Hans and I decided to drive to the Melbourne Tool Club sale
once again. We have been up and down the Newell Highway about 30 times. That’s
1,665.7 kilometres each time. You can work it out - Maths was never my strong
point. Anyway we had a great time. It was a strenuous trip because of the
condition of the highway (not good) and because we had to be back in 6 days time for me to get back to work in time.
We started after my work on Thursday 19th July and drove only as far
as Warwick where we stayed in a good motel and had a very nice meal in a lovely
pub in the main street. All the trees lining the main street had been decorated
by various groups or individuals. Some fantastic ideas and work was to be seen. I
was fascinated and have decided to go and stay for a weekend next year to see
it all in the daylight and to explore the whole area.
Next day we drove to Forbes. through all the same
countryside we have traversed for years – some interesting and lovely, some
flat and dreary. I said the same thing I
have always said “What a country. Miles and miles of open space and soaring
skies!” Ordinary motel and an OK meal at the RSL which was just across the road. I won $4 on Keno!
From Forbes we drove in heavy fog just about all the way to
the Victorian border, crossed the great Murray River then blue skies to Shepparton
where we stopped to pick up some tools from a very lovely lady. Trish, who Hans had only talked to via emails and phone.
Made it as far as
Kilmore where we had a good motel and a great Chinese meal from a restaurant across the road.
Melbourne early the next morning. Set up for the tool sale in Glenferrie Primary School. Sold just about
half our stock before 8am. In the early afternoon we drove to Rosebud where we caught up with Shirley
O’Hehir my dear eldest sister. We stayed in an excellent motel and took Shirley out to the Rosebud Pub for a very good meal.
We left Crib about midday and drove into NSW as far as
Holbrook. Another great motel with very friendly proprietors. Meal was leftover
Chinese (we did keep it on ice). We warmed it up in the microwave. Still good.
We decided to drive across country through Bathurst, Sofala, Mudgee and stop in Scone. Everything was booked out around Scone- possibly all taken by workers for the coal mines. So we drove on to Tamworth through the dark. As we get older we try to avoid driving at night. We did arrive safely, a bit tired and cranky. Once again a great motel and a delicious stone-fired pizza from a neat restaurant in Tamworth. We soon felt OK again.
Next day straight home through Wallangarra, Stanthorpe
(where we stood outside Kerry’s house. Unfortunately she was still in Ipswich
so there was no visit), Cunningham’s Gap and finally Barellan Point, where
Michael had kept everything under control and neat and tidy. Good work, Mike!
