My planned departure was shot to bits having to get a vehicle ready for my brother to take to tassie (did not know he was coming :( anyway instead of leaving around 9am I left about 1.30 / 2.00 pm.
Wednesday: left
Brisbane and no drama's on the road, a few radars about the only thing to be aware off, I arrived around 5 / 5.30 after a quick stop off at the butcher to grab some meat for dinner. I made the
show grounds to meet up with Gary and Nan whom arrived a couple of hours earlier. A couple of beers and up went my
camp.
Gary and Nan have a great set up and I checked that out (and was pleased my wife was not on this trip, would have cost me heaps :)) Dinner was welcomed and an early night was had.
Thursday: We decide to do one of the trips reccommended by the locals and we even got written directions (I think thats what they called them) Gary and Nan left before me, as it turned out, we ended up in two different directions all ended
well of course. I decided to go to Inglewood (70klms south) for lunch and Gary and Nan in the Rams head Hotel in Millmerran. While on the way down to Inglewood I checked out Stonehedge which turned out to be a private place not a town (opps) Funny signs out there. Leaving Ingalwood checked out Coolmunda Dam (spelling?) Nice place, can
camp there right on the
water or back near
the entrance.
Brad and his family arrived nearing the end of a 5 week trip. A few more beers and a chat and we all had an early night. I'm sure Brad will tell you about his fun on his trip.
Friday: We checked out what was being set up for the festival including the indivdual groups for the competition cooking for the weekend. I then ended up roaming around Millmerran and checked out the Museum and it was full of history and very interesting
well worth it if your into old machinery. Brad and family also checked out the town,while Gary headed to Cecil Plains I had lunch at Mills Tavern (very nice meal), Bill arrived later that afternoon a few more beers, wines and dinner and we ended up watching the evening entertainment. Forget what time we all to bed but I know I needed a sleep.
Saturday:
Well we all just milled around the festival as it had plenty to see and do not to mention talking to the cooks and learning how to season /
cook and maintain your
camp oven. There were heaps off stalls and plenty of old machinery (going) to look around. I grabbed some ribs that had been smoked for 15 hours and they were GREAT to say the least. Patrick and Jane arrived around 9.30 and ventured around the show. Both Bill and Gary fired up the webbers and we feasted on lamb and beef roast with heaps of veg with beer and wine (YUM). That was followed up with the nights entertainment (fantastic singers) not to forget the floor show (now that was funny) I'm not real sure how to describe it, you really had to be there LOL suffice to say two horny teenages his intentions VERY clear hers not, his mate trying to win her by playing air gutar and singing to her.
Anyway around 11.00 pm we all crashed again.
Sunday: I stired early and packed up
camp Brad and Bill once again put on a feast. Gary and Nan watched the bush breakfast show which from all accounts was "great". Patrick and Jane did what I should have done, sleep in. Once again we all roamed the festival and found a few other attractions we had missed the day before. I never stayed to find out whom won what and opted for a departure around 11.00 as did bill and Brad who was heading to Crows nest for a few days. Gary was leaving Monday. Partick was leaving later in the day.
I can reccommend The Mills Tavern in Millmerran and the second pub in Inglewood (forget the name) for a feed and the meat from the Millmerran butcher is very nice indeed. Gary and Nan say the Rams head Hotel has a great lunch feed as
well. Fuel I think was 1.08 a litre. The area has no
water restrictions and while some areas a dry looking other are very green.
All in all 5 groups turned up, it was great to meet you all and I know I had a fun time and look forward to our next trip. Patrick and Jane sorry I missed you on the Sunday but thanks for coming out.
Brian