THE BELLARINE, DON'T FORGET YOUR SHOES

 

NOT ALL TRIPS AWAY ARE FOR HAPPY OCCASIONS

We all love to hitch up the van, or throw in the camping gear and hit the road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGvjH9GS0g0

But holidays are not the only reason for a road trip. Who doesn't love a party or a fabulous wedding, and sadly the reason can be a  funeral, so bringing your own accommodation  along with you can be a very  practical reason.

Our last trip, to a region that we have visited many times, was for a funeral.

The Bellarine area in Victoria always has something to offer. And Bellarine Bayside caravan park in Portarlington, offers views over the bay where you can sit in quiet solitude and reflect on those gone before us.

https://www.bellarinebayside.com.au/

When you have a caravan there really is not a problem taking along comfortable and presentable clothes for a funeral. But check that you have everything, as a lack of dress shoes can cause a bit  of angst, but the black sneakers did not look that out of place with the suit pants.

The city of Geelong is growing, with lots of shopping and housing precincts popping up throughout the area. But for the tourist, the area does offer a variety of interesting pursuits. There are areas that we had never ventured too. 

Inverleigh is a small town, situated on the Hamilton Highway, which for us needs more investigating. There is a lovely blue stone pub which dominates the corner position, and a free camping area across the highway.

Inverleigh Pub

If you enjoy some ship spotting, there are quite a few places around the Bellarine Peninsula where you can get the binoculars or camera out and watch the boats traverse the heads.

Sitting and enjoying a takeaway coffee at Queenscliffe  became quite a poignant moment when a small boat, heading towards  open ocean, came into view. As it got closer, and the crowd grew a bit more fascinated, we saw clearly that it was undertow. It was certainly a time of interest for many who lined the pathway. According to news reports it was heading to China to be scrapped. Its life as a sea worthy vessel was complete.

So it was the end of life for a boat which served its purpose well.

Yes, the Steve Irwin, for Sea Shepard, was undertaking its final journey.

So our recent trip away was one of reflection and remembering:a goodbye  for the husband of a wonderful friend; but also a surprising viewing of the last journey of a boat who had served an organisation well.

TOCUMWAL - AND THE STEEL DANCERS IN THE SKY

 AIR SHOW 2022

air show - YouTube

It is so great to be able to pack up the necessary belongings and hit the road. Often with destination unknown. 

But sometimes it pays to check out the events and festivals which may be happening along the way. I know many of you have a list of favorite events that you head off to; and isn't it great to see life coming back into all our loved Australian activities.

As yet hubby and I  have not traveled enough to have built up a list, but we will get there.

Occasionally, there will be ads for certain events which pop up on the Facebook feed. And Tocumwal Air show was one such event. So as luck had it, it turned out to be a great time to head to Tocumwal.

I bought our tickets online in the hope that there would not be a long line of devoted plane enthusiasts waiting to enter the event. But as luck had it, we drove straight in as we were quite early, which gave us plenty of time to peruse all the displays, find a nice place to set up our chairs and be prepared for five hours of flying. 

And the pilots certainly make those planes dance through the sky. They are absolute dare devils. It was a day filled with entertainment, information and thrills, all from the ground I may add ! 

But a word of warning, especially for the ladies. Do not wear a dress or skirt as when those planes start up, they create an incredible amount of wind. So much so that I even found bits of grass down my top!

Enjoy your travels everyone, and enjoy hunting out all those festivals around our great country.

static planes - YouTube

TOCUMWAL - part 1

A TOWN ON THE ROAD TO SOMEWHERE ELSE 

Tocumwal  is a small town on the banks of the Murray river in New South Wales. It is on the southern section of the Newell Highway so a town that you will more than likely pass through on the way further north. 

Yes, we have been guilty of just driving through and continuing on our travels, but this time we decided to stay.

We spent 4 nights at the Boomerang Way Caravan Park, a member of the G'Day group of parks. It is a lovely set out park and we were lucky enough to have a  large drive through grassed site in the rear section, near the relatively new amenities block. The camp kitchen is well set up and is quite popular. There are ensuite sites available also. Blu was an absolute encyclopedia of information about the area, so hunt him out if there is something that you need to know about the region.

https://www.boomerangwaytouristpark.com.au/

Now I admit that I knew very little about Tocumwal, but scratch the surface and you will discover some fascinating facts. 

I did not know that this little town played such an important part in the second world war.

A visit to the Aircraft museum out at the airport is a must. It is full of informative facts and interesting displays. And afterwards a coffee at the cafe next door is a worthwhile place to sit and discuss the newly discovered history of Tocumwal. 

Yes, okay, many of you probably already know these facts, but as I said I didn't so it was an eye opener to me.

When we roam around our country we all like to partake in some relaxing hobby.

So Tocumwal has the river if you carry your fishing gear with you.

There is also a magnificent looking golf course. I do possess a set of golf clubs, which are  covered in a mountain of cobwebs as they have not left the shed for quite a few years. And looking at the standard of this well kept course, I would not even dare  think about playing a round, as I would probably be asked to leave as my current standard of play would cause too much damage. But those who carry clubs with them would surely enjoy this course. There are also well maintained bike paths if you carry some pedal power with you.

In the centre of town Tocumwal has a nicely grassed  park with the large Murray cod statue taking pride of place. The bakery is opposite so purchasing a treat and sitting a while is a great way to relax. There is a IGA supermarket , a few pubs if a counter meal is to your liking and friendly coffee shops. A local Op shop is always good for a browse, and a shop selling tourist items and trinkets is where a special item for a loved one can be found.

All in all Tocumwal is worth so much more than just a town on the road to another place, so stay a while, you may be pleasantly surprised.

Happy and safe travels everyone.

https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/country-nsw/the-murray/tocumwal

https://www.gdayparks.com.au/

https://www.tocumwalaviationmuseum.com.au/

CORRYONG

A weekend in Corryong

            To be truthful, a weekend is nowhere near long !

Corryong is a place where I always feel a sense of relaxation, a town where I can de-stress and sit back and enjoy the fresh country air.

But, a couple of years ago it was a little bit different. People were struggling with the aftermath of the bushfires. But this time there was a true feeling of positivity among the residents.

We have visited a few times over the last two years, with the first visit being directly after the bushfires, when we did a stint as volunteers for Blaze aid, so it is great to see the change in the environment and the townsfolk.

The road from Wodonga out to Corryong comprises of steep hills, lots of bends and limited passing opportunities so take your time and enjoy the scenery.

There are two caravan parks, a camping area, a motel and some free camping spots. 

Colac Colac ( clack clack) is the largest caravan park with cabins and large well-grassed sites all set amongst strands of shady trees . There is a new amenties block which is bright and airy, and a modern camp kitchen which has some shiny new appliances, which I may say I was quite envious of the ovens. If you decide to wander down to the creek, which meanders along  the back of the park , take a chair and a drink with you as it is a great place to while away a few hours. If you have bought a bike along on your travels then there is a shared path which will take you into town. We enjoyed our recent stay and found the staff friendly and helpful.

Mt Mittamatite Caravan park is situated  on the main road and is walking distance to the town centre.  Looking across the paddocks at the rear of the park you are rewarded with a wonderful view to the mountain which looms high above the town. The caravan park is slowly getting back into shape as it did suffer significant damage during the bushfires. But there is a new amenities block and the grass is green and the trees are bouncing back.

A short drive out of town you will come across Poets Paradise. This camping property is situated on the side of Mt Elliot and supplies you with breathtaking views across the valley. The sunsets can be quite impressive so try and organize your time so you can enjoy the moment. On one Sunday afternoon a month there is entertainment supplied. Singing, poetry and a bush band all make for a fun time.

There are also free camps available either within the town boundary or within close proximity, with most being in very pretty settings.

Corryong is very pretty with trees decorating the centre median strip, and murals covering some of the buildings walls. The one on the RSL car park wall is very informative.The local park,  Attree Park, is nicely green with seats spread around under shady trees. And take a moment to enjoy the mural which stretches along the wall of the sound shell.

The Community Bakery is a must if you need lunch on the run; or Legends coffee shop if you wish to relax with a nice coffee and a tasty morsel. And there is an outside area if you travel with your furry friend.

The local IGA has quite a large range of groceries, and speciality shops are littered along both sides of the main street. I had been looking for a wide brimmed sun hat and was so pleased when I found one at a local store. There are local pubs to fill your appetite with a large meal and a ice cream shop for those with a sweet tooth.

The lovely staff at the Tourist Information centre will help you out with local sites of interest or informative brochures. And local knowledge is priceless, so listen to any information that a local may wish to share.

All in all Corryong is a town which has plenty to offer. It is well known  for, The Man from Snowy River festival which is a highlight on the town calendar, and draws many tourists to the town. Throughout the year there are country race meetings and farmers markets, even hang-gliding competitions which supply a kaleidoscope of colour in the sky;  and if mountain scenery or meandering water ways is what you are after then Corryong is the place to be.

Happy travels everyone. Be safe and take care,

 

 ECHUCA BRIDGE PROJECT

 

When we are travelling across our country, a narrow bridge can be a real nuisance. Quite often it is only suitable for a single vehicle at a time, and this can cause a bit of anger in a driver.

But the bridge at Echuca has always been able to accommodate bi-directional traffic, even though at times I have been convinced that there was far from enough room for a caravan and truck.

But for all those who have crossed the Murray River at Echuca, a new bridge is on its way.

Traffic will bypass the town centre, so hopefully it will make a difference during those very popular tourist events.

And I have been keeping an eye on its progress. Below is the link to a timeline of photos on You tube.

Happy travelling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JOxM_CbL7M