Gold Country Car Rally

Back at the end of May our Historic Car Club hosted its annual Gold Country Car Rally.

After a weather forecast at the beginning of the week leading up to the rally of 12 degrees and showers, we ended up with a lovely sunny day and 17 degrees.  Much better.

We had over 60 cars entered. 

They firstly went on a drive through the countryside with an observation quiz along the way, ending up at Trunkey Creek for lunch and a display of vehicles.

The ladies of the school P & C put on the best lunch, lots of homemade casseroles and sweets.  If anyone went away hungry it was their own fault.  I was too busy tucking in to take a photo.

Mick and I haven’t been involved for quite a few years, as we’ve generally been away at that time of year.  This year, however, we were in the thick of things. That is why I hardly took any photos – just a few as they were all leaving from lunch.

We had some gorgeous vehicles turn up, ranging from this beautiful 1913 Austin, which one best vehicle of the rally, to a 1983 Datsun 280Z and even a Bedford truck.

There was a presentation dinner in the evening including a bit of fun with a trivia quiz  and raffle.  On the Sunday there was a shorter drive, followed by our club members providing a huge morning tea. Nothing like home cooking.

It was a fun weekend and I think everyone involved and a great time. Unfortunately, we will be away again in May next year, so will have to wait a bit longer to join in again.

Ash’s Speedway Museum

You know how it is……… we visit attractions when we are on holidays but don’t visit the attractions in our local area.

There is a handmade sign on the highway on the western side of Bathurst pointing to Ash’s Speedway Museum.  You’d think we’d have been to have a look, Mick liking his motorcycles and all, but no, never been there.  It turns out it is the biggest Speedway Museum in the southern hemisphere and really well set out.

On the June long weekend they held a Show and Shine, so we thought it would be a great opportunity to have a bit of a squizz. It was a great day for it, as they had an ex racer giving a guided tour.

Bathurst has a fine history when it comes to Speedway.  Back in the late  20s to 40s, there were regular speedway meets at the old sportsground  and a fellow by the name of Bluey Wilkinson, who was a Bathurst local, became world champion.  In the late 80s and early 90s they also held a few race meets at the showground and we went along to those.

Speedway is quite a spectacle with lots of glitz and colour.

Ash, who owns this private collection, is a serious fan, although he has never been a racer.  His collection outgrew his own sheds, so he has opened this museum.

Each rider wears a bib with his club and name on it.  Ash has just one or two………..hundred………

In modern times the most world famous racer was a Kiwi named Ivan Mauger.  He officially opened the museum last year and had allowed nearly all of his race bikes to be displayed here.

Speedway is a dying sport, but there were quite a few die hard old racers present on the day, some showing off their prized bikes.  There are only a few speedway tracks still running in Australia.  Britain and Poland seem to be the main players these days.

Yes, they even race sidecars in speedway.  No, you won’t be getting me on one.  They seem to have the most spectacular crashes.

We’re really pleased we went along for a look.  Now we have to get up there again, when we have more time and have a proper look.

Show Time – Bathurst Royal Show

In among all the chaos in April, Mick and I snuck away for a couple of hours to visit our local show.

Firstly, we saw some of our Car Club member with their display of old cars and bikes. I forgot to take a photo – too busy talking.  Fancy that.

Then we went into the pavilions to see what the clever people had done. Some beautiful patchwork.

My friend Cath made the French General braided quilt and took home a prize.  Well done.  It is a lovely quilt.

There were heaps of stalls this year.  This one looked gorgeous.  We were strong and didn’t bring any home.

 

Mind you, Mick is carrying a tell tale bag from another stall.  I did buy another merino skivvy from Woolerina.  It’s sad when they know you by your first name from making so many purchases, but it is the best clothing for everyday wear and most importantly travelling on the bike.  What we also love is the fact that they are a firm based in the Central Western town of Forbes. No, this isn’t a sponsored advertisement.

Although we are turning into old fuddy duddies we have to visit sideshow ally in the night time. 

There is just that special something about all the colour and movement, the brash music, the cry of the spruikers, the screams of the girls on the rides and the main arena announcer in the background.

I’ve never been good at most rides, having thrown up on several as a teenager.  Maybe that was part of the reason I’ve never been all that fussed on side show ally food.  I think the quality has improved greatly since 30-odd years ago, but I must say, it still doesn’t really appeal. The colours are just too garish – but that’s what makes it show food.

One ride I’ve always loved is the sedate Ferris wheel. It’s funny, I don’t really like heights, but it has never worried me.  When we were kids we could see the showground in the distance from our back fence.  I’d sit there for ages watching the Ferris wheel going around. There isn’t always one at our show, but there was this year.  No, we didn’t even go on it. 

I was delighted when we saw that the old Lauries’ Steam Merry-go-Round was back.  It hasn’t been here for a few years.

When we were kids, there were  two merry-go-rounds, this one in sideshow ally, and another, bigger one behind the main pavilion.  We always went on the bigger one. It has horses and sleighs, but wasn’t steam driven.  We’d be really disappointed if we ended up having to go in a sleigh.  I can even remember seeing, in the late 80s, one of my old school mates with their own child on the merry-go-round.  I guess generations have ridden these same old rides. I wonder what happened to the other one.  It hasn’t been here for quite some years.  I look for it every time.  I do hope it is still up and running somewhere.

Anyway, here is some more of Laurie’s.

How the style of side show rides has changed over the years.

I bet you can nearly hear the steam organ music playing in the background.

Bathurst has always been a big show, running over three days. The show has changed so much since we were kids. Back then, everyone dressed up for a special day out, most ladies having a new outfit for the occasion. We used to have a public holiday for Show Day on the Friday when I was in primary school, but that changed many years ago.

Bathurst Show has been in the doldrums for a few years due to a number of factors, but this year there was a good feel about it.  There was a good number of commercial exhibitors.  Up until the early 90s nearly all the car yards would have a big display and the Show was the place to have a good tyre kick, without the pressure of visiting a car yard.  For several years, there have been very few with displays, but this year they were nearly all back.  Great to see.  There were also lots of smaller traders. 

I remember buying lots of trashy things at this sort of stall during my teens, when we were allowed to meet our friends for the afternoon, before meeting Mum and Dad in front of the main pavilion for tea and then being able to meet our friends again afterwards.  It was great fun.  I shudder to think how much money I spent on a couple of years, but it has all created some great memories.

Unfortunately, the craft section is still not doing very well.  There are so many creative people in our midst, but they don’t seem to like to enter, thinking that their work isn’t good enough, or that they aren’t making things to win prizes.  I just think it is great to see what people have been creating.  It doesn’t matter if it wins or not.  Mind you, I haven’t entered anything in Bathurst for years either.  Next year that is going to change.  I WILL enter something.

Although we were only there for a couple of hours this year, we ran into heaps of people we know.  That’s half the fun of the show.  People seem to have time to stop for a chat, not having to rush off somewhere, and we are all there for a good time, so everyone is in a good mood.

I’m glad we made the effort to visit, even if it was only for a little while. Hopefully, next year we can stay all day.

When They’re Good, They’re Very Very Good, When They’re Bad They’re Horrid

Internet connections that is.

 

One of the reasons I have been absent is poor internet reception.

We can only get satellite or wifi out here.  Satellite got a bit dear at $120 per month for 2GB of data so we swapped over to wifi about eighteen months ago.

For quite a while it has been giving us grief – dropping out all the time.

Well, on Sunday night I replied to some comments and the emails wouldn’t go through, so I just left them for the morning.  In the morning the little modem kept saying it was “Searching for Network”.  We reset everything there was to reset with no luck. 

We kept trying and in the end the modem wouldn’t even turn on.

After  a visit to the retailer, only to be sent home to call the support team, well over an hour on the phone being passed from pillar to post and then being told to go back to the shop, we now, after a few days have a new wifi modem.

Here’s hoping we have no further troubles and they’re very very good.

I’ll even try to reply to some comments.  Keep them coming.

Visitors

I do love living out here in our little bit of countryside.

Recently, we have been visited by lots of cockies.  There is a huge flock that roost in the trees down in our creek.  They make an incredible racket when they get up and about in the morning.  Oh, the peace and quiet of living out of town………..not!!!

They can be a little cheek too.  This one decided that the chooks didn’t need the cob of corn I had given them.

Our other frequent visitors are the roos.  There is one main little family that we see most days.  In particular, there is one mum and joey that I often encounter in our drive way on the way home.  “Joey” is growing, but not quite big enough to jump over the fences, so, when I come along, Mum jumps the fence and Joey then bounces down the drive way.  He is funny to see, it’s just like a little kid running around, he really bounces around, not the usual bound of the more mature roo.  He hasn’t jumped into the garage as yet, but gets quite flustered when he ends up in the yard in front of the shed.  He’s gradually learning to sit still and I’ll just drive past him.  It won’t be long before he can jump the fences, just like Mum.

The other afternoon, this group was in our front yard.  Mum and Joey are at the rear.  He’s not that much smaller than Mum.

Now, look at the one at the front.

Look closely…..

 

Isn’t that magic. I’ve never seen that in the wild before.

All these were taken from our verandah, which is quite a distance away, so they weren’t bothered by us at all. I love 20x zoom cameras.

Nundle Scissor Keep Swap

One thing that I missed out on by leaving Nundle early was the Scissor Keep swap.

My little one was received by Cheryl. Chooky kindly took a photo and sent it to me.

I had to wait a little while before mine arrived in the mail. It is super cute and was made by Lea. My pink polka dot scissors fit just nicely.

Now I’m looking forward to next year at Nundle when Lynette Anderson will be the tutor.

Bring it on.

More March Memories – Nundle - Saturday

Saturday was the big day of stitching. The hall looked fantastic all set out for us.  Of course, while we were waiting to go in I met the local moggy.

The projects this year were half inch hexies.  The main project was a butterfly.  I had fun fussy cutting the fabrics, but got very little stitching done.

The day started out fun, but unfortunately, went rather pear shaped for me.  I’d been feeling off colour all day, but I think it was from worrying about my uncle who had major surgery on Friday.  I’d call the hospital and get rather vague answers about his condition.

Finally, just after lunch they told me that he wasn’t responding.  That was when the wonderful friendship and support of my blogging friends came into its own.  I was a mess; worrying about my uncle and my mum (his only sister), feeling guilty for having gone to Nundle at all, needing to get to Sydney, worrying about how Kate would get home, knowing that I may have some major decisions to make.  I couldn’t have coped without the girls taking over and calming me down, packing my things and once I was on the road, checking up on me. They were the best and I can never thank them enough.

As it was nearly three o’clock before I left I drove as far as Mudgee before calling it quits.  Despite the circumstances, I couldn’t resist taking a couple of photos along the way.

As things transpired, my uncle didn’t respond and those difficult decisions had to be made.  He was a good man who had a full life.  He is missed by many.

More March Memories – Nundle - Friday

Can you believe it is well over 3 months since we all gathered at Nundle?

So much seems to have happened since then.  Anyway, I thought it was about time I had a look at the photos I took.  It is nice to look back at a lovely time with friends.

This year Kate travelled up with me.  We stopped for a break at Muswellbrook, and of course food was involved. We arrived just as everyone was ordering a counter meal at the pub, more food involved, and so much of it.

After lunch I wandered over to the Woollen Mill to get a little souvenir for Mick.  He ended up with some Nundle socks. While there I met the resident feline.

Next we headed out to Kerry’s shop for a little retail therapy.  We felt much better afterwards. This time I met the resident pooch.

We really made the best use of our time, also visiting Ratter’s Flat.  What an intriguing place.

Yes, I met the resident pooch here too.

The owner even gave us a guided tour of his garden.  There was something different to see wherever you turned.

By now it was time to return to the caravan park for a bit of a sit and chat and share what everyone has been creating in the last twelve months.

There was some truly beautiful work on show.

I hope Chooky doesn’t mind that I’ve borrowed this photo from her with all of our Some Kind of Wonderful quilts.  They look great together.

Look at us all sitting there – a big circle of friends. Peg and Dale were checking out last year’s project, seeing as they had missed out.

The day finished off with a lovely dinner.  I was too busy eating and talking to take any photos.  Then it was time to get some shut eye before the big day.