Braidwood Lunch & Retail Therapy

29 June 2022 / Story: Anne Zattera; Photos: Anda Clayton & Anne Zattera

Braidwood Lunch & Retail Therapy

24 June 2022

A cool but pleasant day, 6 cars and their people meet at The Heritage Bakery for a quick coffee, cinnamon sugar scroll for some, greetings and introductions.

A warm welcome to Ian from Illawarra Chapter who joins us today.

Brian, Anda, Geoff, Anne, Graeme, Bob, Linda, Paul and Ian all present and accounted for, start our engines and away we go.  We zoom past a large fishing boat named Fish Fingers.

A straightforward run today:  head south to Batemans Bay, turn right onto the Kings Highway and pull into the quaint village of Nelligen on the Clyde River where we meet our Canberra Chapter friends James and Giulia.

We stand around, introductions again.  Wait, what do we have here?  A deep crystal blue ND is in attendance.  This is new.  The vehicle is quickly surrounded by curious MX5 owners to question James about upgraded features.  Red Brembo brakes are admired.

We learn that Giulia has also adopted a previously neglected NB nicknamed Sunny.  A rescue that has gone to a caring home.  A two MX5 family.  We are envious.

All this chatting will not get us to lunch so we are rounded up and form our convoy along the Kings Highway headed to Braidwood.  We pass the Nelligen Bridge Replacement project which seems to be progressing well.  Anda in the lead car radios that she has spied an MX5 NA parked by the road.  Our attention alerted, we all admire the iconic Mariner Blue paintwork of the NA.  Classic.  Very nice.

Traffic is light, the air is crisp but the sun is shining, we gently wind our way over the Clyde Mountain.  I look out for Pooh Bear’s Corner as I always do.  For those unaware, the rock cave at the top of Clyde Mountain was the location of a munitions store during WW2 which could be detonated if required to stop passage from the coast to the national capital inland.  Dozens of soft teddys are place in the eucalyptus trees along that stretch of road.  Someone has placed several little rocking horses on a fallen tree.

The scenery is beautiful in it’s winter bareness.  Trees line the road, some still with bright yellow leaves, but mostly bare branches.

We arrive in Braidwood.  So much to see, so little time.  Our group separates.  Some head to the Braidwood Museum, some head to the Diecast and Collectible Model Cars shop.  A chocolate shop next door is impossible to pass without a purchase for some.

A couple of ladies (husbands in tow but not terribly interested) head to the Vintage Drawer, a delightful store full of quality vintage clothing, antiques and collectibles.  Deborah, the owner, is dressed like Doris Day or Audrey Hepburn, from the teardrop fascinator hat to the seamed stockings and full skirted dress.  Giulia and Anne chat with her for quite some time and promise to return soon.

We bump into Anda and Linda in a jewellery store looking for that special piece.  Too many interesting shops, not enough time.

Lunch is at The Albion Café.  Everyone together again.  We order our food and drinks and exchange stories of what we saw and bought.  The food arrives and is healthy and delicious.  The menu has plenty of variety to please everyone.

All too soon, our day in Braidwood must end.  We bid farewell and head home in three separate directions.

We’ll sleep well full of good food and another happy day of memories made.

Anne Zattera