More fencing
At the moment we only have the posts still waiting for the rails to come in doesn’t stop Chips he’s a man on a mission.
Renovate or detonate
Renovate or detonate
Fencing edition
The fencing has commenced. The green colourbond fencing has been removed from the eastern boundary and replaced with new monument grey panels. The old green fencing has been moved to the western boundary and painted monument grey the colour matches perfectly. The old green panels near the eastern boundary have also been painted with the same new colour. Today the white ‘picket’ fence in the Hampton style has been started.
Picket fence starts
Renovate or detonate
Walk-in robe
Well since we got back from our hike Chips has been busy building our walk-in wardrobe. Our current wardrobe is very inadequate and really inconveniently located. Once the robe is finished and our clothes moved we will demolish the wardrobe and change our room around. For the time being the carpet in the bedroom will stay and be replaced once we have built the new rooms and our bedroom gets the renovation it needs.
Here are some progress shots
Still a bit to do and the floor will be carpeted when the bedroom is done.
Renovate or detonate
Insulation edition
So while we have been away the weather has been quite warm and our little house has no insulation in the ceiling or any sarking against the roof tiles. So Chips decided insulation was a priority.
The new insulation is already making a big difference.
Watch as Chips opens a packet so satisfying 🤣
Benambra-Corryong road & Kiandra drop box pick up
Finally done and dusted
It was raining and 16 degrees when we left Macclesfield and then we drove back along the M1 towards Bairnsdale it’s going to be a very big day. we stop in Traralgon for second breakfast scrambled eggs yum. And then just make it to Swifts Creek before the kitchen closes at 2pm for lunch. It’s the third time we’ve had lunch nah at Swifts Creek pub and it didn’t disappoint yummy steak burgers. While we are stopped for lunch Chips books us into The Snowy Mountains resort at Adaminaby.
By the time we get up to Benambra-Corryong road it’s very hot and we have a little bit of difficulty finding the bucket. We even think someone may have taken it. We eventually find it and decant the rubbish into the big screw top container we collected yesterday and put some little bits and pieces like leftover water in the car.
We then drive 65+kms along a gravel road to get to the turn off to the sealed road that will take us to Kiandra. The sealed road is very narrow and we come up behind three very slow moving vehicles, the one in front of us keeps moving right preventing us from passing. They take forever to move over and let us past. We arrive in Kiandra about 6:30 pm and find the box very easily, again decanting the rubbish into the screw top container. We arrive in Adaminaby shortly after 7pm and check in. We ask Cathy at the desk where to go for dinner and she tells us the bowlo or the pub but the kitchen closes at 8. So we decide on the pub The Snow Goose and we are pretty happy to find out it’s steak special night. Woohoo our hike is now completed so time to celebrate 🎉 🍺🍺
Rumpf saddle box pick up
Friday 7th December
A 320km round trip to pick up our box from Rumpf Saddle.
Met Swiss hikers Phillip and Ursula at the trailhead on Jameson-Licola rd we gave them some apples and oranges that we had in the car and took their rubbish out for them. We then drove up to the saddle and 1km out there was a log across the road, fortunately it was fairly rotted so we were able to remove some debris and drive over the remaining log. On the way back we told the hikers where the closest water to the saddle was and wished them well for their hike.
We stopped in Moe for petrol and lunch (sandwiches and dubious hot food from the servo) and then drove over to Macclesfield to catch up with Rowdy and Cara. Our plan was to move on closer to Benambra but Cara talked us into staying the night, all she had to say was wine 🍷 🤣🤣
It was great to catch up with them even though we had seen them on the Sunshine Coast a few weeks ago and get a tour of their lovely property.
Rowdy cooked an awesome dinner and we relaxed and did a couple of quizzes after dinner.
Thanks guys
Rest Day Yarragon Vic
Thursday 7th December
Our bus from Canberra arrived at Spencer Street at 5:30am. We both got a little sleep but you know bus travel, so not great. First stop was the loo, do not like bus Loos.
Next stop was coffee and breakfast. We found a little hole in the wall cafe it was perfect. Long blacks and bacon & egg baguettes.
Then we had to work out how to buy a train ticket. The station is huge and it takes us a while to find the ticket booth. And of course we have to purchase a card (Myki, so now we have 3 separate transport systems cards!!!) plus the railway line to Yarragon is under maintenance so we have to get a bus. We were so looking forward to the train. Oh well, we head back to the bus interchange to wait for the bus. Probably not as quick as the train but not too bad and we arrive in Yarragon looking for another public loo. That sorted we go to the local supermarket to buy some fruit and ginger beer.
I had just put the walk to my cousin Sue’s house on maps when I got a message saying “where are you?” Sue had come to meet us and we walked the short walk to their house.
We spent the day chatting and napping after a shower. Then Roger made us a lovely risotto for dinner, and finished with apple pie and ice cream we went to bed pretty fat and happy.
Great to catch up,in the flesh, after quite a few years. we have been catching up on Facebook but it’s not quite the same. But thank God for it!
AAWT final wrap up and stats
It’s a wonder we made it!!
Total kms 741.43 in 223hrs 13mins
Ascent 31 507m
Descent 33 676m
30 days hiking average 7hrs 26mins
Average kms 24.71/day
Average pace 3.32kmph
Shortest day 11.08km Rumf Saddle
Longest day 40.66 Harris Hut track
Longest time 11hrs 3mins East Riley Road
Estimated time being lost 10hours
4 rest days
2 nights 1 day Mt Hotham
3 nights 2 days Thredbo
2 nights 1 day Valentine Hut
Things lost on trail – one toe sock, one clip, lots of weight, butt pad,
Equipment failures – tent leaked, shirt wore out (Chips), shorts wore out (me), sleeping bag inner destroyed (me), bite valve broke (me), shoes one pair each.
What an amazing adventure! Hardest trail by far for us. We are a bit broken but recovering well.
Rest and recuperate AAWT
Wednesday 6th December
So after finding out how much weight we’ve lost the quest was to find food. Last night we went to Pattysmith burgers and ordered burgers and chips and a $2 soft serve cone to eat while we waited 🤣 but they’d run out of cones so he had to give us some in a cup and asked if we’d like a topping for the same price. Oh why not? We took the burgers back to our room and after dinner we had some more ice cream and champagne to celebrate our achievement.
For breakfast today we had a donut and coffee then cereal . I had one small bowl Chips had two massive bowls. He is REALLY HUNGRY then we packed up and went to the shopping centre and had an omelette and another coffee.
We caught the bus into Canberra (had to buy an ACTION card equivalent to OPAL) to await our coach to Melbourne and we had lunch at PJs Fish and Chips of course with a pint 🍺
We bought some postcards to send to our nuggets. Then we went to San Churro and had coffee and sundae.
We met our friend Dave DD for dinner Chips had bolognese and I had salt and pepper squid yum and beer of course. It was lovely to catch up with DD. After DD left we went back to San Churro for Fresca and churro’s I KNOW so much food!!!
We then boarded the coach for Melbourne. We had to book separate seats but the young lady sitting next to me offered to swap so we could sit together which was so kind.
AAWT Day 30
Tuesday 5th December
Orroral River – Namadgi visitors centre
Hiked 25.7
Total 661
Ascent 1017
Descent 1342
Weather cool then warm – hot and sunny
Heard dogs howling overnight and I think I heard a pig grunting. We were on the trail by 6:10am. Just under 2 hours to hike the 8kms to Honeysuckle creek picnic area, a lovely place. Spoke to Anook & Sonna from the Netherlands and Leigh & Ari mother and daughter car camping.
Continued on as it warmed up down to Bushvold flats, an old farm. Saw some Gang Gang cockatoo on the way up. Then a final punishing climb before lunch. Finally got reception to find out that my friend had lost her battle with ovarian cancer so so sad.
The hike down to Namadgi was also pretty brutal it was so hot about 32degrees so the cold drinks and ice cream at the visitors center were very welcome.
Spoke with Dee and Elle, gave s bit of feedback about the trail conditions and some cattle loose in the NP.
Elle dropped us off in Tuggeranong where we eventually got a room. She is keen to hike the AAWT.
Our room at the short stay apartments is actually huge there is two Queen beds in one bedroom and two queen beds in the upstairs room. There’s even a washer and dryer.
At the shopping centre we weighed ourselves I lost 12kgs, Chips lost 10kgs that man is soooo thin!!! so between us we lost a small child 🤣🤣
The Adventures of FishnChips 