{"id":1665,"date":"2021-06-01T23:00:32","date_gmt":"2021-06-01T13:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/?p=1665"},"modified":"2022-01-16T21:43:20","modified_gmt":"2022-01-16T10:43:20","slug":"holiday-destinations-to-drool-over","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/holiday-destinations-to-drool-over\/","title":{"rendered":"Holiday destinations to drool over"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Words by Dorian Mode.<\/strong> Photography Lydia Thorpe<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With international travel impeded by lockdown, seniors are choosing long driving holidays. Sometimes these holiday destinations allow you to bring your best mate. No, not your spouse. I\u2019m talking about a driving\/drooling holiday with your dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some issues ago you may recall me visiting the Snowys Region to fly-fish, only to get the dates wrong on the legal fishing season (some streams close in winter to allow fish to spawn and update their Facebook profiles). So unable to fly-fish, Dave and Deb \u2013 proprietors of Elm Cottage in Tumut \u2013 kindly invited me back for the summer. But with no one to look after our boxer, Dougal, Mrs Pictures was chary of coming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Why don\u2019t we simply bring Dougal?\u2019
I suggest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Are you serious<\/em>?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Sure,\u2019 I reply. \u2018Elm Cottage is pet friendly if I recall.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My wife looks uneasy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why? Well, being travel writers for the last 20-odd years, we\u2019ve never brought our pets to work. For us, it\u2019s usually a working holiday of sorts. So after checking with Elm Cottage, I packed up the fly rods and dog bed and pointed the Toyota south.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From where we are on the Coast it\u2019s about a five-hour drive to Tumut. But it felt like fifteen, with Dougal silently \u2018crop dusting\u2019 in the back and panting like a marathon runner. The smell was appalling. Dougal was stressed. Don\u2019t know why. We have him in the car all the time \u2013 albeit short trips. Naturally, we scheduled plenty of lift-the-hind-leg stops and drink-noisily-from-a-bucket stops but this did little to temper his anxiety. We half wondered if he would have been happier in the backyard at home and fed by our neighbour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But as we pass the point of no return on our journey, it\u2019s \u201clead on McWoof\u201d. However, each time we step back into the Rav4 after a wee break, no amount of Channel No5 expunges the fruity aroma of this anxiety. We sit driving cross-eyed half the time. Suddenly my wife says, \u2018Incoming!!!\u2019 And we lift the front of our shirts over our noses. In the end, it is easier to simply drive with the COVID masks on, earning quizzical looks from passing motorists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we arrive at Elm Cottage it\u2019s exactly as we remember: neat as a pin. Luxurious but unpretentious. And for less mobile seniors reading this, there are no stairs. The property is as flat as a billiard table. And all this pet-friendly luxury framed by that wonderful trout-filled river burbling at your doorstep. Heaven. And there is nothing to bring except a fishing rod and groceries (linen & towels are included) which are easily purchased in town. As previously mentioned in articles, I never understand people scrimping to save a few shillings to stay in a cheap motel when for a few shekels more you can cook in your luxury cottage and save on overpriced restaurants, which are often noisy and disappointing for the money. Besides, where would you get a better view with your meal than at Elm Cottage?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, Elm Cottage is inaptly named. It should be Elm Cottages<\/em> as you can stay at the cottage of your choosing. The last time we stayed at Elm\u2019s Red Gum Cottage<\/em>. But this time we are in our favourite: River Gum Cottage<\/em>. And what\u2019s special about River Gum<\/em> is while all the cottages have your private trout stream at your doorstep, the section of the river below River Gum<\/em> is specially cleared for fishing tragics like yours truly. This means that Mrs Pictures reads a book on the cottage balcony periodically lifting her head to see me poke around my private river below. Only this time Dougal watches me from the balcony like a frog watching a fly. God knows what he\u2019s thinking: seeing his master clad in muted colours, stalking the river and casting a fly rod. Is he throwing a stick at an imaginary dog? What a weirdo. Suddenly, Dougal would come bolting down the hill and spear into the cool river like a high-diver, spooking all the trout for the \u2018evening rise\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, the plan was to have Dougal sleep on said balcony. But he simply wouldn\u2019t stop panting with anxiety. We were at wit\u2019s end. So we brought his dog-bed inside and he slept\/panted there. It took a couple of days for him to finally settle down. At one stage we thought of visiting the local vet to buy Valium. Not for him but us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But our sojourn wasn\u2019t all about me and my fly rod (sadly). We did poke around town. I always find something new in Tumut. Here we visit the restored Tumut Railway Station where we learn that Tumut \u2013 equidistant between Sydney and Melbourne \u2013 was earmarked as the nation\u2019s capital before Canberra was imagined. Who knew? And we also visit the flanking pioneers\u2019 graveyard. We keep Dougal in the car as we feel it\u2019s disrespectful to allow him to lift the back leg over Elsie \u2013 died 1898<\/em>. A Devoted Mother and Cat Lover. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We later visit the Tumut River Brewing Co and meet the owner. This micro-brewery is uber cool with 24 beers\/ciders on tap including a range of staples, limited release seasonal offerings as well as rotating \u201cguest taps\u201d. They also offer a selection of locally sourced wines and gourmet pizzas. They\u2019ve earned national awards for their booze and patrons can sample these via their taproom and\/or a brewery tour on request. Psst! Be sure to check their gig guide on their website as visitors can also enjoy live music \u2013 remember live music?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But generally, Dougal is so stressed we can\u2019t stay anywhere long, let alone see a band. So no cafes, charming country pubs or hip micro-breweries. But as aforementioned, Elm Cottage is all set up with a BBQ on the balcony and a newly renovated kitchen. So we had a ball, snug in each other\u2019s company as we have been for 35 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To conclude this yarn about travelling with Dougal, I thought I\u2019d have a chinwag with my local vet, Dr Graeme Cross at Petstock Vet Erina<\/em>. Graeme is a dear mate and fellow jazz musician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Graeme, we travel with Dougal in the car all the time (local park, beach, you) so why was he so stressed? We thought of taking him on holiday with us he\u2019d be happier than a dog with two\u2026<\/strong>
GC: Dogs don\u2019t do too well with movement. It\u2019s a primal response. It\u2019s all-new stuff. He\u2019s familiar with his local environment and feels anxious leaving it. Simple as that.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Are certain breeds more prone to anxiety?<\/strong>
GC: Yep. Staffies, boxers (like Dougal) and some smaller breeds aren\u2019t great travellers.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. How can you make your dog less anxious on a long road trip?<\/strong>
GC: Don\u2019t play heavy metal in the car! (Bach?) In other words, no loud noises. Whispering is good. Did you know that dog TV is now available if you have a tablet? Short trips are good: the beach, the park etc. Judicious use of medication on short trips works well, too. I recommend a bit of both.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Can I give dogs human<\/em> Valium or antihistamines?<\/strong>
GC: [Chuckles] It\u2019s not advised. Drugs don\u2019t work the same on pets as they do on humans. (So nothing in the bowl at the micro-brewery?) There\u2019s a new generation of drugs that are available for pet anxiety that work well. They\u2019re more effective than the medication even four or five years ago. They now work within half an hour. You can also try a pheromone spray that is a reassuring scent for pets.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. How should you travel a long distance with a dog in a car?<\/strong>
GC: Try and keep the climate good \u2013 as you would do for small children. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Do dogs get car sick like humans?<\/strong>
GC: Yes, they do as a matter of fact. They can get the same kind of motion sickness humans get. Interestingly, their brain is wired up much the same way for motion.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Is it illegal to travel with an unrestrained dog in a car? Do they have to wear seatbelts?<\/strong>
GC: It\u2019s advised to have a dog restrained in the car \u2013 more for your safety as a driver than anything. You can kind of clip a lead into a seatbelt in your car. Or there are specialty dog restraints for travelling with your dog in a car.
We sell them at Petstock.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Words by Dorian Mode. Photography Lydia Thorpe With international travel impeded by lockdown, seniors are choosing long driving holidays. Sometimes these holiday destinations allow you to bring your best mate.…","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1666,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[78],"tags":[75,45,70],"series":[115],"class_list":["post-1665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","tag-article","tag-dorian-mode","tag-lydia-thorpe","series-coffee-with-a-coastie"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/07\/Dougal-and-me.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/feed\/podcast\/coffee-with-a-coastie","embedCode":"

Holiday destinations to drool over<\/a><\/blockquote>