Why is it that the most uninteresting runs on first inspection turn out to be the best? I suppose the moral of the story is never judge a run by it’s destination. The run had everything you could ask for, coffee, kids, cops and cake!

We met at Supercheap Queanbeyan at 9:30am. While the 10:00am departure approached, there was still no Vish, and we were getting mighty thirsty. So we started with coffee and cokes at the café, while we waited for Vish.

The coffee before we departed made for a good casual start to the day. We sat and leisurely drank our coffee before departing at 10:20am.

Despite the grey skies, the drive to Braidwood was rather uneventful, with only one or two small drops on the way.

All we knew was that there was a pie shop, and a model car store at Braidwood. However, our first stop was determined by bodily functional requirements at the local amenities on arrival. It was at this time that the kids took over the run, with a mass invasion of the playground. It was at this point we realised that the adults were outnumbered by the kids.

After about an hour of sliding, climbing, swinging, and rocking on the frog, the kids got hungry, so we were given permission to leave for lunch.

We decided that instead of the Pie Shop that we’d search out the local pub for a counter lunch. We cruised on past the pub, but there were no parking spaces, so we did a lap of the main. We found parking at the other end of the street, and walked back up to the pub, via the model car shop.

By the time we made the pub, the car parks were vacant. So we decided to order our food, and then move the cars up.

We moved the cars, but by the time we returned, again the parks were full. At this point, I was starting to think that the pub was haunted by a fanatical Ford ghost. Nevertheless, we all managed to find a park, although we weren’t together as a group.

Lunch was great, and not too expensive. Having a whole room to ourselves made for great lunchtime conversation. In the next room, we discovered the pool table and a duke box. We selected some songs, and had a pool competition, the team of Amanda and Pat ending up the victors against the pool sharks, Vish and Phil. The kids amused themselves with the music, playing together, and watching the highly competitive game of pool.

On the way home, we remembered a rest stop that many of us had thought about stopping at on our way to the coast, but never did. So, needless to say, we pulled in. What an amazing place, the Shoalhaven River!

There was a four-wheel drive club there, and a family touring Australia for 12 months camped with a large bus, 4WD, and two tents. They’d been travelling for 2 months already, starting at the Gold Coast. The kids were stoked by the Toranas.

We declared that someday we would return with tents in hand, for an overnight club camp. The Shoalhaven is supposed to be good for fishing and eeling.

We hit the road, but it wouldn’t be long before we had an unexpected stop, just going into Bungendore. Alas, the police car that had passed us in the other direction took an interest in Pat’s Torana or was it Amanda’s?

It turned out to be a case of mistaken identity, as apparently he’d pulled over another yellow Torana, with some serious problems. Anyway, a quick inspection of the license, and the engineering report, and we were underway again, to catch up with Phil and Vish who stopped down the road for some drinks at the servo.

We cruised on into Queanbeyan, had cake at Pat’s place, before dispersing for the afternoon.

The kids managed to entertain each other all day, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. What a great way to spend a Sunday, thanks!

Cars Attending:-
Phil and Madison – LX Sedan
Amanda, Mike & Nathan – LH Sedan
Vish and Jaren – LX Sedan
Pat, Robyn, Madeline, Emily & Ainslie – LH SL/R 5000