Valentines MX-5 weekend away to Walcha
Join us for a Valentines weekend run to Walcha via the Oxley Highway returning on Sunday via Thunderbolts Way and Gloucester. Valentines weekend is a great weekend to go away with both your loves - your partner and your MX-5 - on a cracker of a drive with good friends.
This drive is stunning and timing is mindful to allow members of other chapters to attend should they wish.
The Walcha Motel has 19 rooms. I have arranged to hold 10 rooms until the 1st February. My dilemma is I can reserve more rooms now as bookings for 14th February are clear but not for long.
Would members who plan to go email me with an expression of interest to help me work out numbers and I can reserve more rooms if needed.
The deal for a minimum of 16 people includes a buffet dinner in the restaurant, bed and full brekky in the restaurant. The rate is $85 per person with a $40 single supplement. Your expression of interest does not commit you now for the weekend but allows me to better workout how many rooms to ask to be held and as such does not constitute a booking which must be made directly by yourself with the motel and when booking tell them you're with the MX-5 Club. After booking please advise me by email.
All bookings must be made by 1st February,2015 and at this stage as only 10 rooms are held, please advise me now if you want to go as this could be 1st in best dressed unless I advise the motel now we need more rooms.
Look on their website for the mix of rooms and facilities, all rooms are the same price. 10 Queen rooms are held.
Saturday 14th February
The run will begin from McDonalds' car park Port Macquarie Service Centre at 11:45am to arrive for lunch at the RSL Club Wauchope cnr Young and Cameron St Wauchope about 12:00pm. Lunch is 12:00pm to 1:30pm which allows ample time for lunch. After lunch we travel on the Oxley Highway to Walcha with a short rest stop halfway at "Gingers" and a second stop to view Apsley Falls. We should arrive at the Walcha Motel around 4:00pm. After booking in we have free time for pre-dinner drinks at the Apsley Arms Hotel nearby or a walk, before dinner in the restaurant around 6:30pm.
This run is Deja Vu for the Hunter Chapter and I hope I've tempted some to come as without doubt this one's a ripper. Come along and have a good time. Temperature in February is around 26 to 27 degrees and cool nights. We have it all, good company, great scenery, MX-5 driving roads, a fine dinner, a good nights sleep and a top drive. Nothing more to say, if you don't go you'll miss a classic MX-5 drive and weekend away.
Sunday 15th February
Breakfast in the restaurant is from 7:30am with departure around 9:30am after a chance to take photos. We travel from Walcha to the Avon Valley Inn 82 Church St Gloucester for lunch at The Foxden. Lunch is from around 12:00pm to 1:30pm. Parking is available behind the hotel. I've found a public toilet stop listed at Nowendoc Rd, Nowendoc for our halfway rest stop Walcha to Gloucester but because of torrential rain when I drove through Nowendoc visibility was a minimum so we'll need to search for the toilets Nowendoc Rd.
After lunch we travel down Bucketts Way through Forbesdale, Stratford, Craven, Stroud Rd, Stroud to Booral where we say our goodbyes to members from other chapters. The Mid North Coast Chapter travel from Booral to Girvan then Bulahdelah and the Wooton Way to the Pacific Highway then home to our respective destinations.
My best wishes to all for Christmas, the silly season and every success for your plans 2015.
Mike Walkden-Brown
