Phil & Mara's Mystery Tour

26 April 2024 / Written by: John Purcell, Photos: John Purcell

 I don’t know how other chapters do a ‘Mystery Run’ but in the Hunter up until now it has always been a convoy run and as such a run Sheet would turn up a few days before (or on the day) with the final destination revealed. So not much of a mystery.

On Phil’s run a different approach was applied, although the run was a convoy, no-one knew the destination, except for the run leader, until the group arrived at the penultimate regroup point. Each attendee received the first regroup point prior to the run, this came as an address to put into your navigator or phone and on arrival at that point another address for the next regroup point was handed to everyone. The idea was that although we travelled as a convoy, if the group was split up, they would be able to meet up again at the next regroup point.

The run started from Freeman’s Waterholes on a perfect top-down day with 10 cars arriving well before start time, along with 14 members. The first Navigation point was Wollombi with the route taking us along Sandy Creek Rd to Millfield and then onto Wollombi for morning tea at Slack’s Park.

            During morning tea Mara handed out the next navigation point, Dog Trap Rd Ourimbah and that gave us all the idea we were heading down Wollombi Rd towards the Central Coast, so with the piece of paper in hand it was back to our cars to program in the address. We had an excellent run down Wollombi Rd with not a sole to hinder our progress especially on those tight uphill sections, fun, fun. Our arrival at Ourimbah RSL car park was only a brief stop while the next and final destination was revealed that being the Tall Timbers Hotel at Ourimbah where the group all enjoyed and great meal before making our own way home.

            Ok, there wasn’t many navigation points but this was the first attempt at this so making it simple was the best way to go. Was it a good idea? I think so, hope we can do some more.

            Many thanks to Phil and Mara for organising and leading us on a very enjoyable ‘Mystery’.