Eggbert's Travels

Wednesday 20^th March 2013

SHE SAID:

Touring to the north again today, this time we headed up to Omeo along the Great Alpine Highway. The scenery along the climb was awesome, with lots of views down onto the Tambo River. The small village of Swift's Creek was a nice stop for morning tea. It used to be much bigger with the gold mining in the 1800's & early 1900's.

Omeo was once a busy place too, with many of the grand old buildings remaining but I think now it is mainly just a tourist stop over before the ski fields.

 

Our return journey took us along the Birregun Road as the road beyond Mt Hotham was closed till 4.30pm! This road was quite an eye opener; dirt naturally, but very windy, narrow with many blind bends & supposedly a logging truck route! Thankfully we didn't meet any.. At it's highest point with were around 1450m...And I thought we'd be following a valley!

 

The main street in Swift's Creek

Swift's Creek War Memorial

Community Hall Swift's Creek

High Plains Views

McMillians Lookout with Mount Kosciuszko in the far distance

Omeo Post Office

Court House precinct in Omeo

Omeo's main street

"Wild West"...Omeo style

 HE SAID:

Mount Kosciuszko was quite a discussion point for us today. Apart from it being in NSW while we are in Victoria, which distant knob is actually the right one? My guess is that is one of the few peaks in the furthest distance. And an aside is that we say it incorrectly, so I am told, not that I am any expert on Polish.
What was Strzelecki thinking when he named the mountain? Even if he used an English name we Aussies would probably struggle with it; is it Smith or Smythe? Simonds or Simmonds? Etc etc....