27 April 2023 - Shepparton to Albury

Up betimes to make our way to the Shepparton Preserving Company Pty Ltd. (SPC) which company now, in fact, trades under the name SPC. 

The SPC factory is located at Ardmona - under which name SPC also carries on business. Confusing isn't it?

More here:

https://spchistory.wordpress.com/the-history-of-spc/

The SPC factory at Ardmona. Their trade secrets are apparently closely guarded - by high corrugated iron barriers.

Having decided to take the road less travelled (out of consideration for the Tadpole, whose cruising speed is a comfortable 90km/h - a speed which appears to infuriate most modern motorists) we departed Shepp and headed for Kattamatite.

(At this point, the Prop should make it clear that he had never previously heard of Kattamatite, which he naturally assumed was the name of some exotic mineral or of a minor sexual perversion. However, Mrs P, having grown up in the Albury region, assured the Prop that she knew of, but was not intimately familiar with, the many attractions of Kattamatite.)

Indeed, upon arrival at Kattamatite, the Prop was astonished to learn that this little township is (or maybe was, if he has  moved or is not still alive) home to Mr Glenn Crawford, winner of the Stawell Gift (Australia 's richest professional foot race)

Glenn Crawford, winner of the Stawell Gift nearly 30 years ago and apparently still living in Kattamatite. Is he resting on his laurels?

At the Kattamatite Lions Park the Prop was again astonished to find that Kattamatite lies at the very heart of something called the Broke and Boozy State Park. (I think I have spelt that correctly).

 The Broke and Boozy State Park - a real eye-opener!

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But Kattamatite had saved its most interesting attraction until last!

Tucked away in the corner of the "Kattamatite Broke and Boozy Lions State Park" was a vintage vehicle older even than the mighty Tadpole - although the Prop feels obliged to mention that it is nowhere nearly as well-maintained as the Tadpole.

A vintage tractor at Kattamatite (possibly a "Fergie") pales in comparison to the Tadpole 

Thoroughly sated by the charms of Kattamatite, and by a nice cup of coffee, we sallied forth to Yarrawonga (Vic), Mulwala (NSW) then Rutherglen (Vic, again!). Being of a notoriously abstemious disposition, the Prop eschewed the tasting of any alcoholic beverages in the Rutherglen and otherwise did as he was told and headed straight for Albury hoping to put in a late appearance at MAMA (Murray Art Museum Albury). But alas, we must all wait until tomorrow...at the very least.

So, in summary, the JAPPA has so far included Ross, Devonport, Banjos (both the bakery and the poet) Geebung, Bacchus Marsh,  SAM, SPC, Broke & Boozy,Yarrawonga, Rutherglen and, very nearly, MAMA.