Tea Gardens Run via Myall Shores
07 December 2019 / John Hansen
MX-5 Mid North Coast Chapter
Mid Week Run
Tea Gardens Run Via Myall Shores
Tuesday 5 November 2019
Tuesday 5 November found a group of three intrepid MX-5 cars with their owners assemble outside ‘Olivers’ at the Port Macquarie Service Centre under a very inauspicious rain flecked sky for the Mid Week Run. Greg Cox run leader with his grey GT RF Limited Edition MX-5, coordinator Allen in his gleaming red ND and Judith and John in their grey MX-5 NC. The flecks of rain developed into light drizzle accompanied by a fairly stiff wind. Little did we know that this was going to be last of the rain that we would see for some time. Our small convey set off down the well worn track to the ‘Flow Bar’ at Old Bar for morning tea and a regroup to consider our options for the rest of the day. Due to the weather it was tops up all the way to Old Bar.
The food at the Flow Bar lived up to our expectations and those of us who are searching for the perfect egg and bacon roll still kept the Flow Bar’s version in the top five. We had hoped to meet up with other members however the worsening weather conditions kept them away. Due to the deteriorating weather conditions we decided to proceed straight down the highway to Bulahdelah instead of detouring along the old Pacific Highway.
Travelling down the highway we had no idea that some of the places we passed through such as Rainbow Flat and Possum Bush and Nabiac would become almost household names in the coming weeks as bushfires swept through the surrounding areas. In fact the town of Old Bar itself would become isolated due to the subsequent fires. At Bulahdelah the wind picked up and became rather fierce and after meeting Jane we travelled down to Tea Gardens and then the Myall Lakes where we intended to drive up to the Bombah Point car ferry, then back to Tea Gardens for lunch at “Mumms On The Myall” restaurant. However by the time we arrived at Tea Gardens the weather became more miserable. After a hurried conference we decided that in the circumstances we should abandon the rest of the run and head straight to the restaurant. Initially the restraint had indicated that it had very heavy bookings as the Tuesday was also the Melbourne Cup Day. However many people had decided not to brave the weather and the venue wasn’t full and we were able to secure almost a private table.
After a convivial lunch where we solved most of the world’s problems and discussed MX-5 cars, of course, we said our goodbyes and departed for home. I thought that if I had put a sail up, the wind would have scooted us along as it buffeted us, this was just on the way to the car park!
Thanks to run leader Greg and our club coordinators Allen and Peter for organising the run and all who took part. It just shows that MX-5 members can still have an enjoyable time even if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
In hindsight, it was a sobering thought that within a few weeks, the scenery that we had driven through would become blackened and charred, communities become isolated, houses destroyed, lives lost, animals killed, various club members would be involved in fighting bush fires with their local brigades and all of would be hoping for rain.
Scribe John Hansen
