfuscated cyclist offering advice!
I headed over to the finish area and noticed this efficient course closer.  The guy on the back was picking up the pylons  while the bunting appeared to be wound in - hopefully by a passenger - as the truck rolled along.
Back at the apartment the intersection of Bunda and Akuna Streets was closed for a "special Event".
On speaking to the guy in the hi-vis it was a march by the Vietnamese community.

While looking down I noticed the effect of reflection in our balcony glass on cars turning left into Bunda!
The next few shots were of the march.  Rather than the Vietnamese community it seemed to be a generic march supporting refugees.  (See https://tinyurl.com/y5cz75fj)  A cynic might regard it as rent-a-rally.

This group were definitely not Vietnamese (neither in pre-obfuscated appearance nor culture).
A leftie march and The Greens had to be there.
This final shot fits in most of the march.I don't know how much good it did: 2pm on a Sunday afternoon isn't peak hour in Canberra!

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