G’day from Lakes Entrance,

I left Corowa shortly after 8. The thought of returning home along the boring Hume Freeway didn’t particularly thrill me, so I decided to take a less direct route, heading for Lakes Entrance for the night. I provisioned at a bakery in Beechworth, and had morning coffee near Myrtleford, ’round a quarter past 10.

I learned from a roadside sign on leaving Myrtleford that I was required by law to carry snow chains if I ventured into the snowfields, even if there wasn’t any snow on the road (and I knew that there wasn’t, at least at 7:30, when I checked on the web before leaving Corowa). So, when I refuelled at Bright, I asked the bloke at the servo how could I hire chains if I’m just passing through? He was very helpful, and enquired as to whether I was going via Falls Creek or Mt Hotham. When I told him I’d planned to go via Falls Creek, he said I could hire some chains at Hoys in Mt Beauty (before the ascent Falls Creek), and drop them off at Omeo.

When I got to Mt Beauty, I couldn’t find Hoys, so I pulled into a servo who was advertising chain hire and asked him if he had a “drop off” scheme. His answer was negative, and he advised me that none of the hire places in Mt Beauty did so, as the Bogong High Plains Road (from Falls Creek to the Omeo Highway) was always closed during the snow season (which conflicted with my web queries; it used to be, but not since it was sealed in April 2009). He also said that Hoys was in Harrietville, before the ascent to Mt Hotham.

So, I had to backtrack the 30km of ascending and descending winding road to Bright, and head for Mt Hotham. I did indeed find Hoys at Harrietville, where I hired chains for $30. Near Dinner Plain, past Mt Hotham, I had a late (1:30) lunch. I dropped off the chains at Billeys at Omeo, and headed for Lakes Entrance. I was in my motel room by 4, after having covered 472km.

If nothing else, I’ve learned today not to put too much faith in what blokes at servos tell you when you seek their advice!

Cheers,
Julian