Solos Rally - Mudgee 2018

Dutch:

Sinds ik iedereen verteld heb dat ik aan een rally zou deelnemen met mijn camper, heb ik gemerkt dat er veel verwarring is ontstaan over het woord 'rally'.  Waar het oorspronkelijk vandaan is gekomen en waarom het gebruikt wordt in verband met een bijeenkomst of evenement van campers en caravans, heb ik geen idee van, maar het heeft dus niets te maken met een auto rally of met races.  In principe is het een bijeenkomst van gelijkgestemde mensen die een week lang bijeen komen om gezellig dingen met elkaar te ondernemen, zoals workshops en het luisteren naar gastsprekers over onderwerpen die met kamperen te maken hebben, koffie uurtjes, gezellige avonden, enz. enz.  Het lijkt ook een beetje op geocaching evenementen waar ik al een paar keer aan deelgenomen heb.  Kortom, deze post en de volgende zal gaan over twee rally's: de eerste voor alleenstaanden in Mudgee en de tweede, in Gunnedah, is een algemene rally. De rest ga ik helaas weer vertellen in het Engels, want twee talen kan ik tijdsgewijs niet bijhouden...  Helaas.

English:

Since I have been telling everyone that I was going to attend a rally I have noticed a lot of confusion about the word 'rally'.  I simply have no idea from where the word originated, nor why a gathering of people in motorhomes and caravans is called a rally, but there you have it: it is not more and not less than a huge gathering of like-minded people and has nothing to do with a car rally or races.  Although, wouldn't it be fun to race in your motorhome??? ;-)

A rally is a bit like the geocaching events that I have been to.  A weeklong event with guest speakers, workshops, morning and afternoon tea and happy hours, line dancing, dinner dance, crazy evenings, etc. etc.  This first post is about the solos rally at Mudgee (solos as in people who are travelling without a partner).  The next one will be about the general rally at Gunnedah.

22 September - 1 October

The dates are from Saturday till Monday a week later, but I have not been able to spend the full week at the rally.  My planning was a bit out and since it was Mady's 18th birthday on Saturday I could not leave until Sunday morning, which meant that I couldn't be in Mudgee for the induction of the first-timers.  This was not a big deal, as everything had been taken care of.

So, let's start with Sunday.  Stephen had suggested I stayed the night in my camper at their place, so I had packed on Saturday and could leave early Sunday morning from Brisbane, rather than from Bribie Island.  I made good time on a rather quiet day and made it to the Inglewood RV Stop (#706).

The camp was a pleasant one and since I had enough time I went for a walk the following morning before I left for the second part of the trip.

Sunset photo, taken through the fly screen

A rather surprisingly fast-flowing Canning Creek in a period of drought

Artwork like this brings a smile to one's face

A bridge under a bridge

Canning Creek

I'm quite tall early in the morning!

A little bird came to say hello (corner of the sign)

The camp ground, now nearly depleted of vehicles

I also went in search of a geocache, but it was supposed to be hidden under the roof of a picnic booth and opposite a dump point which was busily frequented by caravanners, so I didn't put in too much effort.

Monday

I left at 9:30am and drove to Goondiwindi, where I topped up fuel and then on to North Star Road Rest Area (#789) near Boogabilla where I stopped for morning tea. Lunch I had at 1pm at Tycanna Reas Area (no number), along the Newell Highway.  My overnight stop was at Sir William Bridges Rest Area (#806).

Tuesday

I left again at 9 am and wanted to make good time.  My morning tea stop was at Gowan Rest Area (#818), again along the Newell Highway and next I wanted a dump point, so I stopped at Dunedoo.  I had left the Newell Highway at Coonabarabran for the secondary roads.  I also got more fuel at Dunedoo and as I walked past a Spar supermarket I got groceries too, because I needed a bit in storage for the rest of the week.  Lunch I had at a truck rest opposite the supermarket.  I also rang the first timers team leader that I was on my way and would be there mid afternoon.

By the time I reached Gulgon I was surprisingly tired so I found a truck stop and had a little power nap.  Refreshed I pushed on and arrived at Mudgee Showground (the camp for the rally #401) at 3 pm.

I was welcomed by Ros, our team leader and introduced to everything new to me.  In short, I was made very welcome.  I was shown my campsite and after setting up I was asked by my 'neighbours' to join them for 'happy hour'.  (Trevor, Kendor, Pam, .....)

Overview of the campground

Looking out on the creek - a great spot for the week

My attempt to take a picture of the moon ;-)

Wednesday

I woke up to rain and thunder and was not very happy.  I also missed my first morning walk!  When it cleared up I went to the hall for morning tea and after that I joined the line dancing class.  Lunch I had 'at home'.  I wanted something comforting and warm, so made myself some tosties and a hot glass of milk.  As I had promised to take part in a skit I went for the rehearsal at 2:30 pm.

The afternoon had gone by in no time.  Afternoon tea, group photo of our chapter, the Rainbow Lorikeets, ordered a group T-shirt, paid for the dinner dance, had fish & chips at the camp's take-away and joined the trivia night.

Thursday

In short: morning walk with 6 people at 7:30 am.  Walked to the nearby lookout and further on to Lawson Park in town with Ralph. We were back at 9:30 am, in time for morning tea. Line dancing at 11 am and lunch after: tosties again, but in the sun this time.  At 1 pm Cryptic Crosswords class with Monica and at 2:30 pm skit practice.  At 3 pm there was a tagalong talk but since there were no seats left I didn't stay.  I rang Patricia instead and was again invited to join 'next door' for afternoon tea. Dinner was stir-fry from left-overs I had taken with me. At 6:30 I went to look at the fashion parade, which was in part hilarious.  People had been asked to frequent the local op-shop to buy clothes that were a bit out of the ordinary and show them that night. I was happy to just watch.  After that there was dancing, so I took part in the line dancing and later had a few dances with Max.  (I make a note of all the names, basically for reference.  My memory is shocking!)

Flirtation Hill lookout

Friday

The bus took us into town for our morning walk (7:30-8:30).  Morning tea next and Cryptic Crosswords with Monica, line dancing and lunch.  The AGM was held in the afternoon, but being a first timer I felt no need to enter into the politics of the club, so I skipped it, at least for this year.  The dinner dance was held later, but wasn't very interesting for those who hadn't secured a partner beforehand.  The dances were mostly of the barn-dance type, pleasant enough, but there was no cinging of partners.  A few of us (Sharyn, Pam, Alex and I) got bored with watching only and we had a game of cards: Bush Rummy, while listening to the music, which was great.  Dinner, by the way, was 'different'.  It's the only way to describe it.  It was probably a bit too fance for the average Aussie and would have been more appreciated if all the dishes had been placed on the table simultaneously. In our case we got dished up, separately: anti-pasta, green lettuce leaves (I kid you not, just a bowl of green lettuce leaves); hot chips; something mushy, resembling overcooked rice; roast lamb on top of a bed of peas and asparagus hidden by the water cress on top. If you digged down deep enough you noticed the peas were swimming in gravy!  Dessert was a laugh: a shotglass filled with something resembling cheese cake.

Cryptic Crosswords workshop with Monica

Saturday

Open Day, combined with Market Day for the solos and the general public of Mudgee.  As I wasn't doing anything in particular I decided to get a stall and sat at the table making cards.  I always carry my hobby kit, wherever I go.  In the meantime I sold all of 3 cards!  But 3 is more than nothing and I wasn't doing anything else anyway. :-)  Denette (also from Bribie Island) showed me her cards later.  I was told about her card making, but hadn't seen her stall.  That night was PJ night, but I didn't really feel like going, so stayed in and had an early night.

Sunday

Another morning walk at 7:30 am and Poet's Breakfast afterwards.  I bought some left-over bread rolls and sausages saving them from having to be thrown out.  I had a lazy day and spent most of the day card-stitching.  At 3 pm I went to the last rehearsal for the skit.  After dinner we were the first ones to go on, so happily we did what we had practiced and sat down to enjoy the rest of the entertainment, which was good and funny.  It was also Crazy Hats night and I was lucky to score a beautiful Turkish hat from one of the 'girls', to wear for the night.  Not that it won a prize, but I generally leave that to the more crafty people anyway. :-)

Monday

Last morning and time to leave.  We had a farewell breakfast of bacon-and-egg rolls and then it was time to pack up.  As I was in no hurry to leave I took my time.  I also had to take on water and visit the dump point.  I said goodbye to Sharyn and Ross and had lunch first as well. I left at 1 pm.

I had not had much time to look around Mudgee, so I parked the camper behind Big W and did some shopping after which I went for another walk to Lawson Park and photograph the sculptures.  Later I added a few pictures of the buildings.  I may have doubled up with some, because I have visited Mudgee twice before. 

Lawson Park Hotel

Art Deco Regent Theatre

Spring bloom in the shopping centre car park

I left Mudgee at 1:30 for a short trip down the road to my next campsite for the night.  I have not posted many pictures of the activities during the rally, because so many people have taken pictures and I may later, when I am home and have more time, copy a few from facebook and post them here, but not just yet.