On the Road - March

Reporter:  Marg

The freedom to move is really kicking in now.  We have started to attend all of those events that we have accumulated (postponed) over the last couple of COVID years. We exercised our first tour of duty back to Melbourne to attend Moulin Rouge.  We were treated to a sensational show and excellent accommodation at our new Melbourne hub (RACV Club Bourke St). 

About mid March we were summoned to Canberra to provide moral support to Steph  as she and Glenn sought to buy their house in the very desirable Canberra suburb of Bruce.  Glenn was unfortunately somewhere between London and Australia as the auction took place but he and mum, Lorraine, got to celebrate success a few days later.

After nearly 18months of postponement we were then due to stay at the Canberra Zoo, Jamala.  This was the best 48hr we have experienced.  It reminded us of being on safari in Sri Lanka as we slept with the animals, enjoyed gourmet food and were treated to tours of the Zoo each day.  If you ever get a chance ... you must do this. 

From there we travelled a few hours north to Nelson Bay where Steph had planned a triatholon.  Weather was very kind despite the promise of another flood event further north on the NSW coast.  We had a great house and once again filled in several days soaking up the local attraction, including a surprising seafood feast at the Fingal Bay surf life saving club.

Finally we move on to the Marramarra Lodge on the Hawkesbury.  Again this has been postponed due to COVID constraints but it was certainly worth the wait.  Pure indulgence with degustation meals, day spa and an endless cellar.  Have we died and gone to heaven?  The unexpected bonus was the pitter patter of rain on the canvas roof.

A sunset cruise with copious champagne and oysters followed by another degustation of seafood, quail and wines from Barasso, Italy and France was a fitting last night at Marramarra Lodge.  The pitter patter on the tent did turn into torrential rain and wind overnight.  Those tents are amazing but are still a bit disturbing in a storm, particularly when the auxiliary power kicks in.

The final tour before heading back home via Canberra was to the Broken Bay Pearl and Oyster farm.  We had a 3hr tour including a trip to the nets and a session in the pearl grading room where we held pearls worth $100k and more.  If you get the chance to go to this Hawkesbury facility I would thoroughly recommend the trip.  It is far better than the other pearl farm in Broome.

We even got to see some aboriginal art on rocks out in the middle of the Hawkesbury.