31Sun CBR-BNE

National Portrait Gallery 

Lake walk

BBQ dinner

A lazy start to the day as we were still recovering from the week skiing. Phoebe cooked omelettes for the three of us. 

Decided on a visit to the National portrait gallery and a bridge to bridge walk around the lake. 

The gallery was a bit ordinary. In my view the blob was the stand out attraction.

After viewing the portraits and discussing whether we liked them or not,  we had lunch in the Cafe.  I had a pumpkin and something pie thing and Phoebe had a Mushroom and potatoe soup.

We then set out on a walk along the lakeshore. 

FLAG DAY

Today had various anti immigration protests around the nation. We saw people with big Australian flags and some with Australian and Aboriginal flags. 

DICKSON 

Shopped with Henry.

Filed car with Petrol.

DINNER

BBQ sausages and salad. 

pictures of mags

She's getting some bad habits 

Epic Pass 2026

 Purchased the 2026 Epic pass

 

2026 Winter Olympics Dates
Fri, 6 Feb 2026 – Sun, 22 Feb 2026

Phoebe has a work function 22 to 25 Feb 

To get to Covara, try to fly to venice
To get to Madonna de Campigli (Epic Pass) try to fly Verona and then take the bus. 
In Madonna, stay in the correct part of the village so that we do not have long walks to lifts etc.

29Fri last day

Last day skiing 

Phoebe front valley 

Dinner with Andrew and Catherine 

SKIING 

last day skiing and we packed our suitcases smoothly. Zac emerged and we drove him out and gave him the keys including the gate access fob.

Up to Bullocks flat.  Light rain. 

Arrived Perisher and front valley V8 on wind hold. Upstairs to Cafe.  Three small long blacks and another hot chocolate muffin. Finally we observe people on the V8.

Queued with a gazillion others.

Snowing and blowing a gale. 

 Finally on board and off load at the top. Initially Phoebe was very apprehensive and after a pause at the top, we found a flat area to turn around without sliding down the hill. We then began a long zig zag path down the hill with me in front seeking the least steep path.

After 2 goes, we retreated to Jax for a break.  This extended to a can of lemonade for Phoebe and a shared basket of hot chips. 

Back out and two more runs (3&4).  On the 4th run, Phoebe fell over half way down and did something to her left hip. It took a while and in lots of pain she managed to stand and get her skis back on. Made it to the bottom without further incident.  Into Jax to relax.  A band was playing,  Phoebe was happy to bop along. Ski boots off and shoes on. It was decided that was enough for this trip. A decision vindicated in the evening as the pain was quite bad. I think she's done great with improvement every day.  I recall when she'd be emotionally drained by lunch time.  Now she can basically ski all day. 

Decamped early. A last buy of 12 mini doughnuts for $9.

Back to Bullocks flat where it was raining. Onto Jindabyne. Returned skis. Bought 4m of thin chord from wilderness sports for $1.50/m.  I'll make glove safety string.

CANBERRA 

we arrived Canberra at 5:35. Andrew and Catherine were there. 

Andrew and I went to Ainsley and procured pizza for $101 and a deep dish apple pie and dollop cream for dessert. 

28Thur

Wind rain and snow

Smiggins

Amy & Zac cooked dinner

SKIING

arrived ski tube terminal and it was blowing a gale. Retreated to Aldo's Cafe. First one coffee and then a second with a hot chocolate muffin. 

 Decided to move to Smiggins. 

This photo was taken by a young Frenchman who used to be a financial controller and got tired of sitting at a desk. We met him waiting for the bus at Perisher. 

SMIGGINS

First part of the day spent with Phoebe on the Pomma and then the triple chair. We tried a new run closer to chair which was a little more challenging for Phoebe. She's trying to move from Snow Plough turns to parallel turns.  This new path was wide enough and long enough to give her practice. We talked and she practised start the turn with weight on the uphill ski and leaning forward. At the middle of the turn, facing straight down hill, don't panic,  keep weight on the outside ski but begin to transfer it to her heel. This kind of overdoes it a bit exaggerating the kick out but my hope is that combined with another exercise of sliding sideways, we can pull it back into a smooth turn next year. 

After lunch, we were standing in the queue for the pomma when Henry phoned me. I left Phoebe and skied to where I could see J&H on the rise near the chair. 

We followed Henry around. All T bars covered in the afternoon including a brief trip over the top and down the side of the terrain park.  Wind like no other.  Henry was very keen on exploring as many different paths as possible through the trees 

At the end of the ski day, J & H split off and made their way home. I contacted Phoebe and discovered she was in the Smiggins pub. Met her there.  Wanted a hot chocolate but that was not to be a that part of the pub was closed. 

Phoebe walked to the bus stop.

I made my way to the toilet block to retrieve our bags. After putting one on my back and the other on my front I clicked into my skiis and began to ski through the car park.  Made it all the way to the bus where the driver was kindly waiting and we had a good laugh about how one does not get to arrive at the bus that way too often. 

EVENING

On the way home Phoebe traded messages with Amy & Zac. As I understood it, they wanted to both buy and cook. They had been out walking and arrived not long after us.  They were drenched but indeed had picked up the necessary ingredients at woolied and produced a beautiful stir fry.

Dessert some had chocolate. Luckily no one else wanted the remains of the ice cream which I teamed with frozen blueberries and thickened cream. 

27/8 Wed Rain

It's raining.

So we've slept in. Going to have coffee. 

26 Tue

Pleasant Valley

Dinner at James and Henry's challet.

Lewis' Birthday Telecon

PLEASANT VALLEY 

Advice received that Pleasant Valley would be a good next step for Phoebe so in the morning we took the train all the way to Blue Cow.

An interesting thought process for me was that usually on the ski field I just follow others who know where everything is. Had to look at the trail map and then follow signs. We skied to where we could see pleasant valley. The trail enters about a quarter of the way down.  Looking down seemed suitably gentle but looking up to the pleasant valley chair station looked steep.  

Phoebe went back to the magic carpet while I went to check it out.   Again it was interesting taking the time to observe the landscape. Normally I'd just go fast following others but now I was looking for the slow path but ensuring we didn't end up stopped. 

Took the chair to the top. The first path I chose was way too steep. Zig zag through rocks. Past a group of 3 teenagers where one had come off their skis and was walking. 

Second trip and I took the path signed back to Blue Cow. Realised I was too high so went cross country back towards Pleasant Valley. 

Third trip and I took the correct path. At first I figured it could be just a long snow plough but there was one steep bit. In the end figured Phoebe might find it too difficult. 

Fourth trip and I took the path back to Blue Cow.  It's quite steep in places and then there's an up hill bit to the bottom of the magic carpet. To me that sealed it as I figured even if she managed Pleasant Valley, the trip home would be too much. 

Decided it would be best to retreat to Smiggins.  Back to the Blue Cow centre.  Decided to indulge in a hot chocolate. $9. Comes with whipped cream,  half a flake, a edible straw and 2 marshmallows. Too hard to try to get them to ditch the marshmallows. 

Morgan arrived. 

James and Henry advised on messenger that they were on their way but we decided that they would be a while. 

SMIGGINS

Did a couple of rides on the pomma followed by a few on the chair. Came back to our bags to have lunch. A friendly "hello" and there was Henry.  Wind at Perisher had closed the chairs.  Had lunch- left over butter chicken & rice all wrapped in Lettuce and then Lebanese bread. The Lettuce stops the bread getting soggy. 

After lunch made our way towards the triple chair almost there and the fellow brought out a closed sign. U turn and we pushed and slid our way towards the pomma.  By the time we reached the pomma, the queue was huge and not moving.  Not moving because of some issue we could not see.  James,  Henry & Morgan were with us in the queue. Eventually we decided that Phoebe would stay and the rest of us would go elsewhere. 

Phoebe later reported she had a good day.  Up and back.  Helped a random little kid named Enzo by letting him go in front of her so he could be with his mates and fixed his Goggles that were hanging off the back of his helmet just out of reach. 

Meanwhile James, Henry, Morgan and Frank took T bars to Perisher. (The interceptor was closed).  Decided to try the centre valley T bars. Once there,  We could see a big queue for the Leichhardt chair and that cemented the deal to stay in centre valley. Switching between all three T bars.  Plenty of variety.  The snow was surprisingly light which made turning easy even though lots of moguls.

My feet, especially my right foot had gotten very sore.  I tried loosening and lots of toe wriggling. It was even painful underneath which I assumed was referred pain. 

Back to Smiggins.  Collapsed on the ground near our bags. J&H advised they would walk to their challet.  I did not want to walk. Contacted Morgan who was in his car. Phoebe arrived. Staggered to the Smiggins car park.  De booted. Phoebe squeezed in the back seat with the esky. Took us a while to find the challet.  In the end it was right next to Imbac.

DINNER AT THE CHALLET 

Poem: "Do not go gently into that dark night" by Dylan Thomas.

CBR->JINDABYNE

We got up at 4:15 with it intention of getting to Jindabyne at 7:00.

After many years of hiring exclusively from Rhythm, I had decided to hire from a new company- Alpine Sports.  All their information said that they opened at 7:00am.

We arrived at 7:20 and they were very closed.  Eventually some employees turned up at 7:45 and the owner arrived just before 8am.

I restrained myself. 

Having said that, the boots seem to fit well. 

Sat 23/8 National Archives

Saturday 23-August-2025

Park run followed by a beautiful breakfast by Phoebe. Scrambled eggs, avo and tomatoes +? Salad,  toast and marmalade.

At the leisurely time of 11, we began discussing what activity or visitation would be undertaken and settled on a dual National Archives and Portrait Gallery visit as we thought both would be relatively quick.

Off we drove and parked next to parliament house. 

Walked through the house of reps garden which when old parliament house was in use, was not open to the public. Observed tennis courts with green surface.

Walked through this area which has a timeline of women in parliament embedded in the pavement along with green blue and white tiles. 

Onto the National Archives 

As we entered, the young fellow on the door enticed us to catch up to a tour.  I found that very enlightening. The young lady had opened the case that keeps documents associated with the constitution in darkness to preserve the ink. 

My learning was that the Australian constitution is in fact a act of the British parliament. 

Moved from the display about the constitution to this other display. 

Onto the train section which was interesting but I didn't take any photos. 

It was now past 1pm and my blood sugar was low. Stopped at the Cafe for a caffeine and sugar hit. 

Following all of that, went to Gungahlin and I bought a Beanie and Henry and Phoebe visited woolies. 

23/8 Ginninderra Park Run

 

Visiting the chilly south and Henry and I did park run. Phoebe attended as my personal photographer in order to curate my social media image.

 

First time in ages I've managed the whole 5k without any walking. Henry, having finished ages before me, ran back and ran with me. A blessing and a curse as it precluded any walking.

I suspect seeing Phoebe appear several times along the course helped preclude walking as I never knew when she'd miraculously appear

 

Ginninderra parkrun results for event #646. Your time was 00:38:02.

Congratulations on completing your 51st parkrun and your 2nd at Ginninderra parkrun today. You finished in 287th place out of a field of 377 parkrunners. You were the 166th male and came 7th in your age category VM60-64. Take a look at this week's full set of results on our website. Congratulations on setting a new Personal Best at this event! Congratulations on your fastest time this year.