Canberra Chapter - Orange Gathering Run

14 June 2018 / Words and Pictures: Norm Barker

A cold but clear day met us for the start of the Canberra Chapter run to Orange on the weekend of 26-27 May 2018. With only two cars it was an informal run and we decided on stops as a small group.

The route took us to the Hume Highway and then onto the Lachlan Valley Way to Boorowa. To our surprise it was market day so we had a wander around the markets and then coffee at the Superb Bakery. On to Cowra Japanese Gardens and we had a good wander around these beautifully landscaped gardens. The decision was made to lunch in Canowindra where we had a delightful lunch at “The Old Vic Inn”. Now refreshed, we continued on to Orange via Cargo, stopping at Lake Canobolas where we parked and crossed the dam wall (the lake was quite low indicating the lack of rain). At the other side of the lake we visited the old Pump House which had been restored by the local TAFE College Fitting and Machining apprentices. Back to the cars and into Orange via the Canobolas Rd and past Norm’s parent’s old house and the swimming pool.

We booked into the Mercure Motel behind the Ex-services Club. Very comfortable rooms and close to everything. The afternoon was free to walk around the city centre. The all chapters dinner at the Orange Ex-services Club was down on numbers from last year. However we enjoyed chatting and mixing with the other chapter members.

Sunday morning was another sunny start and after breakfast the two cars headed out of town. We drove past Bloomfield and the Base Hospital, out to Forest Reefs and across to Mandurama encountering a mob of cattle on the way. The roads were nice and windy and the scenery spectacular. At Mandurama we turned towards Cowra where we stopped for a coffee and watched the hologram exhibition telling the story of the Cowra Breakout. We fuelled the cars for the run home and turned towards Young. At Wombat we took the back road to Harden/Murrumburrah and stooped for lunch at the Terracotta Café (an Irish Café) for a very enjoyable lunch. All fed and watered we made our way back to Canberra having had a relaxing and enjoyable weekend.