If You Go Down To The Coast Today …

Well, first of all, you can pretty well guarantee that it will snow, and so it did. There were some 20mm of precipitation on Friday - much of it falling as very dry snow, which covered the village. It was snowing in Jindabyne at 4pm and was already settling upon the surrounding hills. Looking out across the fields, the fresh snow was also evident at Nimmitabel and all the way to the top of Brown Mountain.

The sudden burst of winter made for a very pleasant time on the coast – it wasn’t too hot for my body, well conditioned for cold climates.

Secondly, if you had gone down to the coast this weekend, you may have experienced some or more of the wonderful world of nature that I experienced.

On Saturday we watched a mother and calf migrating whales just off Short Point, Merimbula (no I didn’t see Andy O’Donnell – may be next time). Then we went around to sniff out the dead hump back whale washed up on the rocks of Middle Beach about a week ago. It may sound ghoulish, but we found many people going to see a whale up close, even though it was unfortunately deceased and a little whiffy. I wouldn’t want to be near it in a month’s time when the summer sun gets stuck into the rotting corpse. While climbing over the rocks to get a nose full, we encountered a family of dolphins frolicking in a small cove only metres from the shore and whatever had their interest held them there the entire time we were on the beach.

It all made for an interesting view of the cycles of marine life – the whale mother and calf, the family of dolphins and the dead female whale.

Before the snow began on Friday

View of the resort as I left – mid afternoon

A weekend on the coast

Merimbula Channel

Amazing colours and textures

Whale and dolphins

The dead hump back whale

Too whiffy for most

Marine life on a smaller scale

Path from the beach – not exactly alpine

Meanwhile back in Thredbo village there was no sign of Friday’s dump but I am hoping that the main range has been freshened up and that the touring has improved.

The forecast is for generally fine weather. I’ll let you know when I do my next report.

Happy Birthday Annie, Francesca and Britta.