The pelicans of Eden (and the Highways)
This is the first post of four covering our Christmas visit to Mallacoota. Links to the other posts are at the end of this one.
After a very hot night we got up on time, did a few chores and were heading off towards Mallacoota by 9:20. After a stop in Queanbeyan to refuel we hit the Monaro Highway heading to Cooma.
After a very hot night we got up on time, did a few chores and were heading off towards Mallacoota by 9:20. After a stop in Queanbeyan to refuel we hit the Monaro Highway heading to Cooma.
The traffic seemed heavier than we expected in both
directions and some drivers seemed very slow, even allowing for people wanting
to stick to the speed limit. Eventually
we got some clean air and decided it was three proto-pelicans that had caused
the blockage.
We took the usual Polo Flat bypass around Cooma and headed
out towards Nimmitabel. As always the
scenery was barren and we wondered if it was ever green. This trip some new powerlines, looking like
the Martians in H G Wells “War of the Worlds”gave us something to look at.
Then we had the North end of a queue of three
cars heading South to look at. And at
and at and at. They were driving well
below the limit and due to the density of cars coming towards us I couldn't
overtake all three in a swoop. Why
wouldn't the others do their share?
The front vehicle was an Avis rental vehicle and I concluded
that at least one of the others - a green Hyundai - was related to that. When we got to Nimmitabel the green car
pulled off. As we were planning to stop
at Lake Williams
for comfort purposes I didn't bother about the
Avismobile. To my surprise Mr Plod was
running a breathalyser operation
at the Lake: this wouldn't be a problem for
me but as it turned out we got to the
entrance to the parking area before the cop so turned in. I noticed that the green car pulled in behind
me, but the driver didn't get out to use the facilities. After a minute or so they drove off again,
coming out on the far side of the cops. Que? Frances solved it: they didn't wish to offer their breath to Mr Plod and thought it would be a bit
obvious to just drive straight through!
Socially a pelican – or possibly a vulture – but at least part of their
cortex was still functional.
By the time we got to Brown Mountain the Northern side of the
road before the top is State Forest and has been pretty much 'harvested'- read
trashed by the timber industry – but at least they had left a few trees. we had caught up to the Avismobile but it pulled
over before starting the descent. This
was National Park and as enjoyable as ever: I do like tree ferns.
At the bottom we stopped at the Bemboka Pie
Shop for bread and a pepper steak pie.
Yummy!
The scenery on the coastal plain was a great contrast to the
Nimmi desert. Green, lush and low
cloud.
The next stop was the traditional
visit to Eden Smokehouse for various fish products that will be taken home (apart from the ones we scoffed for Christmas dinner). Other traditions followed were calling in at
the wharf to look for seals (and as traditions demands) not seeing any. We saw a Silver Gull which had chosen to
camouflage itself on a car which matched the colour of its legs.
We also saw colourful fishing nets
and pelicans (the original model).
Frances was told of a plan to rejuvenate Eden by building a
wharf to accommodate cruise ships. The
proponents of such a scheme possibly haven't realised that
- what is needed to attract cruise ships is something for the passengers to do. I can't imagine the Killer Whale Museum being enough (or being able) to accommodate a couple of thousand curious party people; or
- people on cruise ships don't spend a lot on shore as they get most things they need (eg meals and booze) free on the ship.
Just about as we left Eden the low cloud started to deliver
rain, through which tradition we were driving when we entered the Great State
of Victoria.
As we entered the final leg we saw the sign warning of
lyrebirds and, as we now expect, saw a lyrebird running for cover almost
immediately.
Unloading occurred and we decided to wait for the rain to
stop before going for a walk along the Inlet bike path. This provided a brief look at an Azure
Kingfisher and a surprisingly good look at a pair of Eastern Whipbirds. A couple of patches of exotic vegetation were attractive (don't worry, you'll get plenty of native stuff later in this series).
Our evening meal was (another tradition!)
barramundi and chips courtesy of Lee's Takeaway.
Although the food on offer is mainly pizza and
Fish'n'chips all the junior staff are of the Chinese persuasion both in
appearance and strong accent. The exception is
Lee himself, who looks like Genghiz Khan and sounds like Crocodile Dundee! (Click on the image to check out the amusing sign on the butchery next door.)
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