It’s often said, “it’s a small world” and today was proof of the pudding. We had gone to a small town in Western Victoria called Casterton whose claim to fame was that it was the Kelpie capital of Australia.
Each year they hold a championship event specifically geared to the Australian Kelpie. I know in a farming community such as Western Victoria, these dogs are pure gold for farmers so I can see why this event is such an important day in the calendar.
As I was going into the information centre, which was run by local volunteers and smacked of country charm, I ran into a virtual neighbour. Kath Scully who, with her husband Jim, run the IGA Supermarket in Batehaven in my electorate of Gilmore. Jim and Kath were on their way to Western Australia and frankly they were the first carvanners we had seen for a couple of days. 8 weeks on the road for them and their new van.
The lady in the information centre was charming – typical country and we were offered hot chocolate and a cake. The wind was bitter outside and the hot chocolate was a very welcome relief. I know that I wax lyrical about visitor centres, but they do play such an important part in Australian tourism. Again it was pointed out that numbers had seriously decreased at every stop we made.
Before leaving Portland, I had a long conversation with a woman just out of the shower, who asked me what we were doing, and proceeded to tell me that she was from WA and would be on the road for two months, just loved meeting people , she dived into her bag and showed me the list of people she had made friends with whilst her and hubbie were staying at the van park.
I find this to be a typical story wherever we stop. We also made time to visit a nearby coastal site formed from volcanic activity that gave the appearance of petrified wood but being the effects of the lava flow. We also made time to see the huge wind turbines and generators that gave enough electricity to service 35,000 homes!!!!!!!! Makes you wonder why we don’t have more of them especially in the Gilmore electorate (plenty of wind comes from there). Seriously, I will certainly be speaking more about this in Parliament.
Having time up our sleeves, and wanting to be spontaneous We decided that we would like to visit Port Fairy, which was a little off schedule but that’s what road tourism is all, about – VERY COLD, but met lots of visitors who came for a day trip only, travelling approx 200 kms round trip. Our van is drawing a lot of attention and people are now coming up to us to ask what we are all about. . Tomorrow I will take a bucket and WARM water and clean our Jayco as it is almost unrecognisable with the amount of mud and dust. Yes I know that is contradictory but we constantly pass through rain and drought almost in the same day.
Took some time today to see part of the Great Ocean road, after reading a newspaper article about how the business people feel that quote “Road crash” “Fuel prices blamed for tourist dip” “Tourist numbers along the great ocean road, have crashed to a 20 year low as the South West suffers from the effects of crippling fuel prices, traders claim”. So it is not just what we are experiencing, as each visitor centre tells me the same story.
We visited Port Campbell, our next destination but as time was getting away on us, we struck out for Colac - more about that tomorrow.
Again towing the van proved effortless and so far we have had no problems. I have to remember not to touch the canvas sides of the fold down cabins when it is raining because until the canvas stabilises, water will seep in.
Thank you Jayco for the luxury of the small air conditioner in the van which has allowed us not to freeze during the night. Have not had to turn the fridge on yet. If you intend staying at a caravan park but you are running late (as we often do) call ahead and tell them you’re coming. It’s not that they’re over booked – It’s just that you might have trouble raising them after dark.
PHOTO top left: Catching up Kath Scully of Batehaven in Casterton.
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