FULL STEAM AHEAD

IT’S a crisp August morning in Tumbarumba as I slide my feet into my favourite, well-worn walking shoes. If only these shoes could talk. They’ve crossed rivers, held me against steep, rolling scree, hugged boulders for scrambling and today, they’re going to carry me along a more unusual surface for bushwalkers. But more on that later.

For now, the crystal-tipped, well-tended lawns of Tumbarumba are crunching from the overnight chill as I head towards Nest Cafe for a dose of caffeinated energy. While the cafe’s cinema might be temporarily on hold for COVID-19, the full-flavoured flat white delivers with gusto in these comfy, arty surrounds that bear no resemblance to country cafes from my childhood.

Juiced up on java, I head across the quiet, broad streets, past the classic Union Hotel and