We met in Bathurst street city at 8.45am ,Joe our driver squeezed us into his 20 seat bus , for the journey out on the M5 route to Cobbity.
After checking us off his list and including one extra passenger,we set off passed the high rise at Waterloo and the planes departing Mascot airport,through many tunnels.The first stop was McDonalds at Narellen for coffee. During the journey I got to know Niha from Uruagry,45 years in Australia now a grandmother with grown up family and grandchildren,we had much in common to discuss.
The area round McDonalds was studded with drive in takeaways like Kentucky Fried Chicken, and very few pedestreans ,I enjoyed stretching my legs during the half hour stop and a free Seniors cappachino !
Further down the road we stopped at Cogno Bros vineyard to sample their wine,where the vines have long since gone.
The self service sampling was quickly understood by our tourists . I observed the filling proceedure of a cordial coloured wine by one of the older members of the staff,but refrained from purchasing unknown brands of wine I had never heard of,sticking to my known Aldi brands.
Unable to locate a local cafe Joe had the difficult task of satisfying the picnikers and the diners. He drove to Camden and located a reserve with covered babacue facilities where half the bus emptied for those that had packed a picnic lunch.
It was then on to the RSL where the balance of tourists were able to select their choice from a varied menu which included chinese meals.and have a wine or beer with their meal.
I used some of our time to walk to the town centre to try and buy old postcards of historic Camden without sucess.Also checking the hotel for a beer garden,but none was found.Sitting in a sunny beer garden and enjoying a beer was one of the great Australian traditions .Has it now vanished ?
Returning to the RSL car park,Joe was assembling his flock for take off, it was then to the reserve to collect the picknickers and once loaded head in the direction of Sydney.
It was surprising to encounter crowded roads and slow driving conditions closer to the city.
However I did see a flock of sheep and a sole cow grazing,but no vines or orchards,these have been swallowed up by the ever expanding march of our city,striving for global prominance.
(C) cpyright Tim Williams
