Traffic chaos on Clyde Mountain and ringing cash registers between the national capital and the South Coast are signs many Canberrans are enjoying a four-day weekend.
With a Melbourne Cup public holiday today, plenty of people took yesterday off for a handy spring break, but it wasn't all fun.
Nine cars broke down on the Kings Highway at Pooh Corner on the Clyde Mountain over a 212-hour period on Sunday, forcing one lane to be closed for about an hour as police had to direct traffic.
Senior Constable Richard Pearce of Braidwood police said the combination of a hot day and ''poor vehicle maintenance'', with drivers not checking the oil and water, created the bank-up of traffic.
An NRMA spokesman also confirmed it was called out to seven jobs on Sunday on the Kings Highway, compared to two jobs the previous weekend.
Senior Constable Pearce said he expected heavy traffic on the road last night as Canberrans headed home to attend Cup functions.
Businesses were welcoming the extra trade. Braidwood Bakery manager Andrew Dudley said that since last Friday it had sold 5000 pies, 2000 loaves of bread and 5000 cups of coffee.
''It's definitely been busier than a normal weekend. The Monday and Tuesday are busy as well, as people race back to Canberra before the race,'' he said.
''It's only the Canberra traffic, so it's like Easter for Canberra.''
Mogo Zoo office manager Corinne Wells also noticed an increase in visitors. ''Today is particularly busy for a Monday,'' she said.