Day 1 - Saturday 5 February - Canberra to Tumbarumba

Woke up at normal time, got up early, skipped breakfast (we rant out of milk two days ago), then spent the next few hours getting ready to go. We ended up leaving the house at 9:35. A quick (ok not so quick, there was a slow moving queue) detour to the Scottish Restaurant for breakfast then down the Hume to Gundagai. I took over driving a little before Gundagai because the sweetie was super tired, and drove all the way through to Tumut. We dropped into TRBC to pick up a bunch of beer, I got six four-packs, hopefully of things I haven't had before.

TRBC
TRBC

Beers on tap at TRBC
Beers on tap at TRBC

Then Stu took over driving again. We had a little drive through Batlow and up too Weemala Lookout. The fires came right up to the town two years ago, must have been super freaky.

The Big Apple north of Batlow
The Big Apple north of Batlow

Batlow from Weemala Lookout
Batlow from Weemala Lookout

Apple orchards in Batlow
Apple orchards in Batlow

Continued south, driving straight through Tumbarumba down to Paddys River Falls. Thanks to La Nina the falls were flowing hard and they were loud and super spectacular. Totally worth the short drive out.

Paddys River Falls
Paddys River Falls

Paddys River Falls
Paddys River Falls

Paddys River
Paddys River

Paddys River Falls
Paddys River Falls

Stu and me at Paddys River Falls<br>Photo by Stu
Stu and me at Paddys River Falls
Photo by Stu

Volcanic rock strata next to Paddys River Falls
Volcanic rock strata next to Paddys River Falls

Volcanic rock strata next to Paddys River Falls
Volcanic rock strata next to Paddys River Falls

Paddys River
Paddys River

Headed back to Tumbarumba and checked into the motel.  I got online to book tomorrow night's accommodation, then we headed out and wandered around Tumbarumba for a while. Had a lovely walk through the park, and up the main streets to the War Memorials.

Park and creek in Tumbarumba
Park and creek in Tumbarumba

Stu on a bridge in Tumbarumba park
Stu on a bridge in Tumbarumba park

Creek in Tumbarumba park
Creek in Tumbarumba park

Tumbarumba District Sawmills Memorial
Tumbarumba District Sawmills Memorial

Pacman ghosts on a door on a building on The Parade, Tumbarumba
Pacman ghosts on a door on a building on The Parade, Tumbarumba

The Union Hotel, Tumbarumba
The Union Hotel, Tumbarumba

Lot 7 Bridge Street - Police Sergeant's Residence
Lot 7 Bridge Street - Police Sergeant's Residence

Memorial Park, Tumbarumba
Memorial Park, Tumbarumba

War Memorial in Tumbarumba
War Memorial in Tumbarumba

War Memorial in Tumbarumba
War Memorial in Tumbarumba

M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier in Memorial Park
M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier in Memorial Park

Around 16:30 we ended up back in the beer garden of the Union Hotel for a few pints (omfg only $10 for pints of Bentspoke!!) and we had dinner there too. Not bad for a country pub (it did make me wonder if they *really* slow cooked the ribs, or just bought them like that :) ).

Me enjoying a $10 pint of Bentspoke in the Union Hotel
Me enjoying a $10 pint of Bentspoke in the Union Hotel

Pool table in the beer garden of the Union Hotel
Pool table in the beer garden of the Union Hotel

Slow cooked pork ribs I had for dinner at the Union Hotel
Slow cooked pork ribs I had for dinner at the Union Hotel

Tumbarumba Visitor Information and Historical Museum
Tumbarumba Visitor Information and Historical Museum

The Union Hotel in afternoon light
The Union Hotel in afternoon light

Habitat, by Marcus Tatton
Habitat, by Marcus Tatton

Then back to our room to download my GPS, photos, and blog, all while watching the bunch of episodes of Big Bang Theory around Amy and Sheldon's wedding which was a bit of fun.

Advert on tv for The Spirit of Tasmania - where we would literally have been right at that moment if the dice had landed another way
Advert on tv for The Spirit of Tasmania - where we would literally have been right at that moment if the dice had landed another way

See also my panoramas from Day 1.