andrew drynan
weekend
23rd and
24th october 2013
Organisation of this weekend was done while we were returning home from the
Australian CamperTrailers Group national meet at Batlow via the long way
round touring some of Vic and NSW. Who said organising a group meet weekend
is hard? Andrew Dryman was picked as the group had not been there for some
time and we did not have to do much except use the Camps Australia Wide 7
book to look up the phone number, contact the caretaker, book in and find
out the costs, send an email off to Rob who had the meet up and running
within a day if not hours from my email.
We arrived not long lunch after a short journey from Lake Maroon where we
had a few days trying out our kayaks and fresh water fishing skills which
need a lot more practice. We set up near a shelter shed so we could use it
on the weekend for morning tea as we had small numbers for the weekend.
Members for the weekend were, ourselves, Rick and Carol, Neil who at the
last minute was able to change his plans and come, Greg and Lisa and members
who had never been to Andrew Drynan before, Ian and D'sley and also Paul who
both arrived at the same time with Ian saying he followed Paul out from
Beaudesert because a camper trailer would know the way.
With all arriving before dark it was happy hour around the table moving onto
the fire as night was falling. The forecast of storms didn't eventuate with
stormy clouds going south of us so people drifted off to cook tea and then
return back to the fire for an enjoyable night.
A little light rain fell during the night which a number of people just
slept through it. Morning tea was spent with a couple of day visitors, Bill
& Jenny and John & Penny who had their Trackabout all packed ready to come
but with the forecasts of storms was a little nervous after getting hail
damage on his way home from his big trip especially with the car already
booked in for the damage caused. Morning tea continued into lunch and after
with discussions on such things as walking sticks. This came about with me
discussing walks we did down south and that I went and brought a cheap one.
I now know I will have to do more research on them after seeing the ones
that came out of Neil's and Rick & Carols camp. They had shock absorber
springs in their ones and it was suggested I also needed two from all the
experts. I also suggested people get fly nets and leave in camper for when
flys are bad when travelling as the number of people who commented on me
wearing one on our trip saying what a good idea as they continually swatted
the flies from their faces. I just had to remember I had it on when eating
or having a drink. Many tears of laughter was had around the table when I
read out aloud Matt's emails he sent while on his way back to Lenora with
Wendy and his camper.
The fire time was cut short as we had a small storm go through, not much
rain but sent people off to their camps to get out of the rain and prepare
dinner. The fire kept going as it was stoked up and slightly covered with a
big piece of timber for some of the stayers to continue to sit at the fire
later.
Sunday cleared up to a nice day after the morning with the hills covered in
clouds. I really love all the views on the mountains that Mother Nature
dishes out to us. Most people were packed up and left by lunch time leaving
Neil and ourselves to enjoy afternoon and night. Probably the best of the
whole weekend weather wise.
We invited some new arrivals to sit with us at the fire that night. They
were at Border Ranges Sheep Station campsite the previous night where they
copped lots of lightening, huge claps of thunder and very heavy rain. As
Greg said to me the previous afternoon, we dodged a bullet with the storms
on the weekend as he had hail within a kilometre of arriving at his home
after leaving Andrew Drynan. Further conservation with our invited people
around the fire was that they belonged to a Sunshine Coast 4WD club and
during the conversation we realised it was the one Noel and Cathi (long time
members of the group) belong to. We gave them some of the funny stories from
previous camping times regarding Noel to tell at their 4WD Christmas break
up the following weekend. Just goes to prove all like minded people travel
in small circles.
Thanks for the weekend and look forward to lots more weekends in 2014.
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