Carrieton Gourmet Week End ...



Trip leader: JC
Wanderers : Chris & Margie, Jacquie, Cindy & Rick, Paul & Michelle, Perry & Deb, Bill & Carol, Bill & Colleen & Merry.
Visitors : Greg & Barbara, Jason.
Hosts : Phil & Jayne & Katie.

We left for Carrieton after work on Friday and arrived at about 6:30 to find JC and a few others sitting down having tea. They quickly made some room for us around the table and we settled down to some amazing soups, sausage rolls and savoury toast. We were introduced to those that we didn’t know between mouthfuls of soup and 'please pass the toast'. After tea we decided we had better put up our tent while we were still capable. We then chatted and looked at some old photos of the farm before moving outside to the huge fire. JC advised everyone, especially the visitors, to enjoy the peaceful setting and atmosphere as some of the more 'outspoken' club members would be arriving the following day.

Saturday morning everyone woke up to a beautiful day and again gathered around the fire to thaw out and cook breakfast. Then it happened, just as JC had predicted. The peace and quiet was no more. We heard some club members on Ch12 as they were approaching camp. These late-comers, who had spent the Friday night in Orroroo, arrived and unhitched their trailers etc. All of us then left for the Bendleby Range except for Carol and Bill The Stallion. They supposedly went on a recce for a future trip. Rick was in such a poor condition after socialising too much on Friday night and loosing at table tennis to Cindy that he got her to drive for the rest of the day.

We arrived to book in at Bendleby and were invited to see some sheep shearing. It was good to watch the sheep dogs rounding up the sheep. The Bendleby drive was spectacular and we stopped for a BBQ lunch at about 2:30 after crossing the ridgetop. Lunch consisted of real country sausages and bacon on bread. After lunch we headed back for camp. This turned out to be quite challenging as the sun was shining in our eyes and making life difficult. It was just as we were finishing our drive that I managed to slip off the road and had to be rescued by Bill & Colleen and Perry. While this was happening Cindy got a puncture and had to fit their spare. All this caused us to get back to camp a bit late and people had to put up tents etc in the dark. We were then treated to some great country cooking in the form of roast meat and chicken with baked potatoes and veggies. This was eagerly consumed around the campfire. After tea there was a selection of great home made deserts. Bill and Merry then entertained us until late in the evening with old country favourite songs. Just as we were about to go to bed Phil whipped up some scones and we ate them hot from the oven with homemade jam.

Sunday morning after breakfast we visited the 'scrap heap' on the farm and were surprised to see some old cars and various machines etc that were used in former years. On the drive back we stopped in at Bill & Colleens house for a cuppa in Clare.

We would like to thank JC for organizing this trip as well as 'the rescuers' for getting us unstuck. Special thanks to Phil, Jayne and Katie for having us around and looking after us like royalty.

Chris and Margie



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