What a beaut weekend.
After about an hour on a very slushy
York-Williams Rd, having to negotiate fallen trees and a cockys shed, Paula and I rocked in just after lunch on Friday arvo. Evan, Renee and their little guy Lee were setting up
camp. A quick gidday and we did the same. It was cold and wet, best to get shelter up asap.
That done, Evan and I headed out for a load of timber for the fire. The logs were very damp but luckily Evan had brought some dry Jarrah and soon had a raging fire under way.
Jim, my outlaw, pulled in about 3.30 ish followed a little later by Craig and Dale and then Eric and Irene. Having made all the introductions, we set about feeding ourselves and all ended up around the fire with a few drinks. Rain came and went all night but the wind had an icy bite to it so everyone except Evan and Jim hit the sack about 8 ish. Those two carried on
well into the wee hours.
Saturday morning was a lot better weather wise and we were soon around the fire boiling billys, having cuppas and a good ol chinwag, followed by a bit of brekky and walkabout the area.
Dono rocked in about mid morning and set up his tent then joined us at the fire. [ Amazing how a fire is the focal point and social centre of meetings and gatherings].
12ish saw us firing up the cars for a little bit of a drive on a few tracks. Craigs ute was handy for collecting firewood along the way and it didnt take us long to have him fully loaded. Along the way we encountered a short steep climb over a
granite outcrop which we christened 'EO Rock'.
We returned to
camp about 3.00, built the fire up and settled round for afternoon tea, ie: beer, wine, rum, scotch and a few nibblies. I really enjoyed listening to the various
places everyone had been and the things they had done. By 6.00 everyone seemed
well lubed a bit of dinner was the order of the day.
Talk about cheeky bloody Possums, no fear these little buggars. One climbed into the back of Renee's pull-out kitchen and Paula was arguing with another that had a chippie packet over its head in our camper. Meanwhile Dono had just finished cooking some mighty fine ribs for his dinner when a possum climbed onto the table and knicked off with a couple. I dont think Dono could believe it, he had to look into the pot two or three times just to make sure he saw what he saw....hehehehehe.
The drinking, laughing and yakking went on till about 10ish when people started to retire. Eric boiled a billy and when I asked him if he was making a cuppa he said "no,its for the hot
water bottle", only after giving him a bit of stick about being an ol' softy, I realised I hadnt felt my own toes for the past 12 hours. Smart lad our Eric.
Sunday 6am Im at the fire boiling up and nursing a small headache when Craig wanders up with a steel hotplate. Sets it up over some nice glowing coals then starts laying rashers of bacon out. The sight, sizzle and smell do wonders for me and my belly starts rumbling. Then he brings the eggs out, and I cant take much more of this, Im just about to head off to grab our pan when Craig delicately cracks an egg over the plate only to watch it gently roll off the edge and into the coals..........the look on that poor blokes face was priceless. Im cracking up even as I type.
By 10.30am everyone was fed and watered and another play on other tracks was in order. Eric had a little problem firing up his car but Dono soon had him up and running. A couple of pleasant hours were spent quietly chugging around the reserve checking out flora and forna. Renee was our resident biologist who was able to answer any questions we had.
Returning to
camp we had a bit of lunch before Eric and Irene, Paula and myself, and Dono packed up our gear.
Evan, Renee and the little big guy Lee along with Craig and Dale stayed the extra night.
I hope all got home safely and as discussed another gathering is a must.....Warren/
Blackwood area was suggested.....watch this space.
On the way home, Paula said that not only had we just met some new people, we had made new friends. Thats the feeling I had as
well. I wish to thank everyone who attended this gathering as you all made it one of the friendlest, funny, relaxed and interesting trips we have experienced.
Kindest regards,
Lionel & Paula.