Day 10, 11 - Bushrangers to Bright

Well today saw us leave a wonderful camp site beside the headerwaters of the mighty Murray River and head toward Bright.  With the river unfortunately to high to cross at Tom Groggin, meaning we could not explore the Davies Plain Track across the Alpine National Park (Victoria) up to Omeo, it meant we had to hit the black stuff to Bright.

A quick explore of the Hydro Scheme at Murray 1 Station and also past a 150 year old railway, see the picture of the bridge below.  This was a quiet drive, to get into the next area to explore.

 Historic Railway Bridge outside Colac Colac, Victoria

Our second day in Bright saw us without the camper trailer on, up exploring Bright to Beechworth.  The following pics tell our story.

 Lady Bath Falls, enroute to Mount Buffalo, near Bright, a Garden of Eden".

We then headed up to Beechworth for a pie from the Beechworth Bakery, and lollies from the best lolly shop in the world, "The Beechworth Weet Company".  I wish I had taken a photo of their shop windows.

It was then back to the Ghosts of Bushrangers Past, with a walk around the area where Harry Power, believed to be a bushranger inspiration of a young Ned Kelly was incarcerated, a man with more tales than Ned's but not as well know as he did not strike the chord that Ned did, as well as looking at where Ned Kelly and his mother were held in custody for his final charges.

 Naughty Daughter

 You may be able to zoom in on this and read the tale of Harry Power.

 The Cells for Harry Power, where at those times prisoners spent their sentence.

 Ned Kelly's Cell, with one of the kids subdued :)

 Ned Kelly's cell, with an excape in motion.

 The Beechwoth Courthouse.

The Beechworth Goal, which is about 120 years old, and was still used until 2007.

 Another escapee

 We found Ned, what a big man :)

On returning to Bright, number one son and I took a 4x4 drive up to a very high point about 20k's out of town up to a fire tower, hoping to grab a specactular sunset over Mt Buffalo.  Alas, not quite to be.

The drive up to the Fire Tower is enjoyable, better in a 4x4.  The drive up to Apex Lookout is only for 4x4.  It was dark and rain was upon us, but not quite we yet, but we used low range 4x4 to crawl up the steep sections.  A great short drive, close to town.

Got back to camp to cook our dinner as everyone else had eaten.  A great afternoon adventure.

Camp:  Big 4 Bright   Cost $138 for two night/family - quite expensive.  Little disappointed, as we saw it was on the Oven River, but the river at this point is a Gorge, so you are high above it, the river is quite narrow.  Across the river, and rather close are high tention power lines, and under them is a road.  While quiet of the night, after Tom Groggin, this was a little noisy, which was made worst by a neighbour camper who for the two mornings, got up at 3am to open and shut his small camper door, he seemed to got a a run then go out again for a bike ride, weird.

Elevation 320m

Weather: Storms threatened, light rain, days were perfect 25 degree, evening pleasant about 18 degrees.

GPS:  36 43'27.82S
           146 57'59.98E