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se qld
andrew
drynan weekend
from
Saturday 23rd to Sunday 24th October, 2010
This weekend was
chosen for the South East Queensland meet after a request or was that an
order, just joking, for Rob and Carol to meet the people from the CamperTrailers Group who have never been able to get to a national meet. Rob
set the date to suit his travel plans after leaving the National Meet at
Condobolin going up to Bowen for family and then a camp meet in Queensland
before continuing on homeward to Newcastle.
Once dates were confirmed, it was then where to have the
meet, as the potential numbers for the meet could end up being larger than
normal. Andrew Dryan was my choice of meet for two reasons, the grounds can
cope for many campers and for me to be able to take Rob and Carol on a drive
over the Tweed Scenic Rim and the lookout towards Mt Warning. Rob and Carol
have walked this mountain twice and I can still see and hear Rob’s response
when we came round the bend for the first view of the valley towards Mt
Warning. It was priceless. The Border Rangers is one of my favourite camping
spots where we have camped at Sheep Station a number of times and have done
a few of the walks. I encourage anyone who has not done this drive to do so
making certain that you do the ring road for a drive and walk in rain
forest.
The forecast for a wet weekend proved false although some of
the days were overcast and the usual of late Andrew Dryman storm did not
eventuate although campers who stayed for the Sunday night got a little
taste of the storm but missed out on the full force with only light rain
falling. People back at home on the southside copped the full force of the
storm with our place getting over 40mls.
First to arrive at the meet was Helen and Dad Jake who
arrived on the Wednesday with Peter setting the Jayco up and then leaving
her to visit his Mother. Helen was certainly glad when people arrived on the
Thursday as she ended up being the camp and felt a little uncomfortable
being there and no car. Not much sleep to be had that night but she made up
for it the next night.
We arrived just on dusk on the Thursday night and in no time
in between chatting to other campers had the camp set up and a sit around
the fire eating tea which had been done in the crock pot at home and
transferred into the dream pot to keep hot. We brought out our special
stable tables that have a LED light on them as well as a wine glass holder.
They were brought just as a novelty for a laugh around a camp meet but are
so good other members have even gone and got them as well.
Rod and good friend Tim came on the Thursday setting up for
the weekend where Rachel and children were to follow on the Friday after
work. Rod had to go to work at a conference at the Gold Coast on the Friday
and the Saturday and was not going to let his camping plans get messed up
once again. I always seem to pick a weekend for meets where he has to work.
As with children you never know what is going to happen and as Eliza was
sick Rachel missed out on most of the weekend only arriving on the Sunday
for one night and she said all ok she just wanted a fire that night but
ended up watching the fire from under the cover of her awning as it was
drizzling rain from the storm. It was just as well Tim was there with his
fire. His nick name now is Tim, Tim the Timber man. The fire he had going
each night was great and he still had heaps of timber supply in his truck.
Your welcome at any meet and can always be in charge of the fire.
New members Wendie, Daryl and twins arrived just after dark
on the Friday night to set up a brand new camper that they had not been
shown how to put up. Have to take my hat off to them, no arguing and no
going home to sell and no divorce. They sat back and took advice from long
time members and just got on with the job. Congratulations.
Mel and Steve and girls turned up with 30 second tents. They
started in the group with a Trak Shak, then a caravan and now tents and a
Hilux fitted out for a non towing trip.
As usual I was talked into making the normal Orange and Poppy
seed cake on the Friday night. We had trouble getting it cooked in the
middle. This time we didn’t have the camp oven too hot in fact was a bit too
cool. Always learning. The cake was shared with the late stayers around the
fire.
Saturday Morning tea was held up the hill amongst the trees,
a spot Penny and I selected as we needed lots of shade. The comments we had
from making people walk up the hill and yes Jason (Coxy) this was a hill,
just ask Rob. Exercise was good for everyone and the view was great.
Everyone socialised and no one went hungry. The afternoon was spent chatting
to new and old members, walking down to the creek, some even getting wet in
the creek. Tim got the fire going nice and early and this made for another
great night around the fire.
Shane from
Jamie's Dynamic Solar Solutions came down to the meet to check out campers
for Nikki and himself. He also recognised the names of the hosts and when he
arrived realised that it was the Lindsay that was his teacher at Tafe. A
small world. He brought down a couple of chairs for Kevin and would have
been able to sell a couple more especially as Wim broke his chair while
sitting on it. Lucky he didn’t hurt himself too much but did have a little
cut where the metal leg that snapped an cut him. It could have been worse.
He was sitting on a crate until someone gave him a spare one to sit on. Judy
and Wim were only discussing replacing chairs so that was a bad omen. Shane
was also taken around by Rob to look at Daryl & Wendie's inverters Poor guy,
no rest for the wicked.
Some of the
comments or funnies of the meet were:
-
Alan being the “Golden Haired
Boy” cause I gave him a glass of port as he could not eat cake.
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Rob Norris telling me I was
behaving because the big boss was there. I asked how did he work that
one out and his answer was because I was not drunk the night before.
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The discussion regarding the
bird that we had seen and Tim had taken a picture of at the lookout on
the border ranges. Turtle saying “it was a Red Breasted Tit” mention was
made that no member had been sunbaking and had red breasts. Then his
comment was “Red Breasted Robin” which I certainly replied “no red
breast for me”. For the books it was a Scarlet Honeyeater.
-
Rob Norris walking up the hill
to Carol and Ricks camp, thinking that Carol S was Dianne who he
couldn’t find. I made mention that I couldn’t find Lindsay either. Rob
had a good comeback for that one.
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Turtle at the fire digging
himself deeper into a hole.
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Ticks on goochi. You had to be
around the fire for this one.
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Nikki using hand language to
Lindsay re poles etc and then realising after dumb looks from all that
the previous conversation regarding the poles was with John Heath.
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Mel with tanned thong marks on
her feet.
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Mel’s comment regarding use of
black gloves instead of her nice purple ones was that they wouldn't
match her jumper she was wearing.
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Shane and Nikki having to use
the Coleman hot water shower to wash Matilda the dog who had rolled in
some not so nice smelling stuff. Matlida also playing ball with the kids
and when had had enough lying on the ball so the kids could not get it
again.
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Helen having her shirt on back
to front. ( Memories from another meet come to mind once again)
We had over 20
campers, tents and hard-sided campers at the meet with some new, some not
polling and just coming along, but all say they will come back again. It was
great camping with Rob and Carol once again. Lindsay who was on holidays was
talked into staying another night, which was not hard especially with the
offer of tea cooked for him, so I had to beg a ride home with Rob and
Dianne. Rob told me on one condition no talking but did that happen no. Rob
asked me the first question as we were turning out of the camping ground and
I just could not be rude now could I. After letting Lindsay know I was home
safe and sound and ringing him regarding the storm I was even asked by
Rachel where is my cake for her. It never ends especially as I held my
ground and did not volunteer to do a cake on the Saturday night even after
lots of bantering around the fire from many members.
Lindsay got to do
his first packup by himself with just a little help from Alan and Kathy for
the final pulling down. He must have missed my help as when he got home he
had to put the trailer back up to retrieve his wallet from under the bed.
Something I always do is check for wallets phones and keys.
Looking forward
to the next one. Who is going to put their hand up for the first one in
2011.
Robyn and Lindsay
photos
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