Teddy and i left Kogarah, Sydney at 10am on Monday, May 1 2023 for our long journey to north –east Victoria. There were lots of semi- trailers on both sides of the Hume Highway , caravans – the majority likely to be grey nomads , and there were the usual road works .i stopped at a new Service Centre, maybe 20 kms north of Goulburn for a coffee, and to walk Teddy . I then drove on to Yass, as i was calling in to Merchant Campbell in the main street, Comur Street, to buy a merino and cashmere wool poncho . i decided to settle on two ponchos, one is navy blue and the other one is beige . I will be very warm on my evening dog walks! I highly recommend Merchant Campbell in Yass.
I drove on to Gundagai, taking the second turn off the Hume Highway into Gundagai, and arrived at the caravan park at 4pm .The lady in reception had a Cavalier, Ted, and he was in reception. So her Ted, at 12 years of age met my Teddy, at almost 6 years of age. Later, i took Teddy for a walk, and we met a couple from Ulladulla with their 2 Cavaliers – Rosie, a tri and Jed , a Blenheim .Their neighbours in Ulladulla also have Cavaliers – a tri and a black and tan . They share dog- minding when needed, which is a wonderful arrangement.
There were lots of caravans of different sizes in tonight at the caravan park. I suspect that it is usually like this at this caravan park.
On Tuesday morning ,May 2 2023, i left at 10am to visit the Information Centre, Gundagai to see Rusconi’s Marble Masterpiece -20,948 individual pieces of marble, in which each piece had been cut , turned and polished by hand over a 28 year period. No plans or drawings were ever found; this masterpiece was produced by sight alone.
I checked with Gundagai Tourist Information – The Snake Valley Cup is run this year on Friday , November 17 2023 in Gundagai . A feature country race meeting is good fun.
Then to 142 Sheridan Street, Gundagai to check out the well -known Art Deco Niagara Café, which re-opened in June 2022 after a restoration. It was established in approximately 1902 by a Kytherian Greek , Strati Notara; then run in 1938 by the Castrission family ; and 1983 by the Loukissas family .The café remained in Greek ownership until 2020, which made it the longest continually owned Greek café in Australia. Joseph Curtin, Prime Minister dined here one Saturday night in 1942 along with some political colleagues. Curtin was known to call in on other occasions for tea and cakes, as did Robert Menzies.
I had a late lunch here -Teddy joined me as the café was dog friendly. I then went to find the Racecourse, and then on to the Railway Museum .Ted Mills, a former Moorefield jockey, had recently told me that his father had ridden at Gundagai Racecourse.
Once the hub of activity for the town, the Gundagai Railway Station looks exactly like it did in 1886 when it opened – the railway station had been restored maybe 30 years ago. Inside the Museum there were many displays. One display records when trains ran regularly on the now closed Cootamundra to Tumut branch line. I decided to visit Gundagai Museum on my return visit to Gundagai.
I had afternoon tea at the dog friendly, Café Pedaler at 218 Sheridan Street, Gundagai. I spoke to two ladies, who lived on the land – one on one side of Gundagai, and the other lady on the other side of Gundagai. One lady had been a Tourist Information Officer for Council for many years. I asked them about farm stays in the area.
Teddy had lots of pats today.
Wednesday morning, May 3 2023 I left Gundagai at 10am for Benalla, Victoria. The receptionist in the Gundagai Caravan Park said that “it would be a windy day, so be very careful with your driving.” It rained, was windy and foggy. I thought that it was October 2019, and that I was back in the Scottish Highlands! The semi –trailers went past me at some speed splashing up water. I drove at a more comfortable speed with the windscreen wipers working hard.
I called into Holbrook for an early lunch. I spoke to a couple, who were leaving the café .They said that they were returning to Bowral. I said that i was from Kogarah .They had lived in Warialda Street, Kogarah when they first married, and the husband was a former student of James Cook Boys High School, Kogarah. I told him about my Moorefield Racecourse, Kogarah book, and the recent changes in Kogarah.
I sat outside the café and enjoyed my focaccia and coffee. A few passers- by came to say hello to Teddy and myself.
The Hume Highway continued to be a dual carriage way and was excellent to drive .There were rest stops with toilets, which made for a convenient stopping spot. I was happy to drive below the maximum speed limit and let the semi -trailers pass me .I stopped at McDonalds near Glenrowan, Victoria for a coffee and chips. It was then 30kms to Benalla. I passed a sign which said Mt Buffalo 1723m. After arriving in Benalla at 3pm, i drove into town to the Information Centre to pick up a map and a few brochures. The Museum, and the previous Information Centre, are currently closed for renovation.
I then went shopping in Woolworths in Benalla. When i came out from Woolworths , i mentioned to the man parked in the car park next to my car that it was cold :” You are lucky “ he said “you have hair on head !“
I returned to the caravan park and rang a dog walker, Mathilda for 11am Thursday. It was brisk to say the least. I ate in, as it was simply too cold to go out.
On May 4 2023, it was Teddy’s 6th birthday, I had arranged to have Matilda, a dog walker, take him for a one hour walk at 11am, so that i could look at the Benalla Art Gallery . We met in Arundel Street, Benalla which was close to the Art Gallery. Lunch followed at the dog- friendly Bakery in the main street, and then I then drove to Glenrowan in the afternoon.
Glenrowan is the site of Ned Kelly’s last stand in 1880.The Museum documents thoroughly the history of Ned Kelly and his family, and there is a replica of the Kelly homestead at the rear of the Museum. A mural, which depicts Ned Kelly holding up the train and the town, has been painted on the side of the Museum building. Teddy was allowed in with me.
After the Museum visit, I had coffee at a nearby café, and bought some fudge. A lady came out of the nearby Post Office. She patted Teddy, and then he promptly lay down and wanted a belly rub! The lady said that she had grown up in Melbourne, married a farmer and settled in the local area .She had been a primary school teacher and had taught with a lady, who bred Cavaliers. She brought the mother and pups to school – much to the delight of the children. I returned to Benalla, and visited the butcher to get some fresh quality mince for the birthday boy.
Teddy had lots of pats today.
On Friday, May 5 I left at 10am for Rutherglen. I had to drive to Wangaratta, Wang as the locals call it. I visited the dog- friendly Stanton and Killen winery, a red wine specialist, which was established in 1875 in Rutherglen, to purchase some wine for my local pharmacists, and an elderly friend. Stanton and Killen have had seven generations of winemakers in the family.
I had lunch at the Bakery –Valentines in Rutherglen, and Teddy and i had a walk around town. After lunch, i visited the Tourist Information Office, and then i drove towards Howarth. I noticed more wineries, which are spread out across the area. The countryside was lovely.
I returned to Rutherglen and then drove on to Corowa, on the banks of the Murray. Meredith, an ex- student of mine from the 1980’s lives in Corowa. Unfortunately, we did not connect in person due to her work demands. We had contact by email and text.
Corowa is an important town in the context of the fight for Federation. The Corowa Branch of the Border Federation League organised and hosted a Conference in 1893, which was the birth of the push by the people for Federation. State delegates attended the Federation Convention in Melbourne in 1898 and decided to draft a Constitution.
Teddy had some pats today.
On Saturday, May 6 2023, i left Benalla at 11am to do an art silo drive with the aim of ending up in Yarrawonga. Moira Shire Council has produced an excellent brochure –Silo Art Road Trip. I drove to Goorambat to photograph the work horses on the silo-stunning. I chatted to a lady from Perth, who was attending a national gathering of owners of A- frame caravans in Yarrawonga. She was also photographing the silos.
Then on to Devenish, where i photographed the military personnel on the silos –impressive .A new mural has been completed this year of Devenish Railway Station, and this was in a side street. Ihad tea and freshly made scones in the 1884 Devenish Hotel This building could tell some stories! I was unable to locate the silos in St James, so i then drove on to Tungamah to see that silo. I made it to Yarrawonga Just in time to get a toastie and coffee before the café closed.
Yarrawonga is a lovely town .Should you drive across the bridge you are then in Mulwala, in NSW. Teddy and I took a walk along part of the long shopping strip .We walked past a lady and her husband, who were enjoying their afternoon coffee.” Is the dog a Prince or a Princess?” she asked. “We know that Cavaliers are all Princes or Princesses.” “May I introduce you to Prince Teddy “I said?
I arrived back in Benalla at 5pm, having had a great day.
Teddy had some pats today.
Sunday May 7 2023 i left at 1130am for Wangaratta to then drive the Alpine Highway to Bright . I decided to go to Bright as I was aware of the Save Our Trees campaign. People Iove Bright for the entrance elm trees, which have been there for almost 80 years. The trees were in fact planted at the end of World War 2.
I stopped at Porepunkah to have a home- made sausage roll and coffee in the Bakery , before driving the 6kms to Bright .Bright reminded me of an alpine village in Europe. Teddy and I had a walk in the main street, and i photographed some buildings and trees with their beautiful autumn colours.
It was very cold in Bright, which is not far to the ski fields at Falls Creek .I saw a stunning teal and pink checked jacket in a shop window in Bright. Sadly, the shop was closed …..
I stopped north of Porepunkah to photograph a row of trees in their stunning autumn colours. I returned to Wangaratta, and then on to McDonalds near Glenrowan for a coffee and muffin. I arrived back in Benalla at 5.45pm.
Monday morning, May 8 2023 i left Benalla after 5 nights, and returned to Gundagai for the night. I faced a challenge in packing my car for the return trip as it now had a number of additional items in it .When I dropped the keys into reception, the lady asked me about my travels over the past few days . We chatted about racing as there are now horse studs around Benalla. She said that her niece works for Michael Freedman in Melbourne, and had completed a 4 year Godolphin course.
I had lunch in a café in Holbrook, which was in the park in which a decommissioned submarine was located. It was too cold to sit outside at the café, so Teddy had to stay in the car. The Hume Highway continued to be a dual carriageway, and driving was easy and the scenery was pleasant. I arrived in Gundagai at 3pm, checked in at the caravan park and then went for a very welcome coffee, and a slice of apple pie, at the Niagara Café.
Tuesday morning, May 9 2023, i visited the Gundagai Museum to see Phar Lap’s saddle cloth, and to have a look around the extensive collection in the Museum . The saddle cloth was used by Phar Lap in the Agua Caliente Handicap, which was raced near Tijuana, Mexico in 1932. I then went to the Niagara Café for a coffee and friand, and had a chat to the owner. He told me that the café had been nominated for the National Trust Heritage Awards to be held at Doltone House, Pyrmont in Sydney on Friday, May 13 2023. I wished the café good luck. The new owners have done a wonderful job with the conservation of the building –both inside and outside. Postscript: the Niagara Café won the President’s Award at the National Trust Heritage Awards on May 12 2023.
I told the café owner that i document all my road trips and write a story about them .This is then posted to the blog on my website, which i gave him. He said that he had had a couple of people in recently, who photographed the restaurant. They were preparing, he believed, a travel podcast.
I visited the Dog on the Tuckerbox Statue to photograph it .The last time i saw it i was maybe 8 years of age-some time ago!
I drove on to Yass for lunch at Thyme to Taste. I had been recommended to this café. It was also where I met a rude woman. Having a dog with you can be awkward at in terms of getting attention from the café staff. I was forced to open the door, and then walk inside to speak to staff to order and pay for my lunch , which consisted of a lamb pie and a coffee. The restaurant was behind the front counter, and the staff were not fazed by me being there with a dog. Teddy is always well behaved.
This white-haired, 80 something woman walked in to the café, and said in a very haughty voice to me “i believe that you are not allowed to have dogs in here.” In my Margaret Thatcher voice, I replied to her “i believe so.”
I then visited the Yass Tourism Office to ask about farm stays. This was the day of the Telstra outage, so we could not access the internet. Their website provides information on farm stays.
The countryside between Gundagai and Yass is magnificent.
I continued on to Goulburn where i stayed 2 nights. I paid a visit to the Bakery, which is near the Big Merino to get a pastie for dinner and fresh bread for breakfast.
Wednesday May 10 2023
I was last in Crookwell in mid-2019 and loved it. So I decided to drive to Crookwell for lunch. Road line- marking was taking place on my drive to Crookwell. I stopped to view the Crookwell Wind Farm in the viewing area. Lunch was at the dog friendly The Cat’s Pyjamas Café. After lunch, i visited the Lindner sock factory whilst Teddy stayed in the car .The Lindner family have been making socks since 1730. I bought a bright red pair and a multi-coloured pink and purple pair –I will be noticed! I had done a tour of the factory in 2019 when visiting Crookwell.
Teddy had many pats today.
I returned to Goulburn knowing that my road trip would be over on Thursday, when i returned to Sydney. I competed with lots of trucks and semi-trailers on the road on my return to Sydney and finally, arrived home at 130pm .I had travelled almost 2400 kms.
Teddy on his dog walk with Matilda in Benalla.
