It was quite an effort to get up at 8.30 on Sunday for the cruise to Swan Reach. The Fairlane has its first club event in 4 years. My old girl ran quite well, and so did the car. Hee! Hee! Pam insisted that the car be checked over before the cruise, you know tyres, battery, fluids, and in doing so discovered a nail in one of the tyres. All fixed and packed for the day.

With all the navigators on their way, Lee and I headed off. T’was a lovely drive up through the gorge, past Inglewood, Birdwood, stopping briefly at a bridge when Lee’s Barge wanted smoko err, staled and onto our first stop over at Mount Pleasant. A bit of time to grab that bite to eat, err, umm!! Pam packed lunch didn’t she and so who went to the bakery? Well, a man has to have a Farmers Union Iced Coffee (There’s a Plug)to wash down that Potato pie.

While all the navigators and drivers were scouring the picnic area for answers to their questions, we took a look at the beemer (BMW) that Steve drove on the cruise. After some intense chatting the cruise headed off again.

Next stop Sedan, first travelling through Eden Valley and Keyneton. All this time I was following the Barge and looking at the back of Lee’s Head. Pam said I was following too close. We stopped at the Sedan Servo, catching up with two more members to join us.

Our next part of the trip was a trip back to the era of convicts. Down the mountain on both sides of the road were walls built by convicts.

As legend has it, they would gather the rocks from the surrounding paddocks and hills, carry them over and construct the wall. What a tough life! With a short scoot across on the ferry, we all arrived. Before I went in, there were some wheel covers to pass onto Gloria. And now for some much needed lunch. Pam had salad; I had schnitzel with Dianne sauce.

I almost had three lunches as Lee, his mum and Irene could not finish there’s. With every one feed, it was time for a walk over to the museum which was not open. Well, with some small talk some headed back to the hotel. Pam and I decided to stay over the night at the caravan park. With a very short drive, we booked in, set up camp.

The full moon cast a light over our tent all night, making look like the sun was still up. Pam made supper at about 9.30 pm. I wanted to go home that night as it was so cold, being the coldest day of the year sleeping in a tent near a river.

Morning came, not fast enough for me. With all our gear packed, the last thing was to see if the Fairlane would start. Thankfully the old girl did! Just like on the way up to Swan Reach, the trip home was without drama. Maybe next time, we will come up in summer.

The Editor