Traralgon to Yarrawonga the hard way (via Omeo and Wonnangatta Station)

Hello All
After spending a few more weeks then expected in Gippsland, I hit the road again at Easter. Yes Easter, not my choice but considering that last year I was already up around Shark Bay in Western Australia I was getting a bit worried about still being in Gippsland.
When I had my new tyres fitted it was found, during the wheel alignment that my steering rack ends were worn. I was not surprised after the 120,000km of crap roads the originals had endured.

These screw into the steering rack and connect to the Tie Rod Ends in the steering. After waiting for close to a week for the new parts to arrive.....The Dealer had ordered the incorrect parts, then not advised me until after cutoff time. Only going to collect them, discovering the incorrect parts................another day lost, reordering the correct parts..........there went another week.

 So off I went, along with 80% of the population of Melbourne.....................
The run up to Omeo was uneventful once leaving a lot of the traffic behind at Bruthen and a few chilly nights listening to the Brumbies snorting during the night was enjoyable.

 

After the Easter crush subsided I headed over Hotham to Myrtleford. A couple of years ago I did a trip into Wonnangatta Station with my nephew. I have been there many times over the years, first heading in in 1982. While there a couple of years ago, i mentioned to my nephew that I would like to try and get the Camper in and stay a few days in comfort.
My usual route into Wonnangatta was either Zeka Spur or Hearn Spur but with a 2 metre wide 2.5 metre high 800kg house on the back these options were not possible.
The route from the North was my best option.

 Having only travelled this route a couple of times about the mid 80's I foolishly relied of advice of fellow travellers. This sent me up Harry Sheppards Track, which presented me with a couple of hours of very steep rutted track and bulldust, when the East Riley Road was a two wheel drive alternative!

Another steep climb, and the desent over the last ridgeline and I was in Wonnangatta Valley. 


 

Wonnangatta Valley

Wonnangatta Station was a cattle station located in a remote valley of the Victorian Alps
 The station had been established in the 1860s by Oliver Smith, a North American who came across the valley while prospecting for gold. Smith’s common law wife Ellen or "Nancy" and her son Harry joined him and a homestead was built near the junction of the Wonnangatta River and Conglomerate Creek


Some time later Ellen died in childbirth, and soon after Smith sold out to William Bryce before eventually returning to the United States.
The Bryce family then occupied the station while Ellen’s son Harry Smith moved down the valley and established himself at Eaglevale. The Bryce family remained a presence at Wonnangatta until Mrs Bryce died in 1914 at the age of 78. Ten Bryce children were brought up at Wonnangatta. As the children grew up they moved away and after Mrs Bryce’s death the property was sold to Mansfield owners in 1916, who installed a manager to run the station.
 The station and surrounding area are the site of the still-unsolved Wonnangatta murders which occurred in late 1917 and 1918

Wonnangatta Cemetery

proof I made it in :-)

The next morning the rain set in and only cleared 12 hours later.

Wonnangatta Valley

Rainy weather and overcast conditions didn;t lend itself to good photos unfortunately.

Wonnangatta Homestead remains

Congomerate Creek Valley

It was nice to lay in bed listening to the rain on the roof and the Deer honking in the distance.

I must admit though there was also thoughts of "how the hell I was going to get out again in wet conditions" This Valley is Snow locked for all the Winter..........

old stockyards

This was probably the steepest tracks I have has the camper on, closely followed by The Bloomfield Track in Far North Queensland and I don't mind saying that after the suspension upgrade in Darwin and the new tyres the setup handled it all too easy. 

Wonnangatta Valley

Even in the damp conditions coming out, the Ute did not put a foot wrong and just chugged up the steep pinches cheerfully.
While on the subject...........after 120,000km of crap roads carrying my house on the back it drives as good now, if not better than it did when new. A hell of an Ad for a cheap Chinese Ute that everyone laughed at!

Wonnangatta Valley

After heading back out of Wonnangatta, it was back to Myrtleford to restock.

Riley Hut

I am now up on the Murray River soaking up a few rays of sunshine and taking advantage of Telstra's Free Data day. While staying at my Sister's Place I had a play with her Windows 10 computer and am currently doing an upgrade to Windows 10 on my laptop. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing I am yet to decide.............but it is free data day!
I am still torn on where to head next.................I want to go to Innaminka, as it is probably 1982 since I was last there but there is also people in Sydney and Tamworth that I would like to catch up too also........opposite sides of New South Wales. Decisions decisions.......
Bye for now..............