As promised, Sarah and Neil took us for a bush walk today to see what this dry environment would reveal. I can now say that it showed us many sights and I understand why our hosts love this walk as they do. After all, this was where their own Caminos began and it was along this path that they selected their stones to leave at the Cruz de Ferro. 
The day started off with a bit of a bang, as we had hardly started our walk when Neil signalled us to stop and to be very quiet. Directly in front slithered a beautiful, but poisonous Black Red Belly snake! It had seen or scented us and quickly disappeared off the trail, but we had a glimpse and that was pretty cool.
The walk today followed parts of a new centenary trail around Canberra which linked new and old trail sections to surround the city if I understood Neil correctly. I think in total a 100kms, but that may be incorrect as well and I'm sure Neil will comment on that.
Beautiful Spanish Camino like walk, often along the side of a "river", Neil assured us that it was a river, and of course we believed him;-) in this part of Oz it is for sure a river given the very dry environment.
Along the way see saw more Roos...
We stopped at a lovely sandy spot on the river for a very nice lunch that Neil had thoughtfully prepared, but we noticed an absence of wine today? Neil explained that usually there is no wine on bush walks, so we satisfied ourselves with tea. It was all good. A few more photos...
However, it was on the return journey that things became interesting.
As we found our way towards the end of the trail, Neil suddenly stopped just as he had at the beginning of our bush walk. Again, there was our large black snake with the red belly. Very cool!
It hung around for a time and didn't smell us this time, taking its time to move out of our way. A very poisonous snake apparently...called Barry the Black Snake!
Then if that wasn't enough, as we returned to the car, there was Eric the echidna...Neil's spirit animal! One of two marsupials in Australia and apparently rarely seen. This one apparently a good size too. 
we appear to be well down the Australian Big 5!!!
Out for a very nice dinner tonight and then a quick tour of town...in the dark, and something about an axis of some sort!
Parliment...
Then back to Sally's house for a poetry reading (see below) and Neil read us a stirring version of the poem "Man From Snowy River"!
Off to Melbourne tomorrow....it's difficult to leave here. Great reunion and fellowship...more on that with the promised birds later.
Annemarie has finally written something for us from the day...
A small stagger of pilgrims, now friends starts out on the track
Greeted by a snake, red on his belly, black on his back
They listen to each other and what the nature that surrounds has to tell
They have silence to share and stories to tell
The track is gentle, with simple treasures to share
Bird calls, cricket creaks, whispering trees are there
Our friends and guides are attentive and attuned
The spiders web is detoured, our walk is resumed
Preying Mantis, gold and green
Camouflaged and still they were seen
Gently beside the river and over the pasture the track winds
To the place where the symbolic rock becomes a find
And the place where the river sings and pilgrims rest
We carry on learning more of this place where we are guest
Trying to identify the berry filled scat
While ahead they talk of this and that
We take in the view then scramble down to the riverside
To share a picnic lunch then clamber up the rocky side
To return through the late day's heat
In listening now, the woods are more still, amplifying our poles's beat
The singing river burbles, matching the murmur of conversation ahead
I fall slightly behind, going inside, hearing what's in my head
I am filled with gratitude for this day, these people, this place
The opportunity to connect in this time and space
We rest again in the shade where the river sings
Near the end of this day's journey and all it brings
The snake is there again to send us on our way
Lazy in the afternoon, munching on his prey
And just to ensure our memories of this adventure remain clear
Eric the echidna crosses our path, the dear
The track has shared so much with us this day
Reminding us of where our friendship began, when we walked together on "the way"
Hey Geoff and Annemarie, A great blog of a wonderful day with you two. The centenary trail is closer to 200kms all up. I haven't walked it all but have walked a number of sections. Next time you are here, I'll take you on a bit more. But I understand we have some Canadian country to explore too. It was so good to catch up with you both and to share a few days of walking, talking, eating and laughing - not to mention our encounters with the wilderness of the Australian Capital Territory. Many good memories to savour in times to come. We've started a blog and I hope I've sent you a link. We will be following you as you walk the Great Ocean Track. Buen camino, our fiends, Neil and Sarah
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