Echuca Escapades

Friday morning dawned warm and dry and we packed the car and headed off to pick up the camper trailer.  We were off to Echuca for a weekend with the Victorian frogs (Air force Reunion.)  We drove up stopping at Elmore for lunch where we looked at a lovely art gallery but didn't buy anything.  Arriving at Echuca Holiday Park we set up our camp site before heading into meet the others at the Echuca Hotel. 

It was good to see everyone again and a few new faces had joined us this weekend from further afield.  Peter and Jenny travelled down from Port Macquarie and Greg and Anita came from Canberra.  Jean also made it from Sydney again.  It seems that the Victorians are the only ones that have kept in touch and catch up on a regular basis.  It is such a shame as I'm sure if the other states played as we do they would have a wonderful time.  It has been such fun getting to know everyone over the last few years and we always enjoy our time together whether it is  just a dinner or a weekend away.  This weekend we have to say a huge thank you to Sue and Graeme who live in Echuca and organised a whole weekend of fun for all the visiting frogs.

  Leaving the hotel around 5 it was a quick trip home for a change of clothes before meeting up again for dinner at the Workman's Club.  Dinner was a raucous affair with lots of food, drinks and laughs as we all relaxed into party mode for the weekend.  Ketut (Shane) and Rhonda (Rhos) had the group a little worried as they gazed into each others eyes.  I think Cheryl and Bill were hoping they were rid of us for the weekend but just like the ad we said goodbye at the end of the night and went home dreaming of what might have been.

On Saturday we all met up and went in several cars to the Echuca Beer Shed for a big Aussie BBQ lunch.  The shed is a few kms out of Echuca and is a treasure trove of farming machinery from the old days and memorabilia from all things beer related.  Owned and run by a very enthusiastic beer drinker we were treated to a totally politically incorrect tour of the beer shed followed by a great lunch provided by Sue and cooked by Graeme in the Trappers Kitchen.  A great day was had by all and the 37 deg weather made for great sales at the bar.  It was a very merry group that left around 3 pm to get a little rest in before dinner at Niks later that night.

Nik's is a great Greek Restaurant and we had 2 tables out the back for another night of great food and great fun.  And of course a drink or three to help wash down the Greek banquet.  The food was really wonderful and the night even more raucous than the night before if that was possible.  I'm sure that none of these guys ever thought that they would be sitting in a Greek Restaurant 42 years on and still drinking and laughing together.   Our interstaters said farewell here as they were starting out early the following morning but the rest of us agreed to meet for breakfast at the Beechworth Bakery.

It was a quieter group that met on Sunday morning but after a coffee or two most of us were ready to face the day.  We said goodbye to most of the group after breakfast but Cheryl, Shane, Bill and I were staying on for another night.  We had a look at the Little Birdie Christmas market and though it was only small Cheryl and I found a few bits for Christmas presents.  We jumped in the car then and drove just over the border to see what the Moama Markets had to offer.

These markets were very much bigger and we both found a few more presents here before finding the boys on a seat under a shady tree.  We joined them for a drink and then left in search of the Cherry Farm that Shane had seen in the tourist guide.  We found it and both left with a kilo tub of fresh cherries.  They were delicious as was the home made cherry ice cream we ate before we got back in the car.  Back in Echuca we left Cheryl and Shane for the afternoon and we made our way back to the Workman's Club where we met Sue & Graham for a quiet afternoon in the air con.  It was good to have some time to chat quietly.

 Cheryl and Shane joined us at the C'van Park for a drink before we walked back into town for dinner at the  Bridge Hotel.  The food and the company was great and the barman/waiter was a real country joker.  We had lots of laughs over dinner before saying goodnight and walking home for well needed rest.

The next morning it was a bit cooler and we met Cheryl and Shane at Wisteria Cafe in the Port for a yummy breakfast before going back to pack up the camper and head for home.  Another wonderful weekend over and life returns to normal for the rest of the week.

The following weekend we continued the market theme visiting Gisborne to see the Phoenix Art Groups exhibition.  One of the ladies from last week is an artist and had some pieces on display.  We arrived to what we thought was a sleepy country market and found cars and people everywhere.  Finding a park a few blocks away we walked back and spent a couple of hours browsing and shopping  at another market.  Most of our pressies have come from these three markets this year so I do hope you like them as much as we enjoyed findig them.

Leaving the markets behind we drove on to Woodend where we found a wonderful little cafe for lunch and then after a look around this very nice little town we drove on home stopping for a quick look at both Trentham, where we found some interesting Christmas decorations, and Blackwood.

So after two weeks away in the country we were spending the next weekend at home with visitors arriving from Perth.  Sandra and Vicki were visiting for a few days and we were looking forward to playing tour guides again.

until then.......

Melbourne Cup adventures

We woke up on Saturday morning ready for a big day of shopping and catching up with Tammy and Paul who we have not seen for 2 years.  Our first stop was to South Melbourne to get the ingredients for dinner that night.  After our week of eating out I decided that I would surprise our guests with a home cooked meal for their first couple of nights.  Also they had had a big couple of days flying from Derby to Perth on Friday and then to Melbourne on Saturday so I decided that a night in might be very welcome.

We filled the trolley with lots of fresh fruit and vegies, salmon and cheese at the market before visiting the local supermarket for the more mundane milk and bread.  We stopped for a yummy brunch at Panette's once more before walking home to try and fit it all in the fridge.  A couple more hours of washing and soon it was time to head for the airport to meet our weary travellers.

It was so good to see them both again.  We soon arrived home and settled in an evening of eating, drinking and catching up on all their news and adventures of the past two years. 

On Sunday Paul wanted to have a look at the NGV so we all walked up to the gallery and spent a couple of hours wandering through the European Art rooms and some newly opened short term installations.  The photograhic display had us scratching our heads as did this colourful marching band but as I've said before art is definitely in the eye of the beholder.

We left soon after and had a wander through the St Kilda Rd markets before crossing the road to grab lunch at Riverland Bar by the Yarra.  Sausages and cider was a pretty tasty lunch and soon after we climbed the stairs to see the Ian Potter Gallery at Fed Square.  Some great Australian artworks here but again some odd bits and pieces as well.  Home again and dinner that night was Pumpkin, Spinach, Fetta and Pine nut pizza with a few glasses of Red before we all fell into bed after our day of culture.

Monday was a day of shopping as we joined the rush in the millenery depts of Myer and David Jones.  I can't believe how many people leave it until the day before.  At least Tammy had an excuse this year!  Paul and I just stood back and watched in amazement at what could only be called a 'feeding frenzy' as everybody searched for the perfect hat, hatinator and or fascinator.  With mission accomplished we lunched at Brunetti's in Myer  before returning home for a rest before dinner.  Tonight we were off to Moreton's in Carlton where we had another lovely dinner and a great night.

Cup Day dawned quite grey and the forecast wasn't so great but we all got up, donned the glad rags and crossed our fingers that the weather would hold.  We arrived at the track just as the thrid race was running and found our little piece of grass to settle our rug on right in front of the Fashions in the Field and the Yellowstone Marquee.

It is a favourite place and we were surprised to find that there was room left but perhaps the weather had put people off coming out too early.  We were soon settled in with a few bets and a bottle of Yellow to start the day and not long after my horse ran 3rd in Race 4 so a good start to the day though it seemed that we weren't going to break any records in the winning stakes this year with each of us not doing much better during the day.  Still it's all about the event on Cup Day but it's still nice to win a little.

This year Flemington played host to HRH Prince Charles and Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall.  It was a little difficult to see them clearly as they drove past in their car but I did manage to see 'the royal wave' as they passed.  After that I just watched the big screen where I could see them properly.  Camilla presented the Cup to the winner and seemed to be enjoying her day - albeit a little different from our day on the grass!

Not long after the main event the sky went very black and on seeing the lightening in the distance we decided to beat the crowds and leave the track while we were still dry.  We made it to the train before the rain really came down and once back in town stopped for a drink at The Leftbank before catching a tram up to South Melbourne where we had an early dinner at The Blue Room.  We had a great day and really enjoyed the spectacle that is The Melbourne Cup once again.  It really is something that everyone should experience at least once.

Bill had to return to work on Wednesday but I was on leave so spent most of the day with our tourists.  Leaving them to visit the State Library, I went to Myer to pick up a couple of things I had seen the week before.  No frantic shoppers today so I was in and out fairly quickly.  Once we met up again we had a wander through some smaller shops before heading to South Melbourne Markets and then lunch at Chez Dre before making our way home for Tammy and Paul to pack.  They were flying back to Perth that evening.  It was great to see them both again even though it was only for a few days and we look forward to next time.

Thursday and Friday were free days for me, still on holidays but I kept busy with housework first before catching the train down to Mum's where Bill met us for dinner at the Chelsea Pub.  It was nice to be able to take some time out and just get everything done in my own time.

We drove to Healesville on Sunday morning to see Astrid and Hans and spent a few hours over a lovely lunch on the balcony of Mt Rael restaurant.  It was a long overdue celebration for Astrid's and Bill's birthday and we all enjoyed a wonderful afternoon in the sun.  It was with great difficulty that we dragged ourselves away for the long drive home.

The following Wednesday night we met Maree at the Caulfield RSL for dinner and had a great night having a quite catch up and reliving some old memories.  It was at this very RSL that we saw our first Total Eclipse back in '75 or '76 and that very morning I had watched this years one from Qld.  How about that.  Uncle David used to live in the next street in Elsternwick and so Bill and spent some time with him in the lovely old building.  It is a new fence line but otherwise is still the same and the food was very nice.  We will return!

And so there ends our weeks adventures around Mebourne's Cup Day and we are now looking forward to the coming weekend when we hitch up the camper trailer again and head for Echuca.

until next time......