Just because we can run!
21 May 2025 / Words: Jeff Rowe Photos: Senia Gaunson and Ann Hicks
Just because we can run - 17th May 2025
Today's run was planned for April 2024. It was cancelled then due to the worst weather and rain the Illawarra had seen for a long time. The planned route had flooded roads and trees down. Be safe, stay at home and have another cup of coffee.
Saturday morning 17th May 2025 was a perfect day for a top down run on some great country roads.
Our starting point on the day was ‘Ratha’s Place’ in Oak Flats. This is a great little café that operates to provide training and employment opportunities for people with intellectual and development disabilities.
We had visited ‘Ratha’s’ before as had other Chapter members who told us about it in the first place. It’s not fancy but it’s clean, well run and supervised, has a great atmosphere and the food and service are hard to fault. On our visit we were not disappointed. There were Egg and Bacon Rolls, Raisin Toast and Scones with Jam and Cream served with Coffee or Tea, as well as some amazing, house made, croissants, just delicious. Everyone left comfortable and full, ready for the next part of our day together. We showed our appreciation with a good loud ‘Hand Clap’ before we left. Another visit in the future definitely!
Our drive was to take us through Jamberoo on what is a great MX-5 road and a favourite with some Chapter members. The speed limit on parts of the road have been lowered now which can make for a much more casual drive. Then skirting Kiama, we headed South along the Princes Highway towards Berry. Rather than taking our usual route through Gerringong and then along, what is generally known as the ‘Tourist Coast Road’, we stayed on the highway and turned off towards Toolijooa. This put us onto the old part of the Princes Highway. It went for about six kilometres of nice, winding road that not all of us had travelled before. These days the old road is bypassed so it was clear and we could enjoy the straights and corners without having to queue behind trucks or other slower vehicles. It was a short but good fun section of road. Taking the exit ramp into Berry, we then turned left to head down to join the ‘Tourist Coast Road’ and continue on to our lunch destination at ‘The Gerroa Boat Fisherman's Club’.
The club has a great view overlooking Seven Mile Beach. The menu is extensive and no one is left hungry. The staff looked after us well and were very friendly and we were served quickly even though they were very busy. It's a favourite venue for the Club and we always look forward to coming back.
The support for the run was fabulous with members from near and far joining in. There was Illawarra, RPM, Sydney and South Coast members all mingling and chatting and enjoying each other's company. It was an opportunity to catch up with friends not seen for some time as well as meeting members not met before.
The weather was at its best for a roof off drive so all in all this turned out to be a great MX-5 event.
