Well the October long weekend has come and gone already, 4 days can go quick when you’re not at work!
I started organising in January, thinking I had all the time in the world, but October came up pretty fast. I selected Victor Harbor because it’s close to Adelaide, and it is geared up for tourists, there are plenty of options for eating, sleeping and cruising. I didn’t realise that the Harley owners group had also decided Victor was a good location for a national convention and I was lucky to find a motel that had 15 rooms.
Anyway the rooms were booked up pretty fast and a few others who were determined to go found rooms elsewhere.
Friday started with the ‘Black Bitch’ getting up to her usual antics for a club run, once she realised it was going to be unusually hot for October she refused to turn on the main cooling fan. I managed to coax her thru Adelaide's unrivalled collection of red traffic lights and once I popped out the other side it was full steam (literally) ahead! My first good decision of the weekend was to get Kirsty to bring the Commodore wagon.
A big crowd was at the Apollon Motel carpark on our arrival and 17 Corvettes started the weekend. Owner Maxine and her husband put on the 2 course dinner for the club in the dining room just for us, and a good evening was had with everyone catching up and a few drinks and exaggerated stories being enjoyed.
Saturday morning started with the compulsory drivers briefing at 1000 hours sharp (well it may have been a bit later but who cares!) Jim & Catherine had bought the walkie talkies, and Kirsty had prepared a colour Itinerary with maps attached, what could go wrong? The run out to Parson beach started with the compulsory club U-turn, don’t you just hate it when the council put raised concrete islands in to stop right hand turns! But with AJ (Eagle 1) & Julie bringing up the rear with radio 1 and Me (Red Leader) & Kirsty up front with radio 2 we proved that cats can indeed be herded!
We drove out to Parsons beach and then Waitpinga beach where everyone enjoyed some picture taking and dipping of feet in the water. I did notice that Pete had some very substantial footwear on for this occasion!
After a quick trip to Middleton and AJ & Julie being kept on their toes rounding up some stragglers and the occasional mechanical hiccup everyone somehow ended up at the Goolwa Aquatic Club on time for lunch, you can always rely on food to be a great motivating factor.
After a tasty lunch with very nice views across the water, we headed to the Goolwa Motor Museum while others headed back to watch the AFL grand final. You could tell the guy who runs it is a retired used car salesman, it was $8 entry but if you gave him a $10 note you didn’t get any change!
After the museum it was back to the motel, it was time to see what was wrong with the fan. It started with me and Jim having a look at the usual things and grew into a festive occasion, quite a few heads under the hood, and the ladies enjoying cheese and crackers and the odd drink or two. Larry decided to call the RAA for support, but the roadside technician wasn’t fooled that it was his car, not that he seemed to care, offering up a solution before leaving. Dave Daw's electrical expertise was utilised and with the motel owner joining in the festivities and coming back from his workshop with a roll of electrical wire and a switch in exchange for a cold beer, a fan switch was quickly fitted to the interior of the car and hung over the gear shift. Take that Black Bitch!
Saturday night dinner was at the Crown Hotel, so after a pleasant stroll from the Motel another enjoyable evening was had. We had told all the exaggerated stories on Friday night so had to tell all the embellished stories on Saturday night. I noticed that at one stage someone had their Db meter reading app on and were registering over 120 decibels in laughter coming from one table. Not even methanol sprintcar engines are allowed to be that loud!
Sunday began with the compulsory drivers briefing at 1000 hours and a promise of no U turns. Anyway after AJ had rounded up the cars that drove off into backstreets, we were on our way to Mt Jagged wines. 22 Corvettes were parked on the lawned area as everyone enjoyed some platters and wine and the impressive views from Mt Jagged.
After a group photo and stocking up on wine, we were off via Mt Compass, Nangkita, Currency Creek and into the back of Middleton after 22 corvettes endured the embarrassment of being road raged by a Magna. A pleasant lunch was had at the Middleton Tavern.
After lunch it was back to the Motel, and time for the obligatory Granite Island walk (to get rid of some of the calories), with the usual photo shoots.
Then, speaking of shoots, it was time for the annual Sean v Kirsty shootout at the sideshows. After paying our money and being cheered on by a small crowd, the occasion must have been too much and we both missed our first shots. After that those ducks were shown no mercy with all shots after being kill shots. Kirsty claiming to be the winner by one, how can it be, I didn’t miss any shots after the first one? Then I realised, the one toothed carnie had worked out what was going on and slipped her an extra slug, sisters were doing it for themselves, but we both got a stuffed toy to take home to the dogs, I called it a draw!
Sunday night dinner was at the Hotel Victor, they had set up a separate area just for us and the 3 course set menu was very nice. Again a very nice evening, we had gone through the exaggerated stories on Friday night, embellished stories on Saturday night, so it was time for some flat out bullshit stories on Sunday night, but judging by the laughter everyone was enjoying every minute of it.
Monday morning came and it was time for brunch at Rockview Cafe, Glacier Rock, after checking out of the Apollon Motel. Then it was time for everyone to drift off, with Angus coming from Whyalla, and the JELLESMA's and GUTHRIE's coming from the South East having the furthest to travel. I know that Steve came from Darwin, but he did get to fly.
We would like to thank everyone who came and enjoyed themselves and made it a great weekend. It is a testament to the great bunch of people that make up this club. Pete and Lynda gave us a small gift on behalf of everyone and thanks for that, it was a lovely thought. Every venue that we went to was great too, we had no issues and the food was pretty good. We strolled from place to place with 30 or 40 plus people each day and nothing went wrong.
Maybe we can go to Victor again next October and just change some venues to keep it fresh?
Sean & Kirsty
2) SEAN & KIRSTY’S VICTOR HARBOR CLUB LONGWEEKEND GETAWAY.
Friday saw most people drive down to Victor Harbor & check in at the motel & get ready for the long weekend. Sean& Kirsty were making their way down when they got caught in a traffic jam caused by a car accident, yes you guessed it, Black Beauty overheated. The newly named “The Black Bitch” finally made it down to Victor Harbor & was punished by being parked & locked up in the car park. Time to unpack, relax & chill out before dinner which took place at the Apollon Motel.
Saturday morning saw us all gathering in the car park for a drivers’ brief on what was planned for the day. Sean explained he would be leading the cruise in the commodore wagon & the black bitch could stay in the car park. So we cruised out to Parsons surf beach for some photos, Waitpinga surf beach, Middleton, to the Goolwa Aquatic Centre for lunch overlooking the water, a great place for a great feed. After lunch, we went to the Goolwa Car Museum owned by Michael Finniss where he entertained us with stories, his private car & memorabilia collection. From here we cruised back to the motel where it was time to enjoy the wine & cheese car park get together. David Daw used some spare electrical wire & a light switch donated by the motel owner to wire up the fan on Sean’s Black Bitch, so she would run cooler for Sundays cruise. As night fell we wandered over to the Crown Hotel for the evening meal.
Sunday morning, nice sunny & warm day, we gathered in the car park for the drivers’ brief, but we were all waiting to see if David’s wiring on the Black Bitch was going to work. Sean thought it would be best to treat her with a bit of respect & clean her with a sponge bath after Friday’s harsh words & this seemed to work as she started up & ran without any hissy fits. So all going well, we headed off following the Black Bitch to the Mt Jagged Winery, where apart from very nice wines there were cheese platters with rolls & olive oil, all local products YUM. Dave & Karen, Greg & Chris, Gary & Kathy & Peter made a day run up to join us. It was very easy to sit back & chill out enjoying the view, particularly Kevin who found his place amongst the ladies. After a nice couple of hours we cruised some nice country roads taking in the amazing country side to Middleton where we had lunch at the local pub.
After lunch we cruised back to Victor Harbor where the energetic decided to walk over to Granite Island & the not so energetic stayed in the car park solving the world’s problems & making fun of Kevin which always seems to make everyone laugh. Tea time came around & we all walked to the Hotel Victor for the evening meal, more relaxing & fun. Here we thanked Sean & Kirsty for a great weekend & presented them with a gift for the great time we had.
Monday saw us all packing up ready to head home, but not before driving to the Glacier Rock cafe in the Inman Valley for brunch which Sean had arranged. Now while standing in the car park waiting to go to brunch, Stu decided he would show us a possible new piece of club merchandise, it was a new look MAN BAG. Now while this looked good with Stuart swinging it around, I don’t think it is going to be a hit with the guys, so we will leave this one for Stu. On arriving at the Glacier Rock Cafe we were greeted by Vic & Shelia Olley, (so good to catch up with you guys).
Overall the weekend weather was perfect so was the company & time spent together .It was great to see Brian & Marg, from Casterton & Peter & Wendy from Mt Gambier & of course, Gus who made his annual trip from Whyalla, but this time in a nice new bright red C6.
Thankyou Sean & Kirsty (& of course The Black Bitch) for a fantastic weekend.