Yes, I know I said I'd be in Canberra this week. But things change! Life happens! I spent a couple of days at Queanbean with Michelle and her family - well, part of her family. Her husband Peter had gone to Mackay for the funeral of his grandmother. It is quite mind-boggling as Peter is a grandfather himself. His mother would have been 107 next month. I have followed her Facebook for a few years and couldn't believe how active and astute she was right to the end. Then a fortnight ago, she fell asleep and drifted off over a few days. Way to go, Eileen!
As Dianne is still in my cottage in Brisbane, I decided not to foist myself on her family before she got home. I'd always wanted to see Ulladulla, for some reason. I spent a day roaming around there and looking at the beaches through a curtain of rain. Someone I talked to suggested having a look at Milton, only a few kilometers away. Despite the weather, I checked out several interesting little shops, had a coffee and went back to overnight, stealthily, in Ulladulla.
I had driven through Bateman's Bay in the way through and spent another day enjoying the waterfront. I took a three hour luncheon river cruise while the sun played hide and seek. Our pilot and commentator was very entertaining on the outward trip. We stopped at Nelligen and had the recommended ice-cream before heading back, a bit faster than the outward journey.
One of my fellow travellers recommended a visit to Mogo, only about ten minutes away. The village looked as though it had dropped off a tourist poster from 50 years ago. Everything was olde-worlde with the usual designer dress shops and lolly shops and leather works and art galleries and cafes. After being at Milton the previous day, I was already overloaded on atmosphere and spent only a short time there.
Braidwood Servicemen's Club has free camping and hot showers - the ideal combination - and in the direction I was travelling. Support of the club is always expected - and I supported them. After a drink and an entree at the bistro and a coffee in the lounge, I felt I had paid my dues. I almost gave them another $10 from the pokies but at the last minute, I had a little jackpot and pulled out $12. I had allowed myself the original $10 so put the extra $2 back into the machines. Exhausted after all that, I slept till almost 11am.
Never one to push myself, I moved on to Warri Reserve, a spacious shady area on the banks of a river, The school holidays start tomorrow so I wasn't surprised to see about a dozen campers who had swelled to about 25 by the time I left in the morning. I had assumed these were families getting in a day ahead of the holidays. It turned out to be mainly grey nomads settling themselves in for the Easter break before the families and kids took over the reserve. Several seemed to know each other so this may be an annual event for some of them.
The Bungendore Showgrounds seemed a good place to stop but it was closed to campers for Pony Club events for the next ten days. Many of these small towns go out of their way to attract visitors to the coffee shops and cafes. Bundendore was no exception. A tasty roasted vegetable soup with garlic toast, a good hot coffee and I was on my way again. Once again I haven't gone far but I want to be in Canberra tomorrow afternoon so this seemed an appropriate overnighter.
It has been great poking about by myself for the last few weeks and I am now looking forward to catching up with others at the Stone the Crows Festival in Wagga Wagga next week. I will then join a tagalong to Blackall for the rally next month. I have to admit that I've been following with interest the current tagalongs on Facebook. I am particularly envious of the group at Police Paddocks near Rutherglen in Victoria, They are having a 'black tie' dinner tonight, in their best bib and tucker, by candlelight. We certainly know how to live well and with imagination, I must get some photos for the newsletter that I'm working on.
Tomorrow I will be in Canberra and will have a couple of days to deal with things like laundry before I head west on Monday or Tuesday.
