Some time back, me and my other half were enjoying our last day in the Bright area before heading back to Melbourne to take on semi rural life again (not for long if Council have anything to say about it!), and as it is one of my favorite pastimes, we both decided to just jump in the car, and drive. No where in mind, just pick a road and follow it. Personally, this is one of my favorite things to do, for one, you generally find places that you have never been before, and sometimes end up visiting places that you haven’t seen in a very long time.
As was the case this particular day, we ended up at Bogong Village, and were hungry to boot! Being in the middle of Winter, Bogong Village was nothing more than a ghost town, which is in drastic contrast to my memories of spending summer days here when I was a child with the foreshore of Lake Guy being crowded with people lapping up the sun, and having a swim directly under the dramatic Quartz Ridge that leads up to Mt Bogong.
I am sure we have all had an experience like it, walking around an almost deserted town or village with that eerie silence, wondering if there is anywhere open to service our needs. This was one of those days. No cars in sight, just an empty foreshore, and what seemed to be a bar and bistro which we weren’t the slightest bit sure if it were even opening today at all.
Never the less, we decided to stick around and enjoy this rather unique way of seeing Bogong Village, and no more than five minutes after arriving, we spotted a lady opening up the bar and bistro, so we gingerly asked if they were opening, and she confirmed that for us, and that they had a limited menu this early in the day. That was fine with us, we had been just about everywhere for the first half of the day, and just wanted a bite to eat.
With not a huge amount on the menu this early in the day, we both ordered a foccacia, chips and salad. Didn’t sound too classy, but hey, we were hungry, so we took our spot on the balcony out front with lovely views over Lake Guy and Mt Bogong, and our meal was bought to us.
Now, I shall divert for a short moment. One thing that I tell everyone about Bright Victoria and the surrounding towns (and I am telling you now as well!) is that everything tastes better here. I cant explain it. I mean, the local produce is amazing, don’t get me wrong, but after a strange sense of realization that not everything that is purchased here is made here (I mean, Kiewa Valley flavored milk is absolutely amazing, even if it is manufactured in Brunswick in Melbourne!), I have put it down to something about the area. Call me crazy, but that is what I think of the area. Everything is so much better in Bright, and I know that a lot of people agree with me when I say that!
Anyway, what would normally be a simple and pretty cruddy meal that we would get at the local pub in Sunbury (my home town) ended up being rather majestic. We couldn’t quite pin point what it was in the salad, the particular dressing, but whatever it was, it was the best I had ever had. The chips, I mean… don’t get me wrong, chips are chips, but these were just perfect. The foccacia, to be honest, I cant remember for the life of me what it was. It could have contained eggplant for all I care (lesson #1 about the webmaster…. he doesn’t like eggplant!) but it was still amazing.
Strangely enough, me and my other half did a lot of different things this trip to Bright. We went to Mt Hotham and she laughed at me as I fell over and skidded some 10 meters down a ski slope, I introduced her to the legendary Harrietville Mountain Hamburger (local store in Harrietville, only burger I would drive 4 hours to eat!), caught up with friends in Mt Beauty, walked around Mountain Creek, and a ton of other things, but when we look back at this trip, we remember this time in Bogong Village.
When it comes to things that we don’t understand, strange occurrences, people tend to jokingly say “it must be something that they put in the water”. When it comes to food in Bright, this is my analogy. You could take the food out of Bright, but it wont taste the same because you wouldn’t be eating it in Bright.
I have been coming to Bright Victoria since I was only very young, I have been hiking in bright, and have had the privilege of staying in some of the best accommodation in Bright as well. This is where I share my stories, in the hope that you also come and see Bright in Victoria some day. Remember to download our free e-book, Top Five Hikes In Bright, if you want to see some of the more remote and beautiful areas near Bright.
