The Kronikles of Tony and Ruth
Day 5 - Tuesday 4 July 2006
U.S. Independence Day. I have memories, of a balmy night, late 60’s, with Ken and Monica, sitting on top of a hill, watching the fireworks light up San Francisco. I have very bad feelings about the current U.S. Administration.
Rain, rain, rain, all night rain. I have visions of washed out bridges, flooding and roads awash. Such are the mind processes of a natural worrier. At 4 AM I look out the window: no rain. The street is wet but no rain. The “rain” noises I had been listening to were the whoosh of the rev.cycle A/C and the crash of the huge surf adjacent to the motel.
It’s 7 AM and it’s foggy, windy and drizzly. Four or five surfers are out there making the best of large broken waves and shifting peaks. Forecast for Wollongong: some showers, Sydney: rain and thunderstorms.
9.30 AM finds us on the A1 freeway and as feared there is fog, rain and more rain. We drive into the city on the A1, turn off to the A3 and back to the A1 at Hornsby. The traffic is v.heavy but moving along. Lunch of nuts, fruit and berries at Mooney – Money near a services club. Lot of large, bleary blokes staggering in and out of the facility.
The weather clears up and we turn off the N1 (Newcastle Expressway) to Cessnock in the Hunter Valley –Wine country - where we book into a cabin in a caravan park at 3 PM. We’re a bit frayed after the wet, foggy Wollongong / Sydney crossing so indulge in half a bottle of red and a nap. A buffet “all u can eat” dinner is taken at the Cessnock Services Club (see Appendix 2), which is run entirely by our Asian mates, and the service is courteous and efficient.
I select small helpings and a feeling of pathetic righteousness takes over as I watch some slobs pile it on. The dining area is gigantic and chock –a-block. The locals offer advice on the Hunter valley attractions with smiles and warm goodwill.
Back at the caravan park for some TV, Wild Turkey & Cola, Vita Wheats, Vegemite and chocolates. Asleep by 10.30.
APPENDIX
Darryl and Sue Rickey – mates from way back. Darryl moved into my room in Toronto when I moved to Boston in 1967. He met Sue in North America. They live in Ocean Grove Vic. In Geelong we get together often for food and wine etc.
