Surfing Wave Rock

From Kowlyin we headed for Karlgarin to use it as a base to explore the area.  We stayed at a fantastic Caravan Park called Tressie’s for three nights.   It is on part of a large family farming enterprise and is managed  by Laurel and Merv.    Merv was no longer able to do many things on the farm so he wanted to start up a caravan park to keep himself busy.  It took some three years for the plans to be passed through council  (seems councils are the same everywhere...incredibly slow).   Merv put a lot of thought into the design of the park and although it is some eight years old, you wouldn't know it.  It is spotlessly clean and Merv and Laurel are very friendly and helpful.  Merv also has a museum and for $3 you have a look back in time on a museum tour which he runs twice a day.

I’ve got to tell you, the $3 is well worth it.  His private collection has been a labour of love and when he starts the tour, he switches on special lighting and old fashioned music.  He has to refer to his hand written notes, but he did an excellent job.  The show cabinets themselves are a work of art…made right on the farm but he was only the helper he told us, they were actually designed by someone else, I forget who.

Everything is beautifully presented and he has everything in there that you have ever seen (except for one item…more later)  and there were much of “I had one of those”….or “remember them”. Part of it is his very large collection of gramophones and 5000 records.  There are seats so you can sit a listen to the vinyls (LP, 33 or 33 1/3 rpm) or records (78 rpm) he plays or any of your favourite tunes from his catalogue.

The one thing he has in his collection that is unknown is a metal item marked with the words “the third hand”.  The family has done much research and can't find out anything about it.  Merv asks each visitor doing the tour if they can identify it for him….it is still unknown as to what it is used for.

The weather turned nasty as another cold front was coming through (who would have thought !!) but we were still able to have a fire due to the relocatable metal fire places that Merv designed and the kindling and firewood he had available.  Nobly Mallee tree roots make the best fire wood, they burn hot and long, so we discovered.

Keeping warm at Tressies

We used Karlgarin as a base to visit Wave Rock at Hyden and also to drive along the Tin Horse Highway to Kulin.

Wave Rock is an amazing natural attraction in a reserve 4 klm east of Hyden.  The spectacular granite formation reaching over 15m high and the “wave” is approximately 110m long.   We also visited two other rock formations - Hippo’s Yawn and Mulka’s Cave.

Nick and John Surfing

The other side of the Wave

Nick and Gail at Hippo's Yawn

The town of Hyden was interesting. They play music continuously from the amphitheatre in the centre of the main street…..I mean, it is loud and never stops...during the day that is.  Friendly people though…a lady just stopped us in the street and wanted to know where we were from etc and the people in the coffee shop were lovely too.  The information centre at Wave Rock had a great collection of stuff including stuffed birds and a dried flower arrangement on the ceiling that was spectacular.   We had coffee there and John and Deb had sausage rolls.  A guy from the next table asked John how he like it...it turned out that he bakes them.  He is a motor mechanic by trade but just decided that he would take up baking for a change.  John is a connoisseur of sausage rolls and was happy to oblige with his opinion...."tasty but the sausage meat was a bit soft" -  John prefers it firmer.

Part of the Butterfly flower arrangement on the ceiling.

Nick and his birds.

We had dinner in the Karlgarin local Country Club one night ……sat right in front of the lovely fireplace, good food, a New Zealand Chef with a wicked sense of humour.... good night was had by all.

The following day we laughed our way down the 15 Km Tin Horse Highway to Kulin stopping to take photos of the “community art” along the way.   I have twenty three photos of different and quirky creations.  Unfortunately, can't put them all here.

Since 1995, Tin Horses have been popping up along the highway as farmers try to outdo each other.  They even have an annual competition where you can go in the running to win a share of generous prize money for the best “Tin Horse”.... and there are some very specific guidelines.  The judging takes place  by public vote and the winner is announced at annual Kulin Bush Races.   We had lunch at the Kulin hotel… had the best, juiciest, succulent Chicken Parma ever.   They were holding a darts competition at the time….serious stuff by all accounts.

PS...Leave a comment to let me know how the photo's are...most of them that I have posted here are at a lower resolution so that I can put more on.