Went for a drive yesterday. Lunch in Orbost at our favourite “Chooky’s” – their egg and bacon rolls are fabulous and make a very satisfying lunch!

We left Orbost and drove around to Cape Conran. We had not been in this area since the fires, and it is heartbreaking to see the damage. Fire must have literally roared through here, over the sanddunes and right to the waters edge, destroying everything in it’s path. All the infastructure is gone, toilet blocks and picnic areas. Some has been replaced, but the blackened, dead trees stand mute and still, a stark reminder of the power of fire.

The scale of the fires here must have been enormous! Right down to the waters edge the trees and undergrowth are devastated. It looks to me like many of the trees are dead, completely burnt out and not likely to regenerate. I hope this is not the case. It is so sad to see so much of the area gone, I didn’t even take any more photos, I felt too sad. We love our East Gippsland areas of natural and wild beauty, and we stand in awe of the power of fire, way beyond our control. It is my hope that this entire area will recover, and become green again. It will take some time I’m sure and perhaps some help from us to plant new trees, shrubs and grasses.
