All except West’s & Bryant’s found their way to Bairnsdale Friday night ready for a 0930 start Saturday morning. Clayton caught up at Bruthern and West’s at Buchan after finishing work Sat morning.
Tents, trailers, roof top tents, back of car and swags were the accommodation styles for the weekend. Friday saw a warm night until the wind changed at 03:00am, blowing into the camp quickly at the Mitchell Gardens Caravan park in Bairnsdale, causing some members to chase loose gear and fix up loose awnings.
09:30 saw all packed up, fuelled up, last minute shopping done and heading of to Bruthern to check out the local village market and take a morning coffee. Wine bought, stalls checked over, coffee & cake eaten, off to Buchan for lunch. Nice run along the Barry Way, farmland and views and into Buchan for an early lunch and wait arrival of West’s. They arrived not long after we pulled up.
Lunch stop at Buchan
After lunch on to McKillops Bridge. The run went well up to Gelantipy along the bitumen, up past Seldom Seen and the turn off to McKillops. Onto the gravel, up past Little River Gorge and onto Wheelers Saddle, all on a narrowing mountain road. Wheelers Saddle to McKillops – 11 km of narrow, winding, single car width gravel road, which had some shifting in their seats.
 
Sue and Neil limber up for the trip down to McKillops.
Half way down, full stop. Some one coming up with a Jackaroo and trailer and not confident in reversing to a passing point. Vince helped by backing the Jackaroo down hill to a wider section of track, by which time there were 12 vehicles waiting to pass. 2 cars ahead of us weren’t confident in backing the Jackaroo and waited until we arrived. 4 other vehicles caught up to us while we were moving the Jackaroo, during which time one impatient driver and his female passenger took offence at Wylie blocking their path and abused him only to be informed that the track was blocked and there was no where for them to go. Can’t understand these impatient, need to get somewhere in a hurry, get out of my way tourists (or is that terrorist?) Back into the cars and down to the campsite on western side of the bridge. Hot, dry and hard to find a flat site, but we made camp and enjoyed the area.
Walk down to the bridge, lots of photos taken then back to camp to get dinner ready.
 
McKillops Bridge west side McKillops Bridge East side
Next morning off to Jindabyne. Back up to Wheelers Saddle and out to Wulgulmerang with a quick stop to look at Little River. Head up the road to Suggan Buggan for lunch. From Suggan Buggan, followed the Barry Way along the Snowy River to Jindabyne. Plenty of great looking camp sites on NSW side along the river. Arrived Jindabyne Holiday Park around 15:00 hrs, set up camp, (it’s bloody hot!!) and back into the cars for a quick run up to Charlottes Pass and a look at Kosciusko and the head waters of the Snowy River.
Headwaters of Snowy River, Kosciusko off to the left.
Monday saw the group head off to Corryong via Thredbo Village, Tom Groggin and Khancoban.
Lots of steep down hill running, motor bikes and sightseer’s.
Ian, James, Clayton & Mark headed off for home when we approached Corryong, while the rest of the group headed north along the Murray to make camp at Clarke Lagoon Wildlife Reserve for our last camp. What a great spot, right on the river! This camp site is in the Upper Murray area down stream from Tintaldra below Cudgewa Creek. After setting camp to get some shade, as the best shady spots were already occupied, it was into the river for everyone to cool off. Westy broke out the inner tube from his spares box, Matt had some Telstra rope and so the girls were floated up and down the river with all the adults providing security. Marg had a close encounter with a water borne mystery object which resulted in all the girls leaving the water quickly, only to return when all was declared safe. After swimming, it was time for nibbles and drinks, before finding the energy to get dinners ready. A fine balmy night by the river.
 
Murray River – Clarke Lagoon
 
Time for dinner – Clarke Lagoon
Next morning sees us packed up and on the road by 09:45 in anticipation of the forecasted 37degree hot day.
Heading home via some other river campsites along the Murray, then down to Tallangatta for lunch & fuel. Except it is Australia Day and all the shops are shut! On to Wodonga for KFC fish & chips, Glenrowan for fuel & ice creams, where we all head off in our own directions home. A great weekend, thanks to all that came and made it a success and hopefully we will be back along the Snowy & Upper Murray again soon.
Report by Vince & Sue Bosua
  
James learning machine. McKillops camp fire Charlottes Pass
Scammells Ridge Lookout
 
Jindabyne Campsite Suggan Buggan lunch stop
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