Mansfield, Vic

Day 3 Wednesday 12/2/2025 Mansfield, hot 16 – 32

Today we have a pressing task and that’s to buy me a wide-brimmed hat. The old one is looking rather ragged. We girls chatter our way up the main street and eventually catch up with Mother of Pearl who’s at the tyre place getting her spare tyre fitted and a new tyre ordered as hers has a not so slow leak. I find a hat and Mrs. Doubtfire buys a pair of shoes. It has been a successful morning.

We arrive back at the park to find the boys eager and ready to go touring. The drive up to Jamieson is as stunning as always, even though the rivers and Lake Eildon are at a summer low.

At the Jamieson General Store, we buy focaccias and take them down to the park by the river. While we munch, we try to identify the specimen trees around us. Among others there’s a linden, a gingko, a wollemi pine and the mown lawns are quite a contrast to the wild bush on the opposite bank of the river. And I must say that lunch is delicious.

A stroll along the banks of the Jamieson River is obligatory, people are swimming and sunbaking on the lawns. Of course we have to take a peek at historic Juddy’s Hut.

Juddy’s Hut is a miner’s cottage in Jamieson, Vic. Like so many of that era (1933) it was built from salvaged materials, note the heavy use of corrugated iron even in the chimney. And the name? Well Jack ‘Juddy’ Hampton lived in the hut for 30 years.  There is more to the story of Juddy though as he fought in World War One. He was accidentally bayonetted in the stomach by a Frenchman while fighting at Paschendaele.

After his home was flooded in the 1950’s to create Lake Eildon, Juddy moved into this hut and remained here until the 1980’s. He lived to reach the age of 95, not bad for someone roughly stitched up on the battlefield. Source: Jamieson Heritage Walk.

Back in the cars and for a drive further on to our favourite camping spot at Skipworth Reserve. This time the Goulburn River lures us in, up to our knees and it’s hard not to just flop face down into the mountain stream.  But we probably look silly enough as it is. A bunch of old ducks hobbling about in the river with our clothes hoiked up.

Just up the road from here is the Kevington Pub, an old favourite, but today it’s closed though they do offer to host functions…for nudists as well as the clothed. See, we’re not the only ones who want to throw ourselves into the river.

On the return journey we hit the dirt and drive over the hill to the Delatite Winery. The cellar door is an architectural splendour of rammed earth and with views across the valley to Mt Buffalo. We have a few sips before heading back for a quick happy hour and a short walk into town for dinner at the Delatite Hotel. It’s a great pub and the dining room is splendid. Everyone raves about the meal except yours truly. You see, I’ve been having hankerings for veal lately and after several false starts I’m beginning to think the art of cooking veal has been lost. Too bad, my fault, I’ll have to get cooking at home. Walking back to camp we’re entertained by locals trying to evade the police breathalysers.

It’s a warm evening and just what we need for a spirited discussion about religion whilst sitting on the lawn outside Elle’s motorhome.

Accom: $40.00

An aside: I’ve just noticed that I’ve posted over one million words in the last 3 years. I dread to think what the entire tally is, but thanks to you dear readers for the encouragement. Cheers!