Snow Here in the Mountains.

 I layed the fire again last night ready for this morning, and I was right.

 Dark up in the forest.

 Two Red Necked Wallabies in the snow.

 A closer look at the Red Necked Wallaby. Possibly it's first experience with snow!

8.15 am, and still snowing.

 8.45am. Getting heavier.

 Grey Kangaroo in the snow.

The Wagon Road Blocked !

This is what I found this morning, one of the hazards of living in a forest. I could not get the wagon round it so I had to clear a way through the less heavily treed woodland on the downside of the road higher up. I got through to our lower track that leads to the wood shed and finally got my wife on her way.

I got through here without having to move too much fallen timber, but the area is wet from recent rains.

Still on the stick.

As some of you may know I am recently returned home from having a complete hip replacement. That means no woodsrunning for me for a while. As well as regular special excersizes I also have to go for a walk every day. It has been so wet here of late that walking off the track has not been possible. So I am restricted to walking our forest road to our front gate and back again, which is about 1Klm there and back. This morning being my first walk of 2012, I decided to take some photos and share them with anyone who is interested. Unfortunately I run out of room on the digital card before I reached the gate!

Looking back at the main house, "Linstock" and over Butterfly Valley to the forest beyond. As you can see, plenty of room for historical trekking.

Here Linstock is to the left, and this is looking up the road which leads to "Elm Cottage", which we use as a club house for the New England Colonial Living History group 1680-1760.

Starting my decent down toward "Bull Ant Bend". When I first put this track in, I encountered a large bull ant's nest right on that bend. It remained there for many years and was not a good place to hang around!

Bull Ant Bend looking further down the track. Old Fort Henry is just off to the right in Henry's Wood which is seperated from the rest of Wychwood Forest by this track.

Round the next bend.

In the distance you can see open pasture belonging to a "Brumby" farm. This is where they train the wild horses for sale. Our gate is still a little further on round the next bend. Henry's Wood to the right, the rest of the forest to the left.

Looking into Henry's Wood at the old fort.

A small stack of firewood drying in the sun ready for next winter. Green stacks like this and larger are dotted about the forest. Mostly we cut dry wood and carry it back to the wood shed, but when trees fall, then we sometimes cut them green and stack them to dry like this.

Another view of the open woodland in Henry's Wood, named after my Father. He never got to see this place, but I know he would have loved it here. Mostly Stringybark trees with some Yellow Box and Mountain Gum.

This is a Mountain Gum, very similar to look at as the Manna Gum. Can you see the Currawong centre picture? A black and white bird about the size of a Raven and similar to our Magpie but a little larger and not so much white as the Magpie. Just look at that big blue sky!

Elm Cottage with it's two chimneys, kichen on the left, living room on the right. It has solar power now as my youngest son uses one room to store some of his art work.

The living room 18th century style fire place with chains and hooks for hanging kettles. No solar lighting in this room, just candles, grease lamps and rush lights. Group members are able to bed down on the floor in this room if they wish to stay over.

The Swallows Are Back.

First time I have ever seen them land in our garden.

A Bridge Through The Reeds.

Right now it is trying to snow! Yes I know, it is spring, but this is New England and it is much like the Old Country. You never know when the weather will change!
For several days now we have had rain, the creek below us is in flood, and the header streams are flowing. Cattail Pond is overflowing, and a tree has fallen into the pond! I decided to check it out during a break in the rain, and I snuck up on a pair of wood ducks on the pond.

I only have a little digital camera now with limited zoom!

My Living History Playground. Running Water Again.

In the past few days we have had some much needed rain. The header streams were not running, Cattail Pond was low, and Millie's Creek, named after my Mother, had stopped flowing. Now the streams are flowing and the Butterfly Valley spring too. Cattail Pond is full and overflowing and Millie's Creek is on the move again. From Wychwood Forest where it starts, this water will flow north into Reedy Creek and from there go west finally flowing into Copeton Dam.

Following The Indian Trail to Pilot Rock.

This is probably where the Aboriginals have cut a carrier out of the bark.

What do you think Dave?

A good place to shelter out of the winter wind.

Another good shelter. Room in the log for your pack, and a place for a fire out front. What more could you ask for.

Beware of widow makers, especially when the wind is blowing.

Looking down into Hazard Valley from the trail.

Pilot Rock is in sight at last.

On top of Pilot Rock. I placed the small tree across the shoot some years ago, in case someone should slip!

View from the top of Pilot Rock. Pretty high up here.

There is shelter for one under this rock overhang at the bottom of Pilot Rock.

Room for another person to shelter here.

I follow the path round the base of Pilot Rock and back up the other side.

The trail can be a little treacherous going back down, especially with a pack on your back and carrying a gun. It pays to take your time and place your steps carefully.

Another view looking down into the valley.

Something has been digging this hollow log out recently since the last rain.