ZOOMING AWAY TO DUBBO!
30 May 2023 / Words: Leon Sawyer Photos: Senia Gaunson
Ian and Franchesca were the leaders on our Dubbo Adventure. Five cars assembled at the Wilton Truck Stop on a chilly Friday morning, all rugged up and ready to go!
On departure, some of us brave souls put our tops down for the run along the Hume highway to Crookwell for morning tea at Matt's Bakery. On departure we called into the Wind Farm lookout on the way, then off to Bathurst. The windmills were huge!
Arriving at Bathurst we filled up our cars at a servo, then it was off to the raceway at Mount Panorama Race Circuit. Being in Bathurst wouldn’t be complete without an obligatory drive over Mount Panorama, which we managed to do, and not one of us was booked for speeding, although it was surprising none of us missed a turn while enjoying the view from the top of the mountain.On the way between Molong and Dubbo we passed many Animals on Bikes Sculptures in various farm fields situated close to the roadway. Franchesca’s “care pack” included a map of all the animals along the road that could be seen, if you were very quick. We only managed to photograph a couple while zooming past.
Then off to Dubbo arriving at our Motel, where we would be staying for the next two nights. Once settled in it was Drinks and Nibbles prior to us departing for Dinner at the local RSL Club in which we enjoyed a fabulous, cordon bleu dinner, including a perfect souffle. On return to the Motel everyone headed for their rooms, bar two people who had a lost key ( names withheld ) and after a frantic search back at the RSL Club, no key, luckily the caretaker was kind and forthcoming with a spare key. (The lost key was actually still in our room).
Saturday morning it was off to the Zoo, our main reason for the trip, where we hopped into a couple of electric buggies. Eight of us travelled in the carts for a couple of laps of the zoo, Wes and Lena decided to walk, but were happy to hitch-hike with Chrissie and John for the final lap.
After the zoo, it was off to the Japanese Gardens, where we enjoyed the beauty of autumn in the gardens. One of our group came across a shed which had an outside shower, and after a closer look, said person (name withheld), had to try it out to our amusement, but not that of a frowning caretaker.
Following the gardens some went to visit the Dubbo Jail, others shopping, some back to the motel for a snooze. Drinks and Nibbles and another member (name also withheld) had also accidently locked his key in his room, then it was off to the Lions Den Restaurant for our final dinner. Sunday morning some headed off and a few of us headed down to a local park to see the spectacular cars getting ready for the Variety Bash, then it was off to home.
A very big thank you to Ian and Franchesca for organising a fabulous weekend.
