To Khancoban and on to Albury

Sat 28 Feb 2009 (for Ruth)Finally escaped from Cooma but not without a last minute drama nipped into town to deisel up where the Navigator took over pilot duties.30 seconds later smacked the side of the van into the exit post of the filling station,ripped off the heat guard for the water 'otter and turned various bits of the vans side blue.Iy wasn't the only thing that turned blue! Managed the next 90K without incident until Thredbo where I managed to upset 2 following vehicles and so then gave up piloting.
Thredbo starts the true section of the Alpine Way and what a drive. We have done a couple of whiteknuckle drives and this is another.There is more down than up as we were already at altituded in Cooma.Some descents had to be done in second gear with a stop at the bottom to let the brakes cool down. It is magnificent scenery when you dare to lookas we go around Australias highest mountain (Mt Kosciuszko 2229M) The first narrow pass we go through after Thredbo, is Deadhorse Gap ( named after 23 Brumbies froze to death there some years ago). Down the hill to Tom Groggin( named after T.........) close to the source of the Murray.Wecool our feet in the river whilst waiting for the brakes to cool down again. It's up and down until the next stop at Geehi, again by the side of the river. It's another hot day and the cool water on the feet is bliss. Lunch and then another steady climb to a fantastic lookout called Scammell Spur( named after a truck? I don't think)Photos to follow! We can see the Western Fall of the Mountain range. Our last pull in is to look over the valley and Murray1 Power station, didn't bother with the conducted tour. Then onto Khancoban campsite by the side of Khancoban Pondage. It's a lake!Apparently it's the best place in Australia for fly fishing for trout and trophies (10lb and over) are common. Peter's just going to swim in it. Chris Wilson would be mortified!