Club Zone

A Country Road Meander

12 May 2023 / Words: Jeff Rowe. Photos: Rob Wilko

There are lots of events on the Illawarra Chapter events web page for members to attend but we thought a midweek run would be something that hasn’t been done for a while. You’ve got to like less traffic, easier parking, more chances to get a table at a venue and a chance to catch up with members who may not be able to attend weekend runs.

The starting point was chosen, the route mapped out and the lunch venue picked. After the year everywhere has had with rain, we thought that even though we knew the route to be taken, we would do a ‘recky’ to be sure of the road conditions. There was also the chance to check out the lunch venue we had picked, even though we had been there before. Well, it was a good thing we took the time to drive the route. It turned out all the roads were open but not, we thought, at an appropriate surface level for safe and comfortable travel. As it turned out the lunch venue, we had picked disappointed also, so between the road and the venue it was back to the drawing board.

Some quick thinking back to places we’d thought might be somewhere good for a club visit and one came to mind. Some more ‘recky’ work to check mileage and a visit to the possible new venue and ‘Bob’s your uncle’ we’re in business. We could start to plan ‘Country Road Meander’. The date was approved by the Chapter Convenor and Run Co-ordinator and the venues were booked.

The event then went up on the Chapter web page. On the day our starting point was ‘Ratha’s Place’ in Oak Flats. This is a great little café that operates to provide training and employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We had visited ‘Rath’s’ before as had other Chapter members who told us about it in the first place. It’s not fancy but it’s clean, well run and supervised, has a great atmosphere and the food and service are hard to fault. On our visit we were not disappointed.

There was an ‘MX-5 Club Specials’ menu with Egg and Bacon Rolls, Raisin Toast and Scones with Jam and Cream served with coffee or tea. Everyone left comfortable and full, ready for the next part of our day together. We showed our appreciation with a good loud ‘Hand Clap’ before we left. Another visit in the future maybe?

Our drive was to take us through Jamberoo on what is, a great MX-5 road and a favorite with some Chapter members.

Then skirting Kiama, we headed South along the Princes Highway towards Berry. Rather than taking our usual route through Gerringong and then along, what is generally known as the ‘Tourist Coast Road’, we stayed on the highway and turned off towards Toolijooa. This put us onto the old part of the Princes Highway. It only went for about six kilometers on a windy section of road that all of us had most likely travelled before. The difference now was that the road was clear and we could enjoy the straights and corners without having to queue behind trucks or other slower vehicles. It was a short but good fun section of road nonetheless. Taking the exit ramp into Berry we then turned left to head down to join the ‘Tourist Coast Road’ and continue on to our lunch destination at Shoalhaven Heads.

Our destination was ‘The Heads Hotel’ at Shoalhaven Heads. A great spot overlooking the Shoalhaven River. The menu is extensive and no one was left hungry. The staff looked after us well and were very friendly. It may well be a venue we visit again in the future.

After lunch some members took the opportunity to visit the Shoalhaven Heads Botanical Garden which is just around the corner from the hotel. They are a well-presented garden worth a look if you’re in this area. It was great to see the support for a midweek run, 27 club members and 3 visitors in 18 cars. It was an opportunity to catch up with members not seen for some time, meet members not met before and welcome visitors into our group. The weather was at its best for a roof off drive so all in all this turned out to be a great MX-5 event.