Luttrell's Historic Valley Experience

23 October 2015 / Story: Barry & Jenny Luttrell Photos: Grant Webber, Josh Fitzgerald

Twenty seven members and visitors and 14 cars met at Beresfield Hungry Jacks on Sunday morning confronted with our normal car park populated with modified Holden Commodores and their drivers. The weather did not look promising with low cloud and the occasional shower. Not the best conditions for a 250 Km run through the foot hills of the Barrington Ranges. Fortunately the Commodores soon left and we were ready to roll. Roofs up or down, decisions decisions!! Great, the rain had stopped so roofs came down.  We headed out on the back roads through scenic farms and historical villages of Morpeth (a 1820s frontier town and busy river port), Largs, Patterson (another old river port), Vacy, and Gresford (birthplace of Lindermans Wines).  Jenny provided a summary via CB as we passed various historic locations of interest.

We were now on Bungleburra Rd with its tight corners, climbs and drops through the foot hills of the Barrington mountains to take us through to Chichester Dam. Oh it’s wet, additional care needed here!!  These are great MX5 roads of mostly good surface (despite a number of minor road works) with great sightseeing from the ridges and valleys. Goody it’s a wet day with minimal traffic.

A welcomed morning tea was had at Chichester Dam with no rain and some sunshine and we shared yummy goodies. This provided an opportunity to catch up, discuss the cars, take photos and check out the dam and its environs.

M’mm unpredictable weather, and insufficient time ended a planned run up Salisbury Rd. Now it’s a direct run from Chichester to Dungog (dodging the tourist bus along the way) for lunch at the Dungog RSL Club located in Dungog’s historic Memorial Hall. We shared lunch and many stories and a birthday for one of our members all at dedicated tables in the dining room.

Our afternoon return run started with a convoy along Dungog’s main street (Dowling St) and out to Clarence Town (another old river port), and then on to Morpeth via Seaham, Walllong and Hinton. Although we had occasional showers this was a nice country drive through historic towns and great scenery with stops to put our roofs up.

Our finish at Morpeth provided time for us to do some sightseeing of the old river port town centre, visit historic hotels or drink coffee at one of the many coffee shops along the main street and take some photos.

Many thanks to all members and visitors who contributed to making this a most successful and fun run.

Josh Fitzgerald's Photos
Grant Webber's Photos