Saturday, April 30, 2011

New Stuff, Old Stuff, Yummy Stuff, and Stinky Stuff.

Another lovely day on the road.  

We visited the historic town of Mogo Village.

The above is Mogo Cottage where Jellybeads stock all sorts of beautiful beads - ohhhhh I was in here for ages, just sighing with joy.  Oh and lots of touching, I love to feel things, I love texture and there certainly was plenty of that in Mogo.  Mogo has lots of lovely buildings just like this.

I didn't buy any beads, I managed to restrain myself *shock*, however, I did purchase some lovely soy melts from a lady in Plus of Mogo, who makes them her very self.  They are in our caravan, and right now, I am smelling mango.   hmmmmmm, sweet!  The strange thing is, I don't particularly like the taste of mango, I find it quite strong, yet ohhhhh that smell.  *sigh*. 

We got to see part of a pair of shoes being made by hand at Roman Leathergoods & Repairs, yup, by hand, such a lovely craft, and so rare these days with massed produced.  

I was very excited to know that items are made locally.  I don't like and won't buy things that are made elsewhere.  We are on holidays, visiting that particular town/place, there are so many local artists in each and every place we visit, I think it's important to recognise their talent and support them.  If we don't then alot of these towns will close and the residents will have to move to where there is work.  I don't want that to happen, I want to be able to visit back here one day, I want these people to still make their craft they love so much.  I want to meet them, talk to them about their passion, I want to purchase fresh produce that is grown in the places I visit, I want to check out the markets and see what people love to make/grow in their town.  I love the pride people have in the place they call home, and I like to hear the stories of why they love where they live.

We have met some wonderful people on our travels, and we are only 1 week in.  The country breeds beautiful people.   The local radio stations are pretty awesome too, I am totally diggin' the country music sounds.

. . . . anyways. . . . sheesh, the girl can talk!!
We stopped for lunch at Bodalla Dairy Shed.  Let me just tell you right here and now, if you are driving down this way and you drive past the above building, TURN AROUND, PULL IN, AND HAVE SOMETHING, ANYTHING FROM THEIR MENU - DO IT!!.

I walked in the door and gasped, immediately I was transferred to my Grandma and Pop's little hobby farm many, many years ago when they lived in Goulburn.  oh wow, oh wow, I  am sure I used to hide my peas under a little ledge that was under one of those tables with the metal looking edge, except Grandma and Pops had a green top from memory.  I think, maybe.  lol.  

wow chairs with stitching and those backs.  Actually I think Grandma and Pop's chairs had a little handle at the top of them.  Oh I am so trying to remember it all.  It even smelled the same with the wood fire and that cosy feeling of coming home.  I was totally transformed and it felt so wonderful.  It's amazing what a  smell and a chair can do.

Yes, even the cutlery was awesome.  I can't believe people make wind chimes from this stuff.  I would love a full set in my kitchen draw to replace the boring set I have at the moment.  

The food is fabulous!  We were so full, and it was soooooooo good!  So, there it is, if you are down this way, make sure you stop by for a meal.  Trust me, you will thank me.  

Oh and by the way, we thought we would be in cheese country here, Bodalla, however, no, we are not, and they sort of don't.  It's all done by a company of which the name escapes me, in Yagoona, NSW.  (which is funny enough in itself, seeing as I grew up very close to there, but never knew this)  But. . . . . there is a slab foundation next to this building and hopefully at the end of this year, they will have a cheese making factory up and running and will have viewings and tastings.  
Looks like we are coming back to Bodalla.  

After our huge meal, the need to stretch our legs and 'shake it down' took us up this little road to the top of the hill.  What a beautiful little church.  It's an Anglican church and lucky us, the door was open.  Again I was transformed to a larger church in Goulburn as a kid, the cool interior, the tall ceilings, the architecture common to that time, the stained glass windows, the reverence.  I did not feel it was right to take photos inside the church, but I took some outside.  Wow that streak of sun just there in the photo.  There really wasn't alot of sun about in the sky today, but it just come through for this photo.  Kinda makes me feel that I really captured a special little moment here.  

 Yes, I had to touch this door.  Don't you just love these colours!!

The colours change here so much with the change of the sky. 



 View from the church.

View from just outside of Bega.

We arrived in Bega and stopped at what we thought was the Bega cheese factory, as in, we could check out how our cheese was made etc etc.  We thought we would be able to see from some sort of over observation deck or something like that.  However, no, we were wrong.  There is a gift shop, then upstairs there is alot of old machinery, which I honestly do like to check out, just cause I like old stuff, and another gift shop of locally made stuff, which is cool too.  Downstairs you can taste the stuff that you buy at the supermarket, which is also cool, cause it's Aussie stuff and you know it's Aussie stuff, but I am in Bega people, I want to SEE the whipping of the milk and the culture, doing the culture stuff and congealing and being whipped til it can be whipped no more. . . . . can't do that in Bega. . . . due to health regulations, that's what the sign said. . . . . due to health regulations, I can't get to see the whipping and congealing and separating and coming together and whipping some more.  

oh but you can smell it, oh yes, you can, you can smell it all, and it smells like vomit milk.  yup, just thought I would share, cause I like to share.
I am not saying to not stop here, I am just saying that if you want a cheese making visual, you won't get it here.  Everyone likes different stuff, I am just sharing my stuff.  

So back on the road for us and our stinky cheese noses, heading south again.  

Thanks to some wonderful wanderers down the streets of Mogo, and their beautiful labra-doodle, Coby, who we just HAD to stop and say hello to, they recommended Fountain Caravan Park, which was so lovely of them, because we are still travelling by the old 'gypsy pants'.  

What a beautiful place.  We pulled in and the bellbirds greeted us with song, oh it was a wonderful afternoon/evening.  Lilly the lovely fluffy pussy cat that lives here apparently never makes friends with guests, however, she and I had a great cuddle in the office and chat.  The lady in the office couldn't believe it.  Well we were meant to stop by here then that's for sure.  

This is such a pretty place, and apparently the fishing here is HUGE, yup, that big.  There are quite a few boats here in the caravan park, and wow, some of them are a bit fancy too.  Kinda feel a bit left out with no boat ourselves.  

Thanks so much for stopping by my place today.

Take care of you, and who knows where we will be tomorrow.  

Posted by Joyce.  xx

2 comments:

Joanne Hill said...

oh wow, oh wow, sounds better then wonderful!!! So glad you are sharing your adventures and yes the country does breed beautiful people..Cannot wait until the next installment.
xoxooxx

Miss Prudence said...

don't you just love being sent by memory triggers to Nana"s! I really savour those moments. I am really enjoying your trip! : )