Harrington via Johns River run

05 May 2021 / John Hansen

Mid North Coast MX-5 Chapter

 

Irish Rose Run to Harrington and Crowdy Head

 

Wednesday 28 April 2021

 

 

We gathered at Olivers in the Port Macquarie Service Centre on a sunny warm day for a midweek run down to Harrington on the Mid North Coast. It was a pleasure getting out with fellow enthusiasts to enjoy a top-down run in the open air.

 

The run had attracted quite a few club members and we even had the pleasure of the MX-5 New South Wales Club’s President Keith; who was holidaying in the local district for a greet and chat before going we set off on our way. Jane and Greg were run leaders in their MX-5 FT RF, Chris and Mick ND, Oli ND, Peter ND, Keiran Heritage special edition NB, Judith and John NC and Pam and Allen sweep car in their ND. Off we swept, with the tops down onto the Pacific Highway bound for morning tea.

 

First stop was at Rosie’s Cafe at John’s River; it had been quite a while since we had last visited and were pleased to see that the place still offered good food and drinks and of course coffee! The pleasant atmosphere was very conducive to convivial conversations. Eventually we finished up and it was back in the car for the next leg of our run drive down to Harrington.

 

The weather was still fine and quite warm which made the trip down as pleasant as Pacific Highway driving can be. There seemed to be a large number of heavy vehicles on the road and their size can really be appreciated from the low height of the MX-5 especially when occasionally when one passes! The trip down to the Harrington turn off was safely negotiated and great care was taken in ensuring that the posted limit was observed especially when it changes to 100 kph zone prior to the turn off as the road is well known to be carefully monitored.

 

We had plenty of time before lunch and continued on the Harrington Road to the Captain Cook Bicentennial Park in Harrington. The road to the Bicentennial Park was interesting and, at one point quite exciting, as it climbed steeply and then fell away sharply, so that for an instant, from the low slung MX-5 it disappeared from view as the car’s nose pointed up in the air and then downwards. I wondered what it would be like taken at speed!! The view from the park was very interesting showing the very long break wall and one of the entrances to the sea of the Manning River, that has become silted up over time. It was hard to believe that Harrington in the late 1800’s was the site of one of the largest wooden shipbuilding centres in the Southern Hemisphere and this continued well into the 1900’s. The Manning River was also one of the major shipping transport corridors; connecting towns such as Taree and Wingham to the rest of the world. Very little of the river traffic remains today. The park provided an interesting opportunity for photographers. Peter and Keiran took many and the photographs may be seen on the MX-5 Mid North Coast website.

 

After the photograph stop we went back to Harrington and then to our lunch stop which was the Harrington Irish Pub. One of the attraction of the eating place is the extensive view of the Manning River that can be had from the windows of the dining area. The food and choice is always agreeable and lunch became a leisurely affair with plenty of chit chat and the world’s problems solved!!

It was decided that a pleasant end to the day would be to take in the magnificent view of the river and countryside from the Crowdy Head Lighthouse which is a small, squat light with extensive views to Diamond Head and a panoramic view out over Crowdy Bay National Park. This was the official end of our most enjoyable run which combined great fellowship, extensive scenery, a variety of eating experiences, an interesting drive and a glimpse into some of the history of the region, all from the comfort of our MX-5s! 

 

Thanks to the club’s coordinators and route planners Allen and Greg, and also thanks to Peter and Keiran who took extensive photographs of the day. Of course the day would not have been so enjoyable without the participation of our club members.

 

Although the run had officially ended its hard to keep good people down and it was suggested that the trip back home be via the Taree turn off and along the Landsdowne Road and then back to Port Macquarie.

 

Safe and happy MX Fiveing.

 

Scribe;  John Hansen

Facebook photos;  Peter Rogers