The House(s) of Fran_mart

 Frances has a developing interest in geology and "Stories beneath our feet " had a number of references to features between Bombala and Berridale.  We had never driven the Snowy River Way so it seemed like a few ducks lined up.  As well as this innovation we decided to come via Cann River as the fuel price there was the cheapest (diesel 181.9 c/l, cf 215.9 in Mallacoota or 186.9 in Bombala) between home and Canberra.  Here is our route: about 20km and 40 minutes longer than our normal route We had taken the Pajero as:  I wanted to get a new rear light assembly as the sticky tape I had been using on it for the last 8 years was getting a bit iffy;  I wasn't sure what the road from Ando to Berridale would be like; and We might want to go into the mountains while we are in Canberra. I have added a 4th element having done the trip: the Monaro Highway from Cann River to Bombala is in very poor condition.  We were pleased we weren't taking the Mazda which is...

We found a need to go to Merimbula on 3 July.  En route we called in to the Haycock Rd component of Ben Boyd National Park to explore a couple of walking tracks.  Basically excellent. The first walkwas to the Pinnacles.  A 1km loop track. The track begins in woodland and then comes out into heath where there was a fair bit of flowering going on.  The first seen was Hakea decurrens . Acacia - possibly A. suavolens . Persoonia levis . A view of a distant island over the heath. The Pinnacles. A Pelican on the Pinnacles. Towards the end of the loop efforts had been made to fell the pine trees.  Presumably the piles will be ignited at some point. The start of the walk was not exactly wheelchair friendly.  Actually, judging by the way my legs feel this morning it wasn't old-fart friendly either. Looking down on to Barmouth Beach from where the walk began. Myoporum insulare (Common Boobialla) The berries of the above. The woodland was quite quiet but when wwe em...

At a few spots around the rocky headlands small cairns of flat rocks are appearing  These seem to be some form of rock art, possibly linked to the borders on tracks near Betka Beach These first photos are below the lookout at Bastion Point on Wednesday.  Yesterday we went to Betka Beach and more stacks (but not on the mill, for those who can remember when Australian Rules Football was worth watching) there.  This first image shows the location of a couple of small piles. Here are some of pebbles in their original location.  Judging by the amount of algae on the black rock, I suspect the tide was still pretty low.