Not Nat Meet - All Seasons
24 February 2016 / Story: Barry & Jenny Luttrell Photos: Elaine Gazzard
Whilst some of our Chapter was at Nat Meet, nine cars and sixteen people met at Beresfield Hungry Jacks to brave a 200 Km Sunday morning run through the beautiful Hunter Valley and Barrington foot hills. We also welcomed Josh for his first run and our visitors for the day, Stephanie and Syliva. The run had something for everyone with easy driving and scenic sections and a couple of more challenging sections thrown in with variable weather along the way.
After sign on, photographs and run briefing, we travelled via Beresfield, Millers Forrest, Berry Park, Duckenfield, Morpeth, Clarence Town and on to Dungog. We diverted along the way via Glen William and Pine Brush Rds for some twisty country roads, old wriggly narrow bridges, short sections of 40 Kmph rough bitumen and great scenery.
We stopped in the main street of Dungog for morning tea participants atthe Coffee Bean Café or at the park. Some of our participants used the stop time to explore the local craft shops. One member of our run left at this point to proceed to Bulahdelah.
Eight cars left Dungog to drive the challenging Bingleburra Rdwith its share of tight corners, climbs and drops through the foot hills of the mountains across to East Gresford. The day temperature had increased resulting in one car stopping for a short period and then restarting possibly due to overheated electronics. Great sightseeing was available from the tops of the ridges and the threatening rain was holding off.
The run from east Gresford to Bolwarra Heights took us through Vacy and Paterson including road works at Mindaribba that combined with a narrow rain band to make MX5s look more like 4WDs from mud and dirt.
“Oops rain - Tops up? -Should we stop? - It’s only a narrow rain band. - Lucky we kept going!!”
The corner of Patterson Road and Maitland Vale Road required caution as the right turn is across two roads. “Space cars as we approach the corner - avoid queuing on Patterson Road– all across safely – excellent.”
The drive across Maitland Vale road took us through the scenic areas of Rosebrook, Hillsbrough, Lambs Valley, Stanhope and Elderslie terminating at Braxton on the New England Hwy. It was now a short run down Wine Country Drive to a well-deserved comfort break and lunch at Hunter Valley Gardens.
“Oops rain on the way - Tops up this time- We are stopping - Tops up - It’s raining – Good call Mark G”
Lunch at Oscars was washed out by a heavy storm which arrived with our food resulting in quick shifting of tables and people to under-cover. Participants then decided to call the run “Not Nat Meet All Seasons”
More photos: HERE
