Personal travel

Personal travel blog posts

2 vanilla slices 1 pie 1 steak and 1 tiramisu

Posted by Gary

Today I started five days recreation leave from work. I drove from Canberra to Wangaratta and stopped at the Dog on the tucker box (near Gundagai), Holbrook, and Wodonga.

I’m on my way to Geelong to spend a couple of days watching Miss13 compete in the WAG National Club Championships at the Geelong Arena. 

I’ve never driven through southern NSW and Victoria before so in preparation I spoke with many friends who have lived in Victoria. A recurring theme is the food in Victoria is better than anywhere else and the bakeries can’t be beaten. 

Here is my path from Canberra to Wangaratta

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The dog on the tucker box near Gundagai SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 70mm and f/4, 1/1600sec, ISO 100
The dog on the tucker box near Gundagai SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 70mm and f/4, 1/1600sec, ISO 100
The dog on the tucker box near Gundagai SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 52mm and f/8, 1/500sec, ISO 100
The dog on the tucker box near Gundagai SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 52mm and f/8, 1/500sec, ISO 100

The next stop was Holbrook because I heard the bakery was amazing and the vanilla slice there was the best in NSW. That is a big claim given my love for the vanilla slices from the Gumnut bakeries in Mittagong and Bowral. 

Before I got to the bakery I stopped at HMAS Otway. Holbrook is the adopted home for the submarine. 

HMAS Otway SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 24mm and f/4, 1/1000sec, ISO 100
HMAS Otway SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 24mm and f/4, 1/1000sec, ISO 100
HMAS Otway SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 24mm and f/8, 1/200sec, ISO 100
HMAS Otway SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 24mm and f/8, 1/200sec, ISO 100
Public art SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 67mm and f/22, 1/25sec, ISO 100
Public art SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 67mm and f/22, 1/25sec, ISO 100
HMAS Otway SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 24mm and f/8, 1/800sec, ISO 100
HMAS Otway SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 24mm and f/8, 1/800sec, ISO 100

Then I got into the bakery and asked for a vanilla slice. 

Vanilla slice from the central Holbrook bakery Apple iPhone 6 with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/30sec, ISO 40
Vanilla slice from the central Holbrook bakery Apple iPhone 6 with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/30sec, ISO 40

It was good but it wasn’t great. It certainly wasn’t as good as the vanilla slice from the Gumnut patisseries. 

The central Holbrook Bakery Apple iPhone 6 with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/1600sec, ISO 32
The central Holbrook Bakery Apple iPhone 6 with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/1600sec, ISO 32

The drive was made more interesting by podcasts. I love the fact with my iPhone I can listen to podcasts rather than having to rely on the radio or a CD. Today I listened to a couple of Star Trek podcasts from Trek.fm, a Jared Polin “I shoot RAW” podcast as well as a Trevor Long “Your tech life“ podcast. 

The next stop was Wodonga just over the NSW/Victoria border. The Murray River at the cross over is fairly narrow. I was expecting a more substantial river.

I stopped at Henri’s Wodonga Bakery and enjoyed a nice pepper steak hot pie with sauce. 

Pepper steak pie with tomato sauce from Henri's bakery in Wodonga Apple iPhone 6 with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/15sec, ISO 50
Pepper steak pie with tomato sauce from Henri’s bakery in Wodonga Apple iPhone 6 with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/15sec, ISO 50

I also had another vanilla slice. This is the first time in decades I’ve tried a vanilla slice with pink icing just like when I was a kid buying them at school. This one was very good, although the icing was a little too thick and very very sweet. The custard was nicer than the Holbrook bakery vanilla slice.

Vanilla slice from Henri's bakery in Wodonga Apple iPhone 6 with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/30sec, ISO 50
Vanilla slice from Henri’s bakery in Wodonga Apple iPhone 6 with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/30sec, ISO 50
Henri's Wodonga Bakery Apple iPhone 6 with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/1300sec, ISO 32
Henri’s Wodonga Bakery Apple iPhone 6 with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/1300sec, ISO 32

The next stop was Wangaratta and the motel I’d booked. 

I love how motels in Australia always seem to place this strip of paper or a variation of it over the toilet seat. 

Toilet seat hygienically cleaned in the Park View Motel Wangaratta Apple iPhone 6 with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/60sec, ISO 40
Toilet seat hygienically cleaned in the Park View Motel Wangaratta Apple iPhone 6 with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/60sec, ISO 40

The room is pretty good and it has free wi-fi. I’ll write a review in TripAdvisor soon. 

Parkview Motel Wangaratta SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 32mm and f/5, 1/125sec, ISO 100
Parkview Motel Wangaratta SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 32mm and f/5, 1/125sec, ISO 100

For dinner I went for a walk to find a restaurant. I found Cafe Martini and decided to ask for a steak.

 
Cafe Martini on Urbanspoon

On the way to Cafe Martini though I shot some photographs of some public art and the King River

 

 

Public art Wangaratta SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 46mm and f/8, 1/400sec, ISO 100
Public art Wangaratta SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 46mm and f/8, 1/400sec, ISO 100
King River Wangaratta SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 39mm and f/22, 1/60sec, ISO 320
King River Wangaratta SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 39mm and f/22, 1/60sec, ISO 320
Public art in Wangaratta Park SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 53mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 125
Public art in Wangaratta Park SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 53mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 125
Public art in Wangaratta Park, Wangaratta SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 65mm and f/5, 1/80sec, ISO 160
Public art in Wangaratta Park, Wangaratta SONY ILCE-7S with FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS at 65mm and f/5, 1/80sec, ISO 160

I asked for the rib eye fillet on the bone cooked rare with vegetables. The steak was rare and well rested. It was very good. I’d eat here again. 

Rib eye fillet steak at Cafe Martini, Wangaratta Apple iPhone 6 with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/40sec, ISO 32
Rib eye fillet steak at Cafe Martini, Wangaratta Apple iPhone 6 with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/40sec, ISO 32

For dessert I had the tiramisu. It was also pretty good. 

Tiramisu at Cafe Martini Wangaratta Apple + Pro HDR iPhone with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/180sec, ISO 32
Tiramisu at Cafe Martini Wangaratta Apple + Pro HDR iPhone with iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2 at 4mm and f/2.2, 1/180sec, ISO 32

So that’s it for day one. 

Have you driven through southern NSW and Victoria? Tell me about your experiences.

Bowral food and fun

Posted by Gary

But for me the best thing about Bowral is the vanilla slice at The Gumnut Patisserie

Sunday morning tea. Vanilla slices from Gumnut Patisserie in Bowral. The best vanilla slice in the world I reckon. | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/1000sec, ISO 100
Sunday morning tea. Vanilla slices from Gumnut Patisserie in Bowral. The best vanilla slice in the world I reckon. | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/1000sec, ISO 100

The day started well with scrambled eggs from Bron. These were so buttery and so delicious. Bron does good scrambled eggs. 

Bron made scrambled eggs on sourdough for breakfast | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/80sec, ISO 2500
Bron made scrambled eggs on sourdough for breakfast | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/80sec, ISO 2500

The point of going to Bowral though wasn’t so much to enjoy a vanilla slice but to do a little exercise and get some fresh air on a fine Spring day. 

After the vanilla slice and a coffee we went to the Bowral Cheese Shop and bought some food for lunch before going for a walk along one of the trails. While we were at The Gumnut Patisserie Bron bought some sourdough and a rye sour bread. 

At the cheese store we bought some quince paste, some duck and peppercorn pâté, some Small Cow blue cheese, some truffle brie cheese and some chicken, pork and pistachio terrine. This would be an indulgent lunch. 

We drove to the base of the Mount Gibraltar walking trail and walked up the stairs to the Mount Gibraltar lookout. The walk took about 40 minutes and involved some stair climbing, some trail walking and some lookout gazing. I tried to shoot some photographs but most of them turned out badly. I forgot to set my white balance properly and I forgot to bring my circular polariser. It was a very glary day and so most of the shots were not very good. We came across a wombat hole and I didn’t adjust the ISO properly and ended up with a very soft shot with a 1/2 second shutter speed. By the time I was at that point I was huffing and puffing and my heart rate was high so the shot was soft and blurry. Anyway, enough excuses, it was a good day out. 

We decided to drive to the Mount Gibraltar Jellore Lookout for lunch. It’s a nice place with a good view of Mittagong.After our strenuous walk to check out a number of the fantastic views around Gibraltar rocks, we set up our picnic at the Jellore look out, which is on a little outcrop and is usually quite serene. Today it was not so, with the arrival of a number of groups, including a particularly large and boisterous family that felt the best place for their numerous selfies was half a metre from where we were sitting. After they left we were able to enjoy some peace and quite looking over the hills around Bowral before heading back to Canberra. 

This was a very indulgent but utterly delicious lunch. 

Perfect picnic lunch at Mount Gibraltar Jellore Lookout Bowral. Quince paste, duck and peppercorn pâté, chicken pork and pistachio terrine, truffle brie and small cow blue cheese | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/8, 1/125sec, ISO 200
Perfect picnic lunch at Mount Gibraltar Jellore Lookout Bowral. Quince paste, duck and peppercorn pâté, chicken pork and pistachio terrine, truffle brie and small cow blue cheese | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/8, 1/125sec, ISO 200
Perfect picnic lunch at Mount Gibraltar Jellore Lookout Bowral. Sourdough bread, rye sour bread, quince paste, duck and peppercorn pâté, chicken pork and pistachio terrine, truffle brie and small cow blue cheese | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/100sec, ISO 200
Perfect picnic lunch at Mount Gibraltar Jellore Lookout Bowral. Sourdough bread, rye sour bread, quince paste, duck and peppercorn pâté, chicken pork and pistachio terrine, truffle brie and small cow blue cheese | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/100sec, ISO 200

Eating the pâté with the rye sour bread was like eating smooth dark chocolate. It was just amazing!

This is where we were sitting for lunch. 

Sunday midday. Bowral Mount Jellore Lookout. | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/500sec, ISO 200
Sunday midday. Bowral Mount Jellore Lookout. | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/500sec, ISO 200

 

 

Sunday. Bowral Mount Gibraltar Lookout. | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/8, 1/1250sec, ISO 200
Sunday. Bowral Mount Gibraltar Lookout. | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/8, 1/500sec, ISO 200
Sunday. Bowral Mount Gibraltar Lookout. | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/8, 1/500sec, ISO 200
Sunday. Bowral Mount Gibraltar Lookout. | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/8, 1/160sec, ISO 200
Sunday. Bowral Mount Gibraltar Lookout. | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/8, 1/640sec, ISO 200
Sunday. Bowral Mount Gibraltar Lookout. | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/8, 1/320sec, ISO 200
Sunday midday. Bowral Mount Jellore Lookout. | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/250sec, ISO 200
Sunday midday. Bowral Mount Jellore Lookout. | SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/800sec, ISO 200

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Bron and I had a brilliant day. The weather was good and the food great.  

Have you been to Bowral? What did you do? What did you eat?

 
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Hope you have a great weekend and eat YUMMY

Sunday dinner. Bacon and Strasburg sausage salad. | NIKON D7100 with 55.0-200.0 mm f/4.0-5.6 at 125mm and f/16, 1/10sec, ISO 400
Sunday dinner. Bacon and Strasburg sausage salad. | NIKON D7100 with 55.0-200.0 mm f/4.0-5.6 at 125mm and f/16, 1/10sec, ISO 400

This is how I ended the day while watching the NRL grand final 🙂 

A busy weekend in Brisbane and Yatala Pies

Posted by Gary

I’ve just got home (Canberra) after a busy weekend in Brisbane to see my daughters. May is a big month for us, my father’s birthday is in May, my eldest two daughters both share a birthday in May (two years apart), it’s mothers day in May and my birthday is in May.

I arrived late Friday night and the girls were already in ‘bed’ ready to sleep. They had a big Saturday ahead of them.

On Saturday we got out of bed at 5 am and ate a quick breakfast. I had peanut paste on toast (I didn’t have time for a low carbohydrate meal) while the two youngest ones had Mum’s lemon curd on toast. We had to be on the road by 6.30 am and on our way to Yatala for the QGSSSA Cross Country championships. Athletics is not the favourite sport for Miss13 and Miss17 however, as all rounders they compete in as many sports as possible. The meet is held at Rivermount College which isn’t part of the QGSSSA. The college is at Yatala near the Gold Coast.

Just thinking back a bit, when I arrived Friday night I discovered that a tube of moisturiser (yes I have Ichthyosis) had ‘exploded’ in my bag and the shirt I was going to wear had been ruined. Mum said I should wear one of Dad’s shirts. She also said it would be warm so short sleeves wouldn’t be a problem. I always listen to my mother.

So we arrive at Yatala and it’s cloudy and cold. I’m shivering. Thanks Mum 🙂

The girls run well and enjoy themselves. The next stop is the Sleeman Sports Complex in Chandler. We have to get Miss17 there for gymnastics training. Even though she didn’t make the Queensland team this year she’s allowed to compete at the national championships this week in Melbourne. She has to train at Gymnastics Queensland headquarters in Chandler. Before we get there though, Miss17 suggests a spot of morning tea at Yatala Pies.

Yatala Pies is a bit of an institution in South East Queensland. Their pies are known far and wide. Funnily enough I’ve never eaten in the Yatala Pies shop. This was a first.

https://goo.gl/maps/e4YGs

Miss17 had a curry chicken and vegetable pie, Miss13 had a sausage roll and I elected to have a pasty. It’s been ages since I’ve had a good pasty. This one didn’t disappoint. I loved it.

Yatala pies pasty
Yatala pies pasty
Yatala pies takeaway box.
Yatala pies takeaway box. You can see Miss13’s sausage roll in the background.

Now regulars readers know me so it shouldn’t be any surprise that when I saw Vanilla slice I had to have one. Yatala Pies sells French Vanilla slices with a whopping big layer of French vanilla cream. It was gorgeous.

Yatala Pies French vanilla slice
Yatala Pies French vanilla slice

After a lot of driving back and forth between Chandler and Chermside it was a long tiring day. After getting the kids back to my parents’ place it was time to cook our special May dinner to celebrate so many birthdays and mothers day.

I said to Mum that I wanted to cook salmon and would be wonderful is Miss17 could make a salad. I also made a pumpkin cauliflower mash which I used to smear the plate and perch the salmon on.

Salmon
Salmon
#Dinner is salmon on a smear of pumpkin cauliflower mash with a green salad
#Dinner is salmon on a smear of pumpkin cauliflower mash with a green salad

For dessert, Miss17 had made an ice cream cake. The base was made with Ferrero Rocher, Chocolate Mint and Queensland nut (Macadamia) ice creams. The top had a combination of mixers added to make it a cake to remember.

Miss17 made me a Ferrero rocher, chocolate mint and Queensland nut ice cream cake with heaps of mixers
Miss17 made me a Ferrero rocher, chocolate mint and Queensland nut ice cream cake with heaps of mixers

After dinner we watched The Hunger Games on DVD. I’d never seen it before. It was good.

After a good night’s sleep Miss19 joined us after a busy weekend of working and studying. We had planned a special breakfast together. My daughters and me 🙂 We decided to head to Groove Train at Chermside because it was close and the last time we were there we enjoyed the food.

https://goo.gl/maps/aebPU

I asked for poached eggs with bacon, hollandaise sauce, avocado and mushrooms. It was pretty good.

Poached eggs with bacon, hollandaise sauce, avocado and mushroom on sourdough toast
Poached eggs with bacon, hollandaise sauce, avocado and mushroom on sourdough toast

Miss13 asked for pancakes

Pancake stack with berries and maple syrup
Pancake stack with berries and maple syrup

After breakfast I had to take Miss17 back to Chandler for more training. I said my goodbyes and then caught a flight back to Canberra.

Dinner while watching Master Chef Australia was a nude burger with tomato, bacon and Coon cheese.

Nude Wagyu burger with bacon, tomato and Coon cheese
Nude Wagyu burger with bacon, tomato and Coon cheese

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Hope you had a great weekend and ate YUMMY