Ned Kelly and Mount Buffulo

Tuesday morning we drove into GLENROWAN to what was advertised as an information centre about Ned Kelly.  We were just in time for the start of an animated 3- dimensional show. (About the best way I can describe it).  Suffice to say it was VERY realistic and frightened the sh1t out of Cameron, especially when they took us into the hotel we had just seen get burned down, and we had to stand about in the smoke and burnt timber and the next minute with a hell of a crash, half the roof fell down in front of us.

We also witnessed the shootout at the pub, with shots going off all around us, the sounds of people getting shot, and the police yelling orders.  An incredible show, and all the idea and creation of one man.  Talking to him afterwards he said it was his great grandfather who actually made the armour for the Kelly gang.

After the show we had to settle our nerves with some grocery shopping and lunch in WANGARATTA, about 20 km NW of Glenrowan, a major shopping centre for the surrounding  farming district.  After returning to camp and a swim in the pool we went back into Glenrowan to look at the sites where all the action had taken place.  Despite what we had been told in the pub the day before, although there was nothing visibly left, the place where the pub had been, and all the action that took place around it was well signposted and documented.

Tuesday night, on the spur of the moment, we decided that instead of heading west to ECHUCA on Wednesday,  we would go north east through MYRTLEFORD,  to BRIGHT,  which is between Mt BUFFALO NATIONAL PARK and ALPINE  NATIONAL PARK , about a 100 km trip.  We thought it would be nice to have a look around the National Parks.

At present, Wednesday night, we are in a motor camp beside the BUCKLAND RIVER, which is a mountain stream about the size of the Waiwhakaiho River, just out of BRIGHT, at a place called POREPUNKAH.  (Don’t ask me why).  This afternoon we took a drive up to Mt Buffalo, a 25km climb rising 950m. The road was a bit like going up the Whangamomona Saddle but for a continual climb of 25km.

Once we got up onto the plateau at the top, at an altitude of 1300m, we could see in the distance a huge rock sticking up on the skyline.  It appeared to be precariously balanced on other rocks.  We took a walk up to it and were overawed by the whole thing.  This bloody great rock balanced on the skyline and views all around for 100 miles.  Brilliant.  And to think we nearly missed it.

Cameron has had a couple of swims in the river, we joined him for the first one,  and tomorrow we are going to take a day trip further along the GREAT ALPINE ROAD towards Mt HOTHAM, which is further into the Alpine National Park.

Thanks for the Caravan Hitch Lock, Ken.  We put it on as soon as we unhitched the van today.  It’s very comforting to know that we don’t have to worry about someone nicking the caravan while we are away. 

That’s it folks.  Time for bed.