TRIP to CANNING STOCK ROUTE DAYS 1-2

12-13  June 2012

STAGE 1 Jindabyne to Curtin Springs  DAYS 1-2

JINDABYNE – CANBERRA

This trip has been in the pipeline since some time late 2010. Oka 306 put a note on the Oka website saying they were planning a trip along the Canning Stock Route in 2013 and invited others to join in. We jumped at the opportunity as we wanted to do this track but knew we would never do it on our own. Originally about 17 put their hands up for the trip. We will see when we get to Wiluna how many will really be doing it.

Finally we are packed and ready. So mid afternoon on a cold (8C) overcast day we locked the doors and were on our way. A friend will be staying in the house looking after our lovely dog

It was overcast when we left home. After Cooma the weather was awful – drizzly, low cloud and cold.

First stop was Canberra – two hours away. We decided to start the trip a bit differently this time. A day at the galleries and theatre.

It was drizzly part of the way to Canberra and cold. The first night was spent with our youngest son’s family. Our youngest granddaughter (2 ½ years old) decided to give us a photo of herself after I mentioned that I forgot to print a recent family photo to put up in our Oka for the trip.

Started the next day with some last minute shopping, cup of coffee and then a visit to the exhibition ‘Travelling Along the Silk Road” at the National Museum of Australia. What a stunning exhibition. This museum puts on absolutely fabulous exhibitions. This one excelled just as others have in the past. The way it was put together took you on a journey along the Silk Road. Just a pity you couldn’t experience the smells of the spices as you could hear the sounds, see the sights, and get a feel for the journey. I learnt just so much by going to see it. Amongst the things that struck me was that paper was first made in China in 50BC and that they started to use it for writing by 100AD. However, it was not till 1100-1200 that paper was made in Europe by Islamic craftsmen living in Spain. I was also intrigued by the comment that artists in Baghdad viewed words as shapes not just sounds.

Then after lunch and a seminar by Dixon Advisory we went to the National Gallery to see two exhibitions. Eugene von Gerard’s “Nature Reveared” exhibition demonstrated his exquisite attention to detail in recording landscapes. They were just beautiful. His pencil drawings were just wonderful. Wish I could record places visited like him.

The 2^nd exhibition “unDisclosed” showcased 20 leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contemporary artists. What a powerful exhibition. Just loved it. Then after a break we went out for dinner before going to see “Nutcracker on Ice”. Although the storyline was not strong in this production the skating was just amazing.

What a great day we had !  Just a pity that the weather was miserable.