This year I again went south. I went to the Solos' rally in Euroa Victoria at the end of February and on to a larger CMCA rally at Carisbrook Vic. I love rallies, especially the solos where I now know quite a few travellers. Euroa was not my favourite. I know we can't do anything about the weather but complain but it was SOOO HOT. I was actually sick with the heat and didn't join in much. I spent most of the time in the central meeting area playing cards and talking. Carisbrook was equally hot but we had air conditioned meeting rooms which made it more pleasant. The next rally is in Mudgee NSW in September when the weather should be more pleasant.
I have been to a couple of bush festivals. At the Banjo Patterson Bush Poetry festival I plucked up courage and competed in the poetry reading competition. I didn't trust my memory enough to do a recital, even though it was my own original poem. The judges' rankings were interesting. I was given 2nd place by one, 5th by another and 12th by the male judge. It didn't put me in the running for a prize but was very encouraging. Last week I was at the Man from Snowy River festival in Corryong, in the Victorian alpine region. The highlight for me was the re-enactment of the poem with wonderful riding and horsemanship. I did stand up at two of the poets' breakfasts and did my poems without a book - yay! I also competed in the one minute poem competition where we were given a line and had to prepare (for several hours) and present in less than a minute. 53 seconds! I didn't get a guernsey but didn't disgrace myself. I will put the poem on my rhymes blog.
Today I caught up with those who went to the Stone the Crows festival (the same time as the Snowy River one.) There are four or five groups of solos heading off on tag-alongs, in groups of about 20. The group I am with at the moment is making about 10 stops around north and north west NSW - quiet camps, a couple of farm stays, outback museums, shearing demonstrations, visiting glass making artists etc. - a real variety. We will end up in Lightning Ridge before moving on into Queensland. I suppose some people will be fossicking for black opal - but not me. I've tried that and got nothing for my troubles. I think we will be in Lightning Ridge for about a week and I will join a different group travelling further north.
