A wet drive to Canberra

We sadly say farewell to our room at the Pan Pacific and its wonderful view and drag our luggage to the car. I miss the entrance to the freeway on my first attempt, but after chucking a "u-ey" the escape from Melbourne proceeds relatively smoothly.

It's raining fairly heavily once we are on the highway and the conditions require a lot of focus. At one point we see a Volkswagen SUV with police and other services in attendance. It has smashed into something on the median. Earlier, a car towing a caravan could be seen billowing smoke with the fire brigade helping a long delays for commuters heading south.

I am not game to pull over into a service centre to grab breakfast, not in that rain, then need to deal with the same traffic again.

Fortunately the rain abates as we approach Albury and the New South Wales border.

We park near Myer in Albury and discover that Miss Amelie's deserves the awards for their pies when we take lunch there. Plus one last jelly slice from the Beechworth Bakery store.

Searching out cheaper petrol we then drive to Holbrook, joining the crowds. I'm tired, so B takes over driving duties. I have a short nap, then admire the steel sky of high and low cloud, bathing the yellowed grasslands in a beautiful light.

Pretty deciduous autumn trees line the Barton Highway after Yass. Before we reach our hotel in Canberra, we stop to buy some takeaway Chinese food in Dixon and change drivers.

We are back at Alex's favourite accommodation in Canberra, the Deco Hotel. One last night before we return home.

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