On top of old Mokey

On the outside, the mo certainly adds on a few years but also inwardly the hairy roots seem to be infiltrating my brain and making ‘old people things’ seem increasingly appealing. Saturday was a case in point… waking up early (like an old person), reading the papers (yep, like so old), pottering about Fyshwick fresh food markets (ancient) and then adding more plants to the garden (hello, retired!). Like a more senior member of our society I also want a bloody good whinge and say how lame Fyshwick fresh food markets are… never, ever can I find any ingredient that is slightly off the beaten track, it’s just like a supermarket only divided into little shops selling the same old stuff!

Reinvigorated with fresh food, it was with youthful vigour that I set out from Canberra on Sunday morning to the top of Australia, with two mates in tow (both younger than me…)

It was a stunningly beautifully clear day and the drive zoomed by as we arrived at Charlottes Pass. From here, you can take a reasonably dramatic 9km walk to the top of Mount Kosciusko , 2228 metres above the shark infested sea level (and then back again). For Australia , this is as Alpine as it gets and whilst Kosciusko itself is a rounded lump, there are a few rocky peaks and glacial patches of snow to draw comparisons with other mountainous parts of the world.









It’s also the source of the fabled Snowy River, a sight to bring tears to the eye of a wifebeater wearing VB swilling V8 loving bogan (not that I’m far off courtesy of my truck driver mo and Brumbies cap).

My appearance was enough to scare the life out of the woman (wo)manning the park entrance hut upon leaving, though she recovered enough to collect the belated entrance fee (it turns out there’s an extra fee for Kosciusko National Park because it’s so special). And I fitted in just perfectly at Cooma RSL for a spot of counter meal heaven, a place where I was also delighted to be able to collect all $6.90 of my Melbourne Cup winnings… and then swiftly spent it on the obligatory stop for ice cream and drink at McDonalds. From highs to sugar lows, fittingly cruising back to Canberra on the Mo-naro Highway, achy legs and bed.