Rocktober

This weekend just past, Frank and the boys went to Paul & cybele's country house near Stanthorpe.  This was a boys weekend.  Many of us did this two years ago.  This time we had use of the cottage which was such a blessing because the weather on Friday night was atrocious.  

At 2:45 I left work and headed for BGS.  Driving Daryn's ute which incidentally is much nicer to drive than mine.  

3:15 Picked up Marcus and headed home.

Packed and packed and packed some more.  It had been pretty busy so I had not packed and it appeared that the boys had basically followed my lead there.

Bryce arrived and then we managed to leave at about 5:30.

We stopped at a MacDonalds on the Ipswich bypass and again in Warwick for dessert.  Texted Megan at one stage to find the address and typed that into the GPS.  Finally in the driving rain we arrived.

Saturday AM dawned a nicer day although windy.  Very windy.  Soon established that the motor bike we had brought had a flat tyre and the valve stem had been ripped from the tube.  Inside the tyre.  Gerry provided some valuable advice on the location of the motor bike shop and as these places tend to only open on Saturday mornings, I high tailed it into Stanthorpe.

By this time young Bruce had managed to damage himself and so Alistair also took a quick trip into Stanthorpe to visit the hospital.

Changing the tyre turned out to be quite a challenge and was acomplished eventually after several hours.  The key difficulties were that the tyre is very small and tight and we had only two forks to use as tyre leavers (thank you Cybele).  Finally though it was back on and the bike revealed further challenges.  Over the weekedn we ended up having to use vice grips as a gear shift leaver and there was continual fiddling with the carbie as it was not running well and its operation would change with temperature.  However Dan got to have his first solo ride.  Actually two solo rides.  Mussy also managed to take the bike on his own.

There was a more successful bike story.  Hunter had been saving his pennies.  All 999 of them and had bought his own motor bike.  Being new it performed more consistently.  It was slightly larger and so Marcu, Hunter and Bryce managed to enjoy themselves on it.  I was impressed that we did not achieve a collision between the two bikes.

Saturday evening, we drove into town to the bowling place (forget its name).  But it would have to be the best bowling alley in Queensland.  Not only 10pin bowling but also indoor play equipment including bouncy castles, room of small plastic balls, climbing equipment, the usual array of arcade games and air hockey and pool and pizza.  Great pizza.  We did some kind of pizza and bowling deal which kept us entertained.  Then a bonus when the owner took us and showed us the mechanism that resets the pins.  Apparently the basic design is unchanged since the 1940s.  No computers.  Also I should note that the place was new and clean.  A great night out.

We drove back via flooded bridge.  Well 30mm of water to excite the kids.

Back at the ranch and pyromaniac training.  The plan of a big fire was abandoned due to high winds and Bob expressing a small concern for his tent which he ended up not sleeping in and choosing to sleep in the cosy cottage on the couch beside the fire.  Anyway back to teh story.  paul gave each of 4 families a flint and we had to gather some dry grass and kindling and start the fire using the flint.  A great challege that the Thomson's managed to excell in.

I went to bed and sometime later Chris and Dan went off to bed too.  Chris BTW, had set up his little tent and slept on his own in the elements.  Brrr.  Dan and I slept in the cottage.

Sunday breakfast was Bacon, Eggs, pancakes, baked beans etc etc. 

A bit more motor bike riding and then off to the lake for a spot of canoeing.

Pack up.

Drive home.

And that is that.  A great weekend.  Thanks every one.  Thanks Paul for organising.