What happened? Well, the boys spotted something that needed further investigation. My bloody battery has been leaking! It's still the original 2001, and was working fine, but just decided it would vent acid everywhere. A while ago. It's gone un-noticed for the last few thousand kms.
Off with the tank and a huge cleanup of unwanted acid effects, and whole heap of other stuff to be checked, particularly wiring. It's all good now, but I really should have replaced the damn thing a year ago. Figured it was ok because it was starting fine, but .............
I now have a gel battery! 
Anyway - I decided I'd take her for a run when I picked her up. Sorry for those who live deep inside big cities or out in the flats, but I have a lovely string of smooth twisting roads a few minutes from home. Easy to knock up a couple of hundred kms in an afternoon, and great for helping you to forget about the expense of the 'cheap' service!
The main part of the loop around the city is officially called 'Cotter Road', but most locals call it 'Cotter Raceway'. It's either a loop, or you can do some additional roads into the hills, and turn around when they become dirt in Namadgi National Park. Means the roads are not heavily trafficked or patrolled.
Some lovely stretches like this:
And this:
With really nice views into the Brindabella Ranges like this:
More lovely flowing roads, and I'm never more than about half an hour away from the city!
This is one of our main pumping stations for the water supply. It's a one-way bridge, with great twisties in either direction!
Still pretty dry, and not a lot of water in the River.
Took a detour up to the Stromlo Observatory that was mostly burnt out during our big January 2003 bushfires. Sad sight to see all the destroyed space telescopes.
More derelict space telescope buildings, plus some newer stuff being built to replace the old.
A view out to the city on the way down. Canberra is called the 'Bush Capital', which is why you can't see too many houses in the suburbs!
Lots of houses down there somewhere!
Called through the main lake in the city on my way home. It's always a nice view. Great place to walk the dog or go for a canoe or paddleboat ride.
Stopped in at Red Hill Lookout, which is on a large hill that almost disects the city into two parts. This is the view to the North. You can see the fountain in the distance.
And this is the South view, to the 'other half' of the city.
I was home after a couple of hours sight-seeing and covered a bit over a hundred miles (175 kms). My dog Kipper is always pleased to greet me, but loves riding in the back of the truck - So that's where he heads every time I open the gate!
And there's always a moggy in the window! That's Gizmo.
So that's a quick ride around my back roads. Really nice to have a 'test-track' handy to home, although the kangaroos can be a bit thick at dawn and dusk. The ride was much nicer when the pine forests were still standing before the fires, but it's still the same piece of road. Probably safer now with more 'sighted' corners.
Cheers all.
