Steam Packet Hotel Run

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22 July 2024 / Story: Mike Fowler; Photos: Rob Wilko, Nichola Hutteman, Anda Clayton

Steam Packet Hotel Run

Friday 12th July 2024

The day dawned bright and sunny, if rather chilly, for our (Mike and Madhu’s) run to Nelligen and the Steam Packet Hotel.  At 9.45am precisely five cars set out from the Milton Heritage Bakery for the run down the Highway to Lake Tabourie, where I was planning to join them. Shortly before 10.00am I phoned Anda, just to check that this arrangement had been recorded somewhere. “Hi, we’re in Ulladulla” chirped Anda “where are you”? “Um, just pulling out of the drive” I replied, as I stepped out of the shower, “be there in two shakes”. “Ok”, see you at the Tuckerbox” said Anda, not quite sounding convinced.

We scrambled, boy did we scramble, and somehow made it to The Tuckerbox a nanosecond or two before the first of the cars came into sight around the bend. Nonchalantly, as if I’d been there all morning, I stepped from the NB to see who’d actually turned up. Numbers were down a little on expectations but hey, I’ll take quality over quantity any day.  So, at approximately 10.22am a small but perfectly formed pack set off down the Princes Highway to our next stop. This was on the corner of the Highway and Cullendulla Drive, where we found the redoubtable Nicky Hutteman waiting for us, in the first NA off the assembly line ever (well, a very early one anyway). 

At this juncture my traffic management skills failed utterly as I managed to confuse all and sundry as to the correct direction in which to point their vehicles, but somehow, we got sorted out and proceeded in an orderly manner along Cullendulla Drive, down Northcote Drive and on to the Maloney’s Beach Coffee Palace. Here, our host Erin welcomed us and took orders at a rapid rate. She had baked, because that’s what she does, and a fine array of sugary treats was consumed with much enthusiasm and lip-smacking.

We departed Maloney’s Beach at around 11.45am for a quick detour to the adjacent Long Beach facilities. Here Rose presented me with a new MX5 cap, having correctly observed that my old one was in such a deplorable state that I was almost a disgrace to the Chapter.  We then chuffed off for a random ramble around the Estate.  At one point my navigator began making seriously non-standard hand signals in the general direction of something hidden in the bush. She was keen, she said, to show Casa del Madhu to the peloton. But it stubbornly remained hidden in bush. This deviation did, however, ensure that we arrived at our lunch destination at Nelligen, The Steam Packet Hotel, bang on time at 12.15pm.  There we found an excellent bill of fare to assuage our hunger. The meals arrived hot and delicious and in good time - all except for Nicky’s nachos which had inexplicably vanished from the original order, but which were soon restored unto her.

Some people left for the run home after lunch, while others lingered. We rashly offered to arrange another run or two somewhere south of Batemans Bay (if they’ll have us back). One who lingered longer than most was Rob Wilkins (of the hirsute hat).  This was entirely due to an apparently flat battery which, once connected to my trusty jumper leads, proved not to be flat after all. Not even close in fact (you owe me a hat Rob!).  And so ended another fun day out with the premier chapter of the MX5 Club. For those off to Bundanoon for Christmas in July, we’ll see y’all there.  

Mike Fowler