Trip Reports

Cook out at Glen Patrick (September 23rd to 26th, 2011)

Cold, boring, horrible, unfriendly, wet...oops, what am I talking about?  This was not at all like the event I attended. The days were cool and the nights cold, but the roaring fires were warm and comforting and there was food to die for and the conversation with good friends.

Steve, Jeff, Eric and Glenys arrived on the Thursday and were followed by the Bullen’s and Woods and Ron Bastion on Friday.  Jill tagged along on Saturday.  We were also accompanied by six canine friends and they had a good time too!

The Glen Patrick Reserve is an old cricket ground from the days of the Glen Patrick township, which thrived in the early years when the time gold was found in them thar hills. It is backed by a creek that was obviously a raging torrent in the floods of earlier in the year and there is an asphalt road all the way to the reserve.  This creek is a tributary of the Wimmera River. A shelter for eating and talking in with a large open fire and best of all, flushing toilets!

Thursday and Friday were spent talking etc. etc. etc.

Saturday was the day of the big COOK OUT.  It was a fine sunny day. First on the agenda was the need for wood to be gathered and here we must thank Ron for his efforts.  By about the middle of the day camp ovens were being dusted, coals checked in the fire, numbers counted and finally meat prepared.  The ovens were filled about 3-4pm and the veggies went on sometime after that.  There is an old saying of too many cooks spoil the broth.  Well we had lots of cooks, no broth and the meal certainly wasn’t spoilt.  In fact the meat was delicious, the array of veggies fantastic and followed by a dessert of plum pudding with custard, cream and ice-cream. After cleaning up and top marks to Rod for his efforts here, an evening of sharing a bottle of something and lots more talk was enjoyed until the chill of the night sent most to bed.

Sunday morning was cloudy and cool and spent quietly.   The Stevenson’s arrived about late morning and then after lunch we had the quarterly meeting.  Details of the meeting are on a previous slide.  How lucky were we all that there was sufficient meat and veggies from the previous night’s meal to fill us all again.  This time dessert was trifle.  YUM.  A clean up and more wine and talk, although one member –who shall remain nameless- was not seen at this meal as the afternoons wine and nibbles took its toll and she was last heard of fast asleep on the bed while we all ate.

Ever the trooper, Steve decided to say on and leave this idyllic spot on Tuesday, although I believe he had a very wet trip home.  Others all headed home on Monday.

We all would like to thank Steve for organising a great weekend, for ensuring that the meal was fantastic and we are looking forward to the next get together.

New Member - Henry	Jeff, Rod and Steve - Instructing Eric on Chainsaw safety
Glenys, Jill and Amanda - Keeping warm	Rod and Peter - Chefs?
Gavin and Rod - Enjoying a sip	Woods Family - Dressed for dinner