Blowering Dam Side Trip



One of the creek crossings.



Given that on most of our visits to this area, Blowering Dam was more like a duck pond, we decided to check it out, as it is full again. After consultation with a local, we were told that the most scenic way to get there from Tumbarumba was via the forestry roads from Batlow. Most of these roads were open again after all the rain, and given we had 4WD, we should be OK. Just keep the 2 Way radio switched on to channel 40 and watch out for Log Trucks and road repair gangs!

 

Logging Trucks



Track through the Pine Forest.



So off we head for our first 4WD adventure. We started down a sealed road that soon gave way to a dirt road, well graded and sign posted. That soon changed! Washed away bridges and creek crossings, rutted roads and tracks, that we couldn't believe the big log trucks use. And not a sign in site!

The scenery was amazing, with glimpses of Blowering Dam in the distance through the trees, getting closer as we descended the various tracks, and by now, I do mean tracks! We only got totally lost once. I put a call out over the 2Way saying I was heading away from Batlow on Snubbes Road. Where will we end up? "Deadend" came the reply, so U turn and a few minutes later we meet the Forestry Commission Ranger who'd answered our call, and he put us back on the right track. We met the water tanker driver, and Carol was suitably impressed when I radioed up the Roller Driver for clearance to pass and get the latest road conditions. We're getting the hang of this! 

We made it to the lake shoreline, and came across the odd camper, waterskier and fishermen. Even came across one intrepid caravanner camped by the lake. He must have known another route to get that caravan down, otherwise he was washed down in the flood and he's been there for years!


Blowering Dam from the Batlow/Talbongo Road


All the way around the lake we were treated to some amazing close ups of a variety of bird life that included 4 or 5 different species of parrots, plenty of screeching white cockatoos and corellas, a flock of black cockatoos, a magnificent wedge tail eagle, who took off just in front of us as we came around  corner and saw a feral cat rush off the road. We think the eagle might also have had an eye on the cat! Lots of finches and countless other birds we couldn't identify, and then one bloody big bird we could identify, and were quite surprised to see in this heavily wooded area, an emu, and just to prove he wasn't lost, a lot more emus.
 We also saw a number of beautiful black wallabies and a large herd of Grey Kangaroos, all of which were too quick for the camera!


Emu at Blowering Camp Area.



All in all, we had a wonderful few hours driving through the forests. We eventually found our way around the lake,  and out of the forest, at the Jounama Wall of Talbingo Dam, which we drove across, and out onto the Snowy Mountains Hwy. 



The Wall at Blowering Dam



A short drive and we are at the wall of Blowering Dam, which we checked out from every angle, including a drive across the wall, in rain and failing light.

We are soon back in Tumut, where we take in a well deserved coffee, before heading back to Tumbarumba in the now heavy rain, having survived the wilds of our first 4WD adventure. What a fantastic day!

How do you end a day like that I hear you say. Well you book a table at The Nest Cafe and Cinema, Tumbarumba's unique entertainment venue, where you share a glass of wine, some pizza and pasta and then take up your recliner chair in the cinema out back, to watch the movie. No popcorn here, you get dessert and coffee! and who cares what the movie is. (well actually it was "The Despicables" or something like that.)