This Adventurous Age

Adventures travelling and working around Australia.


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2016 Travels April 17

SUNDAY APRIL 17    HOME TO POREPUNKAH     305kms

John wanted to take another short trip before having more surgery, scheduled for the end of April – the 28th.

That date limited the time we had available. Unfortunately, the time also overlapped with Anzac Day, this year falling on a Monday and thus creating a long weekend. Usually, we avoid school holidays and long weekends like the plague, but it couldn’t be helped, this time. Maybe it wouldn’t be as busy as we feared? Decided that returning home on Tuesday 26 would avoid some of the worst holiday weekend traffic, at least.

A goal for some time had been to explore along the Murray River, from its upper reaches to the sea. We had already covered some sections, but there were plenty more to go. So the thought was to spend the eight or nine days we had available to us, this time, visiting the upper Murray. I had in mind Corryong, Yackandandah, and maybe one other place.

Plans, as usual, were made for amending…

John decreed that we would not rush to be ready to leave early, but would take our time and maybe only aim to reach Yea for our first night. This was code for wanting to play bowls on Saturday and leave his packing until Sunday!

It also enabled me to make a roast lamb dinner for M, on her birthday. We’d invited her along on our planned short trip, but she had other things to do. She didn’t even mention the idea of further travel with us to C!

In the event, we left, without any dramas, at 11.50am.

The day was gorgeous – sunny, just warm enough, blue sky with little cloud. One of the glorious autumn days that Victoria does so well.

We took the usual route north towards Yea.

Refuelled at Glenburn. $1.045 cpl.

In Yea, the many deciduous trees were making a brilliant autumn show of red and gold leaves. Autumn burning off made it fairly hazy in the area.

As it was only early afternoon, we kept going. Took the “back” way, for something different – via Merton and Bonnie Doon, to Benalla. This made a change from the usual route to Seymour and up the Hume Freeway.

Track cutting on hillside beyond Yea

Being Sunday, there was plenty of weekend traffic on the roads. Near Yarck, there was a sign indicating radar speed checking from a helicopter. I didn’t know they could do that! Gives a new meaning to “Eye in the sky”. I thought the sign might be counter-intuitive for road safety, with drivers peering upwards for helicopters and not looking at the road?

Yea area

At Bonnie Doon, below the bridge that spans what is sometimes an arm of Eildon Reservoir, there was only a small trickle of water. Lake Eildon was again down to about a third full. This is bad news for water sports enthusiasts and tourism-based businesses.

I had packed us a healthy salad lunch before leaving. We stopped at Lake Nillahcootie Park for our lunch break. This was a great place for a stop. Plenty of room to park, toilets, picnic tables, and we were able to give Couey a good off-lead run. She clearly was very interested by the lake, but we were parked just far enough away from the water to deter her from running off to sample it.

Lake Nillahcootie park

The Lake Nillahcootie water level was also somewhat down, but there were some people fishing and doing other boat based things.

Lake Nillahcootie

As we ate lunch, discussed a possible destination for the night, as we were clearly well past Yea! I suggested maybe having two or three nights at Porepunkah, thinking that the autumn colours displays would be brilliant in that area now, if what we’d seen to date, today, was any guide. We had stayed at a caravan park there in 2011, and liked it, so I phoned to see if they could fit us in. Yes, they’d just had a cancellation for an en-suite site and could do three nights. Good.

2.45 when we left Lake Nillahcootie. That had been a late lunch.

Cloud building over Lake Nillahcootie

As we continued north, began noticing a cumulus cloud build-up over the distant mountains – a nice contrast with the surrounding blue sky.

Took the Hume Freeway from Benalla to Wangaratta, then the Ovens Valley Highway, east through Myrtleford, arriving at Porepunkah at 4.20pm. Nice timing.

The drive along the Ovens valley was lovely, with superb autumn colours displays. The early settlers in that region planted so many European trees – poplars, oak, claret ash, in particular.

Our en-suite site at the Porepunkah Pines Caravan Park cost $48.60 a night, after discount. Our site had a cement slab. The bathroom was clean, with bathmat, hand towel and soap provided – not items one always gets in these places. This park has a very good camp kitchen/BBQ area, and an attractive pool complex.

Camp kitchen at the park

While we were setting up, a car cruised through the park, selling local berries and walnuts. I bought a kilo of walnuts in the shell, for $10. The raspberries were really tempting, but were in frozen packs that were too big for my freezebox. The lady said she’d be round again on Wednesday, with fresh berries then.

After setting up, took Couey for a short walk, across the nearby suspension bridge over the Ovens River – pedestrians only – and along a track through the scrub on the other side of the river.

When we were here in 2011, Couey was only five months old and we’d only had her a month or so. She was still extremely timid about any new experience. It took us days, then, to persuade her to walk across the suspension bridge. Now, she charged across ahead of us!

One of the several attractions of this park is having tracks along the river where she can free range when we walk her. And, yes, from her viewpoint, free range into the river!

Had an abbreviated happy hour, sitting outside Bus, luxuriating in the surrounds.

Tea was cold roast lamb, left over from the special roast dinner I’d made last night, for friend M’s birthday. I used the camp kitchen microwave to cook asparagus and zucchini to go with the meat. This morning, I’d picked a lot of small zucchini from the plants at home and brought some of those away with us.

We were both really tired, and were in bed by 9.30pm. Unheard of, for John!


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2016 Travels April

2016 TRAVELS     APRIL

We bunkered down for the craziness that was Easter in this part of the world, where many Melburnians attempt to escape from the crowded metropolis only to find themselves in crowded holiday destinations.

John occupied himself making a whimsical small table.

The new creation

Years ago, he’d bought some pearl shell in Broome, intending to try using it for inlay in wood. He came up with the idea of an inlaid tata gecko for his table. These little critters, in real life and during our times up north, had many times scared the daylights out of us. They lurk in fallen leaves and bark beside paths, gently waving, unseen, then scurry off with a noise disproportionate to their small size, thereby frightening the bejesus out of the passer-by.

The result was deemed a great success.

Immortalized tata

I occupied myself planning our next short get away. And dealing with figs…. And more figs.


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2016 Travels March 30

MARCH      HOME FOR EASTER

The day after we got home, I did the washing from our trip, including the Bus bedding. It was a lovely day and it all got dry.

Son phoned and invited himself, partner and kids to dinner Saturday. Seven to feed!

There was now no alternative but to brave the shops. The Woolworths supermarket at Lilydale was incredibly busy. It is like people think they will starve, just because the shops are shut for a day!. There were even traffic control people on duty in the carpark! Listen folks. It really is not that long ago that all shops, except for maybe the local corner milk bar, routinely shut at midday Saturday and did not re-open until Monday. We coped.

My Easter Saturday family dinner was well received. Roast chicken, with lots of extra drumsticks and wings for hungry teenagers. There was much talk about the plans in progress for the coming wedding of son and partner, in October. That will be an event to look forward to.

Even with the distractions of cooking and visitors, there was some worry about the 4 year old Bendigo grandson, who had fetched up in hospital before Easter, and been transferred to the Royal Childrens Hospital in Melbourne. Lots of tests eventually resulted in a diagnosis and then surgery. Being in the hospital at the time of the Good Friday Appeal, meant he got to see a number of visiting celebrities. Eventually came good news – the boy was expected to make a full recovery. When he finally was allowed home to Bendigo, after a couple of weeks, his mums were very relieved, and happy to no longer be commuting back and forth every day.

John indulged in an absolute orgy of bowls over the Easter period – major events on offer. It was great that he had an enjoyable time, because a couple of weeks later came the news that he would need a TURP procedure, or a re-bore, in his terminology. Sounded distinctly unpleasant, and more serious than we’d realized, as he would have to be in hospital for four days. Surgery scheduled for late April, and in East Melbourne. That would mean much to-ing and fro-ing and battling with traffic. I am not sure which one of us was dreading the whole thing more!

Clearly, May would be a write-off in terms of any travel.


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2016 Travels March 23

WEDNESDAY MARCH 23      SALE TO HOME     270kms

We were all up fairly early, with the result that we left the park about 9.30am.

As we left the town behind, I texted a friend in Drouin, who was expecting us to call in for morning tea, to let him know we should be there about 11am.

We made good time to Drouin, despite encountering some roadworks. Driving the Princes Highway through this fertile, farming part of Gippsland is always pleasant, with the blue ranges in view to the north.

C was not technologically comfortable, and had not updated his GPS for some time. That was witnessed by the fact that the estate where my friend lived did not appear on C’s GPS. T had lived there for some eight years by now! So we came off the freeway and then waited in the main street of Drouin for them to catch us up, after I had texted directions from the freeway to where we were. They’d had to make a comfort stop in Yarragon, so were about ten minutes behind us. That gave time for a short walk for the dog.

Made our way in convoy to T’s place. The others had never been there, and it was a while since I’d visited. We received a house and garden tour – the garden had really become established since my last visit. His assorted citrus trees were now fruit bearing.

After a pleasant morning tea and chat, we left at 1.30pm, heading for home.

The traffic on the freeway heading towards Melbourne was really heavy. Much more than I’d expected. Part of the rationale for returning home today had been to avoid the traffic build up of tomorrow, when people would be getting a flying start on the Easter break.

The bulk of the traffic encountered between Drouin and the Eastlink exit was trucks and delivery vehicles. With our increasingly heavy reliance on road freight, rather than the rail alternative, poor old Melbourne was rapidly becoming clogged up, it seemed. It had become an endless cycle of building more and bigger freeways to ease traffic congestion, thereby encouraging more use of said freeways, leading to even greater congestion….ad nauseum.

The Eastlink traffic was less, with more cars and fewer trucks. We came off at Canterbury Road and then had the usual stop/start run home – due to proliferating traffic lights.

A big panel in our front fence had blown down. Probably in the same wild weather we had last Friday. No damage to anything – just a fix-up job for John. Back to reality!

Our flat tenant, who’d been keeping an eye on the garden watering needs, had picked a lot of figs from our back yard tree, and left a big container of same on the front veranda for me. Fortunately I got to them before Couey did – she loves figs! Now I would have to think of something to do with them. No room in the freezer because it was full of tomato products. Would have to dehydrate them. Back to my reality!

There were still quite a few fallen and bird pecked figs lying about on the ground beneath the tree. Party for Couey.

Easy and quick unpack. A week’s worth of washing to do.

We would need to get both Bus and Terios serviced again, before the next jaunt. Might need some new tyres soon, too.

Bus is really good for this type of short trip.


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2016 Travels March 22

TUESDAY MARCH 22     SALE

The weather looked much more promising today, which was our last one here, so was the last chance to do the drive to the coast that I wanted to do. I had never been to Seaspray, Golden Beach and beyond – the Ninety Mile Beach. M and C wanted to come too.

We took the road back to Longford and then on to Seaspray, through farming country that was really attractive and interesting. If I was decades younger, and interested in a tree change, think I would find this area really appealing.

Seaspray was a bit bigger than I’d expected, in terms of the number of houses there. Most of them were holiday homes rather than permanently occupied. There was a General Store and a Surf Life Saving Club with a very modern building.

Passed a fair sized caravan park, with grassed sites, but no trees for shade or shelter. If one could be sure that it was not going to be too hot or windy, it would be a good place to stay, being right by the beach.

Seaspray Beach

Took dog down a long set of wooden steps, onto the beach which, as befits its name, disappeared into the distance. It was sandy and wide – very different from the coast of Corner Inlet. Here, of course, the frontage was to Bass Strait and the ocean. Beautiful.

Beach walking on Ninety Mile Beach

We walked a little way back towards the west, then let dog free. She cavorted about, but was very wary of the breaking waves, not risking getting caught.

Feet is all she’s getting wet….

We came to where a creek outlet appeared blocked by the beach sand, creating a large still pondage. Then there were no dog inhibitions – a flying dive in!

Dog sort of water

The water was quite deep and we gave her a good diving and swimming workout, chasing sticks.

Creek inlet

Drove east, following Shoreline Drive, towards Golden Beach. Went through The Honeysuckles, a small area of houses, just before the road began to follow the narrow strip of land that was between Lake Reeve (the western-most of the Gippsland Lakes) and the coast.

Along this section, there were designated camping bays in the coastal scrub. We saw very few campers, though, but suspected that it would become busy in the next few days – Easter – and would be positively crowded in the Xmas holidays. There was obviously a booking system – National Parks, I presumed.

Then we came to another small area of houses, on our right – Glomar Beach. This was not on my map, but appeared on the GPS. We did a little drive around its streets. It seemed to be maybe three blocks of houses, parallel to the coast, and strung out for about a km. Some fairly substantial houses had been built here, and some seemed permanently occupied.

Glomar Beach road

Further on, the GPS showed a sub-division to our left, on the Lake Reeve side of the spit, and even across a couple of causeways, on an island in the Lake. There were several gravel, partly overgrown tracks, going off to the left.

John decided to follow one that the GPS indicated would take us over a causeway.

Track disappearing enticingly into the distance

After seeing very little traffic at all, we suddenly encountered a large 4WD motorhome trying to turn out of the track we were going to take – an OKA sort of thing. Had to back up to let him past.

We followed that track for a bit over a km, until it really narrowed, just across a causeway. John walked a bit further to check it out, but decided that turning back was a good idea. C, who was following us, already had a heap of light brush scratches down the sides of his almost new XTrail and was not happy. We did multi-point turns on the causeway with both vehicles, then made our way back to the bitumen, which was clearly C’s preferred mileau.

The point of no continuing…

I had, a while ago, read of some controversy about land ownership and development along the Ninety Mile Beach, where some people who had bought land would never be allowed to build on it – having essentially been conned by developers. I wondered if this area of non-developed estate subdivision was related to this?

Lake Reeve from track, looking west

Some research later turned this up – copied from the Wellington Shire Council:

The Ninety Mile Beach subdivision is a 25 kilometre strip of ocean foreshore and sand terrain between Bass Strait and Lake Reeve. It was subdivided into about 11,800 small urban sized lots from 1955 to 1969. It is in an area from Paradise Beach in the north east to The Honeysuckles in the south west.

The land was first subdivided without planning controls. The developer only provided a main sealed road along the coast (Shoreline Drive) and very little of the promised facilities or services were ever built. Only the main settlements of Golden and Paradise Beaches and The Honeysuckles are now serviced with electricity and no reticulated water or sewerage was provided. The lots were sold by development companies using vigorous marketing campaigns to thousands of people and in many cases to new migrants to Australia.

Some dwellings were built without services on the primary sand dunes and on flood prone land. The development along the Ninety Mile Beach became a State Government issue and from the mid 1970’s further development was prevented while they carried out detailed studies.

In 1978 the Shire of Rosedale and the State Government sent letters to landowners to advise that their land was in one of the following categories:

  • Development Land – Suitable for low density housing
  • Beach Dune Land – Unstable soil and not suitable for development
  • Land affected by flooding by Lake Reeve – Unsuitable for development.

From 1979 strict restructure and tenement controls limited or prohibited development.

More recent studies between 2003 and 2008 found that development should be reduced further for environmental reasons.

Where we had explored was clearly in the never-to-be-built-on zone. I felt some sympathy for those who had bought in good faith (but maybe with little research) and now held worthless land. They are able to transfer their land back to Council ownership, but with no compensation, apart from the cost of the transfer.

Lake Reeve from track causeway, looking east

Closer to Golden Beach, some of the camping bays were dog permitted. I wondered if there were paralysis scrub ticks along there?

Golden Beach was another small settlement, a mix of holiday houses and permanent homes, some very substantial and attractive. There were a lot of “For Sale” signs. I wondered if this was merely people trying to sell while still “summer attractive”, or whether there were more planning type issues here? These are the type of low-lying coastal areas that could be impinged-upon if forecast sea-level rises occur.

The very shallow Lake Reeve was close by, here. Would there be lots of mosquitoes in these parts when it was warmer?

There was a General Store/Café. We drove further along the land spit, along Shoreline Drive, for a short way. The name suggested possible sea views, but in reality we just passed through more of the coastal scrub. Golden Beach merged into Paradise Beach, and the sealed road merged to gravel. Here, we turned around – mindful 0f C’s frame of mind – and drove back to an area of park in Golden Beach, to have our picnic lunch at the shelter/picnic/BBQ facilities there. It was pleasant, eating our sandwiches in the sun.

Ninety Mile Beach at Golden Beach

Walked to a lookout over the beach, but did not go down the stairs and onto the sand beach. Thought it would be similar to the beach at Seaspray, and now we had dry dog, preferred to keep it that way.

Golden Beach

We did not intend to go on to Loch Sport – the other village in these parts, and as far as one can drive along this part of the coast. M had been there last year and reported that it was a bit of a maze of holiday places, camp grounds and the like, and not anything special to see.

So we took the direct Golden Beach to Longford road, back – across a proper lake Reeve causeway this time – and on a sealed road!

Lake Reeve from Golden Beach causeway

Passed a Restricted Area that was a firing range/bombing range for the RAAF, which has a base near Sale. In his Airforce Cadet days of yore, John spent some time at the Sale Base, so he had a little reminisce.

It was a pleasant day’s outing, and an enjoyable last full day of the trip. C may not have quite agreed, though!

The Ninety Mile Beach area we explored


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2016 Travels March 21

MONDAY MARCH 21     SALE

The morning did not look all that great, weather-wise. Certainly not a day for the beach. So John and I decided to stay around town. John wanted to visit Dick Smiths for some new headphones to be kept permanently in Bus. He uses these when Couey sets up her barking when we stop at a park and I go to book in, or before we set off.

The others had some shopping they wanted to do so we went our respective ways.

In Dick Smith, bought a new phone and answering machine, for home. Ours no longer worked and the closing down sale price was good. Then M and C arrived at the shop. M was looking at new mobile phones. Hers was an old one that was not holding charge for long and for which batteries were no longer made.

Refuelled the Terios, then headed for the Regional Art Gallery. This proved hard to find, being temporarily housed elsewhere. Eventually, with the assistance of a nice lady from the Library, we found our way in. Had just missed the exhibition of VCE works of local students, which would have been interesting, but I was intrigued by the textile art displays. I could recognize the creativity and amount of work that had gone into making these, but there is a little part of me that does not see the point. Why not just paint a picture or take a photo? As one who makes quilts from geometric shapes, I know this is not really logical, but still… I think I am a Philistine as far as the creative arts are concerned.

John found the woodwork pieces that were on display of interest, and got chatting with another viewer, about these.

After the Gallery, retrieved dog from the car and walked around the Port of Sale, where there were a number of small boats tied up. The waterfront area here has been made really pleasant. Dog was very interested in the water – and kept on a very firm lead!

Port of Sale

Then, as it had begun to rain, it was off to the main shopping street, so John could get a bread roll for his lunch. He encountered our friend D, from Yarram, there – and then I saw J, so we stopped for a chat.

Back to Bus for lunch. M and C went off to explore the Hollands Landing area to the east. John had  to put some work in on the Bowls Club web site, so we had an “in” afternoon. I did some quilt work, and read.

Sale site

When M and C got back, they said it had really not been an interesting drive, or place to visit, and we had not missed anything.

The usual late afternoon session, followed by steak for tea. It was the Foster butcher’s steak – tender and tasty.


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2016 Travels March 20

SUNDAY MARCH 20     YARRAM TO SALE    75kms

A nice, calm, uneventful pack up and departure. I like those kind…

Refuelled Bus in Yarram. $1.089cpl. We had injected some funds into this small country town, one way and the other.

I realized, while John was filling the tank, that the day was a lot hotter than I’d thought it would be, and did a quick change into shorts – thanking whoever it was who’d had the Bus windows heavily tinted.

The country between Yarram and Sale was just varied enough to be interesting.

Near Sale

As we drove into Sale, saw there was a big market happening.

I suddenly realized that I did not actually know the name of the caravan park that we’d booked into, as M had made this booking. I thought it was on the highway on the west side of town, near a creek. The first park we came to seemed to fit, but the name did not ring any bells. John pulled into the entrance and went in and asked the lady on reception if there was a booking for us? No. Then, as we could not back the rig, the lady very nicely raised the boom gate so we could drive in, around and out again.

While this was going on, I urgently texted M to ask where the hell we were supposed to be going? Though they had left Yarram at a similar time to us, they had detoured to a couple of side spots, like Woodside, on the way. Then, before I got a reply, it occurred to me that both bookings might be in her name, so we stopped outside the park and John went back in. Yes, this time, from the very patient lady.

Reply from M – she couldn’t remember the name and had no paperwork with her. I replied with our outcome. Really well organized, weren’t we? Just a little hassle from travelling with others…

Our en-suite site at the Sale Motor Village cost $40 a night. Again, it was drive-through. A big site, with a slab, Very good. Bathroom was clean, glass enclosed shower, some bench space – and very efficient heating. I liked that, at night, the interior light was on a sensor that came on as soon as the door was opened. The park was fairly large, with some permanent residents. It appeared quite full, at first glance, but we eventually realized that some of the vans muct belong to people who work away – maybe on the rigs in Bass Strait?

The park was on a loop of Flooding Creek and had a very large grassy area at one end that was unpowered camping – and also a good place to walk dog.

The others arrived and were happy with their cabin. And happy that we’d done the somewhat embarrassing work of asking if we belonged.

As soon as set up was done, we went to the markets. As it was almost midday, most stalls were packing up, but I bought some vegetables. A leather goods stall was a bit slower finishing up than the others and I spied the type of moccasin slipper that is hard to get at home, plus a pair of proper moccasins, so bought both of those. John bought a belt – to be permanently kept in Bus – another item he always forgets to bring.

John spied a smallgoods seller and bought some salami type sausage and some smaller “beer” snack sausages. Very smelly smallgoods. He’d been told by the vendor not to keep them in the fridge so they smelled out one of the Bus cupboards for the rest of the trip. M also bought some items at the same stall. Not my scene… Later, John was commenting about “local smallgoods” and how good it was to buy local. I pointed out that the label said made in Adelaide.

After a quick lunch at camp, we all drove out to the historic Swing Bridge, a few kms out of town, where the Latrobe and Thompson Rivers join. This has been restored and is opened at 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Swing Bridge

The little old original wooden Lakes boat, the Rubeena, now electric powered, does cruises on the river and had one that arrived at the Swing Bridge in time for the opening, so we were able to watch that puttering along the river. It had a full complement of passengers too.

A different sort of cruise

The Swing Bridge dates from the 1880’s and the era of coastal and Lakes shipping, when goods were brought through the Gippsland Lakes system and up river, to near Sale. Once a road was made from Sale to Longford, a bridge over the river was needed. About this time, too, the Sale Canal was dug to make a waterway that went the couple of kms from the river to the centre of Sale.

The highway now uses a newer bridge, so the Swing Bridge is for walkers only. There is a walking/cycling trail that comes from Sale out along the river and through the wetlands, to the bridge. Found myself hoping I was fitter next time we come here – it looked an appealing walk.

The Swing Bridge is really unusual, in that it swivels open on a turntable that is offset somewhat to one side of centre, in the river. So, when it is open, there is this long span, sitting parallel to the bank.

Swing Bridge moved to allow navigation on the river

When built, it was manually operated, but now is motorized. The two men who came to do the opening – very casually and without any commentary whatsoever – set up a portable generator that did the work. It was a rather slow process, but interesting.

Swing Bridge swinging to open the river

In old days, a red lamp warned that the bridge was open. You wouldn’t want to be colour blind.

The Swing Bridge swung…

The bridge is National Trust classified and is the oldest surviving swing bridge in Australia.

Once the handful of people who had watched the opening had dispersed, we let Couey off the lead for a ball chase on the grass beside the river. At one stage, she appeared to turn towards the river – and four voices all screamed out “NO”, really loudly. It worked.

Storm light

Then the day was mostly gone. Had happy hour at Bus and then retired to our respective abodes.

Our dinner was zucchini frittata that I’d bought, frozen, from home, and reheated in the electric frypan. An easy meal.


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2016 Travels March 19

SATURDAY MARCH 19     YARRAM

The morning was cool and grey, with a few early showers.

While John was sleeping in, I went to the shops and bought the Saturday papers.

John was uncertain whether bowls would go ahead on the wet grass greens. We could not really make plans for the afternoon until he knew. So M and C went off driving, to explore up in the Strzelecki Ranges and visit the Tarra Bulga National Park. That’s what I’d wanted to do!

After an early lunch, John drove off to bowls, with the agreement that, if I wanted to go exploring, I would walk there and get the car. He didn’t want to have to carry his bowl bag if he didn’t need to.

I thought about taking myself and dog off for a drive, but by myself and in the chill, it wasn’t all that appealing. So I read the papers, checked my emails and the like, without venturing out into the cold, apart from to walk Couey a couple of times.

Yarram site

We had invited J and D to come to happy hour this afternoon, but had decided this morning that it was too cold and damp to sit outside. So I’d phoned J and arranged to meet them at the Sports/Country Club for dinner instead. The caravan park man had told us this place put on a good meal.

John arrived back at Bus from bowls – on foot. He had assumed that I would have been to collect the car, so hadn’t even looked for it. He and Couey walked back to the Sports Club to collect it. John had enjoyed the bowls game.

M and C arrived back from their outing, which had turned out to be more adventurous than intended. Up in the hills, signposts were not plentiful, logging tracks were, and there was lots of vegetation down on the roads. They had managed to get to the National Park Visitor Centre and do the walk to the Suspension Bridge, but plans to return to Yarram via Tarra Valley went astray. They found themselves having to take different tracks to avoid fallen trees, clear some off tracks, and ending up not knowing where the hell they were. At one stage, they came upon a sign showing they were well on the way to Mirboo North! Eventually they found a way back – without ever getting to Tarra Valley.

Wonder what adventures I might have had, if I’d gone out driving?

The3 bistro menu at the Country Club was surprisingly extensive and the dining room was deservedly well patronized. Some of us ordered entrees as well as mains. I thought a starter of Turkish bread and dips was tempting. There was a beetroot dip and a slightly spicy capsicum one, a little bowl of olive oil and balsamic. The bread had been very thinly sliced and lightly fried in olive oil. Different but very good. Then my main course arrived: salt and pepper calamari. It was a large bowl with a great number of calamari rings arranged around a central salad, with a thick tartare sauce drizzled over the calamari. I shouldn’t have had that starter! The calamari was absolutely delicious and so tender.

John had a seafood platter for one – a real assortment of seafoods and so large that he could not finish it. Rare for a plate of food to defeat him! The others all had calamari too, except for C, whose plate of scallops featured twelve huge ones. Very yummy, apparently. The bar served draught apple cider on tap, which John tried and loved.

In all, a wonderful meal and a great night with friends.


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2016 Travels March 18

FRIDAY MARCH 18     YARRAM

In the early hours of the morning, it began to rain and the temperature dropped. The rain sounded quite heavy, at times. We had put the awning out with a slant to one side, so did not have to get up and go out in the rain to adjust it so water wouldn’t pool in it.

By the time we got up, the ground outside was quite sloshy, with big pools of water around where it was running off the awning. It certainly had come down steadily. The site had no slab and we had not put down the annexe matting, so began to spread wet grass and dirt into Bus, as we moved around.

I managed to find a break in the rain, to take Couey for a short walk.

We had been invited to J and D’s place for morning tea, so drove there, mid morning. At this stage, the rain had eased right off and before we left, John was able to put down the annexe matting. M had visited Adels when we were there, so she knew J and D too, and she and C came with us.

Had an enjoyable couple of hours. J had made scones and a delectable date loaf. There was much talk of Adels – the developments that had occurred since we were last there in 2006, and reminiscing about our joint times there. That had been the first few years of the development of the place under new owners, from a tiny camping area to a tourist operation offering a variety of accommodation and tour options. There had clearly been much change, but some things stay the same – like the difficulty in getting good seasonal staff, especially cooks!

Our main goal for today was to explore nearby historic Port Albert. It was not the most encouraging of days for it, with the sky dark grey as we drove the 15kms or so there.

Parked at the jetty area and gave Couey a ball chase session on the grassed area there, that was far enough away from the water to let her stay focussed on the ball.

Park at Port Albert

There was a cluster of old buildings at the jetty area. One small one housed the rocket and shipwreck rescue equipment that too often had needed to be used, in this area of shifting channels and sandbars, and generally treacherous coast.

Corner Inlet at Port Albert

About thirty five years ago, I had visited Port Albert briefly, on a short tour of the area with a couple of friends. We stayed overnight at the hotel, which I remembered as having a rather rickety upstairs verandah, and a most uncomfortable bed. The old wooden pub was no more, having burned down a couple of years ago. Sounds like there may have been a bit of a story behind that event! It had been one of the oldest licensed premises in Victoria, dating from the 1840’s. Now there was just empty land where it used to be.

Port Albert

We were determined to have a meal of fish and chips from the establishment by the jetty – reputed to serve an excellent feed, featuring the local product. The choice of fish was between whiting and flake. My meal of flake, a potato cake and chips was so yummy. John enjoyed his whiting, fried dim sims and potato cakes. He forgot to order chips, so ate some of mine.

We sat at a picnic table by the jetty side, where there were various boats moored.

The ever-present seagulls watched us carefully, but kept their distance because of the dog. Unfortunately, I could not say the same of an annoying Jack Russell terrier, belonging to a man who was across the road, yarning to another man in a car, and letting his dog cross the road to try to provoke Couey into an argument. It got one – from us – and after raised voices trying to shoo it away, the owner eventually called it back. Moron!

Drizzle had set in by the time we finished eating and we adjourned to the Maritime Museum, housed in a stately old former bank building. I can be quite critical of what are touted as museums in a lot of country towns, but this one was truly impressive. It had managed to confine itself to material that really was “maritime” and focussed on the sea-related history of the area, as a means of also conveying general historic information.

So, for example, the display of the rocket rescue equipment and breeches buoy served to explain how these items were used to effect rescues from wrecked ships. The breeches buoy looked for all the world like an old-fashioned version of the current kids’ swimming pool toy, where they sit inside an inflatable ring, with legs hanging down from the seat into the pool!

The museum houses print collections that are used by family history researchers who had ancestors in these parts. A collation had been done, of every person who moved through the port and who was mentioned in the assorted historical records of the time.

I spent some time watching a video/film documentary featuring a regular supply ship out of Port Albert to the lighthouse staff on one of the nearby Bass Strait islands. With footage made at the time, it showed a way of life that is now gone, with the automation of such lights.

We spent a couple of hours browsing the many displays, without noticing the passing time. Then realized that it was now blowing a gale outside and bucketing down rain. I wondered how our awning was faring, if this wind was reaching up as far as Yarram.

The weather was far too awful for any more exploring of the township, so we drove back to camp.

The section straight out of Port Albert was through an avenue of trees and it was quite scary driving, with lots of light tree debris coming down, and us wondering if a big limb or whole tree was about to follow it. It was a relief to get into the more open country.

Our site was so well sheltered that the awning was fine, but John did tie it down, to make sure.

We retreated to Bus, and M and C to their cabin. I got out the little fan heater. What a contrast, in 24 hours!

After the big lunch, tea was a can of soup.


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2016 Travels March 17

THURSDAY MARCH 17     TOORA TO YARRAM     57kms

Not exactly a major relocation today – just up the road, really. Good thing, because it was hot and very humid.

Whilst we were getting ready to move on, John learned a major life lesson – do not put thumb where awning arms are going to close! I have no idea how he got said digit jammed, as he had not waited for me to help lower the awning. I do know that there is a huge amount of tension on those arms. I tried to lever it a bit open with a screwdriver, so he could pull thumb out, but had to go get a heavy tent peg and gradually work that down the little gap, whilst levering as well, until I’d enlarged the gap enough for him to get thumb out. He was in a lot of pain while I was doing this. The skin was broken, and he was bleeding. Bandaid applied. Lucky not to break it – or chop it off altogether. I wondered if anyone had ever managed to do that? Hope he learned the lesson to wait for me to help, in the future. Much easier with two people. And safer.

Was 10.15 when we left the park.

The driver felt fit enough to detour to Port Welshpool. From 1998 to 2002, a summer fast speed catamaran ferry operated from here to Tasmania. It was rather unfortunately named the Devil Cat and gained a reputation to match – for very rough trips and major sea sickness for passengers. That reputation probably, as much as its distance from Melbourne, accounted for its demise.

In Port Welshpool, there appeared to be a number of accommodation places that had been set up in the expectation of increased business from the ferry service, but were now languishing, with several for sale. Ditto houses.

We stopped and looked at the Long Jetty, as we came into the village. This was, as name suggested, a jetty that extended a long way out, to a deeper channel. It was the old jetty, in the days when this place was a thriving port. It was now closed, due to fire damage. One hoped it could be restored – a walk right out to its end would be rather lovely.

Port Welshpool

Next stop was the current jetty area – one that extends widthwise, rather than outwards. We walked around this – with dog very firmly on lead. Saw what used to be the ferry cat terminal, now closed off. There were some fishing boats moored, as well as recreational boats.

It was a pleasant little village, with a general store. It probably gets much busier in the summer holiday period, but would still be a comparatively quiet place for a break by the sea.

None of these Corner Inlet villages have any decent beach areas, due to the nature of the inlet.

Couey was very interested in the edge of the jetty and peering down at the sea below. I had a strong suspicion that had she been loose, there would have been a high dive into the water. For once, John didn’t suggest she be let loose!

Backtracked to where we had turned off the highway at Welshpool township, and continued on to Yarram though green farmland – dairy cow country in these parts. It was a pleasant drive, uneventful, apart from being passed by a speeding ambulance, sirens and lights going. As he came up behind us, John slowed and pulled right over to the side, so the ambulance did not have to slow at all – this section of road did not offer clear views for passing otherwise. We then noted, though, that the caravan ahead did not slow or pull over at all, and the ambulance got held up behind him for a few kms. What is it with some drivers that they must be so incredibly ignorant and selfish?

Had booked an en-suite site at the Yarram Rosebank Tourist park. $36 a night. We were able to drive through the site behind us, which made it much easier, then unhitch the car. Had to wait for our bathroom cleaning to be finished – it was only midday when we arrived.

M and C were pleased with their cabin. It was larger than the one at Toora had been.

The caravan park was based around what appeared to be an old restored homestead – rather intriguing from the outside. Reception was in part of that.

There was an under cover area for sitting around a fire pit, a good playground area, and we were told when checking in that we could give Couey a run on the grassy area at the front of the park. This is always a plus for us. Our bathroom was clean, with a big shower area. We were quite happy with it. Bushes to the sides made our site quite private.

After set up, we all went for a walk along the main street, admiring the several substantial old buildings. At a novelty shop, M bought some small water pistols, to use to deter Couey from jumping up on them at happy hours.

Back in the late nineteenth century, nearby Port Albert was the main port for these parts, in the days before railways and good roads. Yarram developed from the 1850’s and became the main service centre for the area. Today, it was an attractive small town, although the number of houses for sale suggested a declining population. Some of the houses for sale that we walked past, were beautiful looking old places, well kept up, on large blocks.

Walked the length of the shopping area and then back on the other side of the road. There was a fair range of shops in the town. Visited an art gallery, housed in the former court house – a solid, brick building. There was an exhibition of works in oils by a local artist; his urban scenes were not subject matter I liked, but he’d managed to make them appear almost three dimensional, so I admired the technique. I quite liked one painting of a Greek island village – but our walls at home were already too full!

The men were very strong willed today, and resisted the pull of the bakery, in favour of own-made lunches back at camp.

I found the walk rather hard. Lower back and shoulders were all hurting as I walked. Wondered if Couey’s pulling on the lead had somehow injured the shoulder and upper back. Didn’t realize it at the time, but this was the first manifestation of spinal problems that were to continue and slowly reduce my walking range over the next few years. Rather cruel, that.

On the way back, John called in at the sports complex, almost opposite the park, to find out about bowls – and booked himself in for a game on Saturday. Had I been asked, my preference would have been for doing some sightseeing!

The humidity was really draining, and after our late lunch we both had naps, with the air-con going in Bus. It was rare for me to feel like an afternoon nap! C had a sleep too, and M did crosswords.

It was cooling down by the time we met up again for happy hour.

Our tea was the lamb fillet I’d bought in Foster. Very nice and very tender.

During the afternoon I had phoned a friend who lives locally, left a message, and she called me back after they returned from a day out fishing for whiting. Years ago, we had all worked a couple of tourist seasons together, up north at the magical Adels Grove. So I was looking forward to catching up with J and D again. They had worked and visited there for periods, most years, and so were more up to date with the people and developments.

It was an uncomfortable night for sleeping – even a sheet was too much cover in the heat.