This was billed as our long run for the year, planned carefully to avoid highways and potholes. We were all a bit frightened of the predicted heavy rain for the late afternoon, but continued in the hope we would be well and truly home by then.
The run started at Eastern Creek Quarter, nice and early for a Sunday morning. Elise headed off to pick up Beryle, whilst I hopped in with Sharon to lead the drive to the next pick up point. We headed to Luddenham Village café for a quick pitstop. After playing musical chairs between cars, Beryle hopped in with Sharon and I joined Elise as she led the drive. We hit the road out to Burragorang via Silverdale, taking a look at the scenery around us. At Burragorang lookout we had a quick stretch whilst looking at the magnificent view.
Back on the road, we managed to stay together, despite me almost leading us astray down the wrong road. Close to Mittagong we passed a green Sprite heading in the opposite direction. Whilst at the time we had no idea who it was, we all tooted and waved anyway. We made it to the RSL for lunch. Mittagong RSL looked after us well, with our own function room for lunch with a view of our cars.
It was then that we found the owner of that green Sprite, Nathan from the Wollongong area. He had taken up the invitation to our Southern Highland/ Wollongong members to meet us at lunch. It was great to get to know Nathan and his car collection.
As usual it was a social few hours spent gossiping over lunch. I’m not sure what the other table was talking about, but the sound affects were quite amusing. The time came around to head home before the storm. To our surprise we discovered Eian Poustie in the carpark, he too had come along to represent the Highlanders. After a catch up about the newly completed One Raceway (Wakefield Park), we left Nathan and Eian to exchange contacts for local members.
Sharon, Beryle, Elise and myself headed back to Narellan via the backroads through Picton and Razorback. We made it back to Beryle’s, with Sharon’s car having a bit of a dummy spit. We decided to have a cold drink and give the bugeye a rest, conveniently timed with the Supercars race from Adelaide.
We decided to head off, making it half a km down the road before deciding to err on the side of caution and turn back. A quick call to the NRMA to find out we were 21kms too far, or 29kms to close for breakdown assist to tow Sharon home. With the storm clouds closing in a quick plan was devised for us to go home and get the car trailer whilst Sharon’s son Ryan and Rob Howes would meet us at Beryle’s to collect Sharon and the car. We managed to make it home and hook up the trailer before the rain started about 15 mins before making it back to the others. All hope of making it home well and truly before the storm had passed.
In the pouring rain we loaded the car on the trailer, let the boys tie it on and called it a day as we headed home.
We weren’t the only ones to have trouble on the way home. John and Janice Pamment had fuel pump issues a stone’s throw away from home. Managing to get themselves off the offramp on the M7. Fuel pump was replaced a few days later, ready to go on its next adventure.
Who was there?
John & Janice Pamment (AHS), Gary & Gail Packer (Holden Ute), Dennis & Scheryl Maher (Mercedes), Bruce and Maree Taylor (AHS), Micheal Meadows (AHS), Nathan Moutou (AHS), Sharon Allen & Beryle Taylor (AHS), Anne (370Z), Eian Poustie (Subaru), Elise & I (MX5). Warm welcome also to Richard Laurie in his recently completed MkI, who joined us for the first leg of the journey. Disappointed not to catch up with Graham and Cathie Dickie, as Cathie had injured her shoulder.