Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 10:43
This is a really great topic Michelle, thanks for getting it started.
Not much I can add to the wonderful responses, which I am sure echo most of the members thoughts on this, other than my thoughts on shopping local.
I just want to say that I am a firm believer of shopping local for the basics, especially fresh veges, meat, fruit, bread etc. There is no need to jam pack every nook and cranny of the caravan or vehicle with these, unless I suppose you are going really remote camping.
This way you not only help the local economy, but you have a steady supply of fresh food, and you actually get to meet and talk to the locals behind the counter, who mostly are only too happy to engage in a conversation, and both parties usually benifit from this.
Up at Coonabarabran, as some already know, we have a bush block out of town in the Pilliga, where our family and friends regularly go and
camp, sometimes for 2 weeks at a time. We never take our supplies from
home here in the Hunter Valley. We always
shop in Coonabarabran on the way through to the
camp, and then come back into town as required, including fuel and gas.
As an example, one of my favourites up there, is the little butcher
shop, right across the road from the Woolworths complex (which BTW, put the small
IGA out of business).
You won't buy better meat anywhere. They supply from their own stock (beef, lamb and pork) and the fellas behind the counter know when you're not local and will happily engage in a conversation with you, not only imparting their knowledge, but extracting yours. Most time they throw in a free packet of their local eggs with your purchase. This is the sort of service and friendliness from locals that stays with you, long after you have left their town.
I think the longer stays in the smaller towns, are more appealing to the
Grey Nomads on the road, pensioners etc who mostly have no fixed time frame, and are happy to throw the anchor out when they find one of these appealing and friendly towns, where they feel safe, and are happy mix with locals for a while.
This topic is adding new locations to my black book as they are revealled :-)
Safe travels all.
Fred.
AnswerID:
484437
Follow Up By: the_fitzroys - Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 10:54
Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 10:54
You raise a very good point about shopping local, Fred. We always try to provision in towns as we pass through and always seek out the sole operator rather than the big chains (if they're there). We had the most amazing lamb chops I've ever tasted from a small butcher in
Mildura and I've been chasing that flavour ever since. I'm guessing they were local saltbush lamb. You're more likely to get locally produced goods at a small
shop rather than stuff out of a distribution warehouse.
Louise
FollowupID:
759707
Follow Up By: Fred G NSW - Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 12:42
Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 12:42
What I like about the small local butchers, is that most of them make their own small goods as
well. Ham, bacon, brawn, salami, better sausages, and often have other produce like local honey, eggs, homemade jams, pickles etc etc.
Then as
well, there are those little country bakeries which I cannot drive past. One of the things I anticipate keenly when leaving on a trip, is the beautiful local produce waiting for me out there. Why would I leave
home with a fridge/freezer full of Wollies or Coles stuff.
Cheers and safe travels to the_fitzroys, Louise.
Fred.
FollowupID:
759716
Follow Up By: the_fitzroys - Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 12:53
Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 12:53
You're making me hungry now, Fred :-) Safe travels to you and yours as
well.
Louise
FollowupID:
759718