Day 231
Wednesday
16 August 2017 – Began “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah
Toowoomba – Warwick – Stanthorpe
On the move again and for a change Paul wasn’t up and out at
7.30am but 8am. I followed and set about getting breakfast and beginning the
pack up before eating and going for a shower. When I returned Paul was ready to
load the car and just after 9am we were saying goodbye to the owners and moving
on.
A quick fuel up at the BP and then we began following the
New England Highway towards Warwick travelling through the Darling Downs. Paul
was cursing as the wind was whipping around throwing the van around like a kite
on a string.
Being such a lumpy landscape there were plenty of good
vantage points over the farming plains. The land looks dry, more like a summer
setting than winter. Fields stretch out with a golden glow not the lush green
you would expect from this time of year. All the locals have said they haven’t
had a winter this year and it shows.
About an hour into the journey we made it to the town of
Warwick, this is another large centre. Our plan was to originally stay in this
area, but after some investigating I decided to drive on to a Stanthorpe that
is not far from the NSW border. We had some random beep us and begin waving
when we stopped at the tights asking where we were from and where we were
heading. It was a bit odd. We thought maybe there was something wrong that we
hadn’t noticed but it seems he just wanted a chat.
We continued our drive south on the Country Way. We didn’t
need signs to tell us this, as the radio stations have been limited to country
crooning since we arrived in Toowoomba. The lyrics usually have us laughing
about some sad sod who’s lost his love and his dog or is in love with his ute
or the great song “She loves to Fish”.
Just after 11am we arrived at the main street of town and
pulled into the Top of Town caravan park, paid for a couple of nights, chatted
to the manager who Paul took an instant liking to and then manoeuvred the van
into our site.
With good internet I began loading bits online before we
made our way into the town. We had been told the RSL was worth a look for
lunch, so we cruised into there for a cheap meal. We were very impressed with
the selection, quality and quantity.
After eating, we walked the main street to get a feel for
the place. There doesn’t seem to be a lot to Stanthorpe, it gives off the vibe
of being a hard working country town. I am not sure if they are progressive or
backwards, but either way they had a Christmas tree up outside the post
office.
We wandered up both sides of the street, stopping at Woolies
for needed supplies before making our way back to the car and on to the first
of three breweries, Granite Belt.
We parked and then entered the restaurant premises. They
have a viewing window over the brewery where we could watch them bottling. Paul
sat at the bar tasting the 8 beers in their range while I watched an amusing
Powerpoint they had rolling on a big screen.
When he was all done we made our way to Mount Marley
lookout. After pushing the car to its limits to make it up the hill, we parked
and checked out the view over Stanthorpe. It was blowing a gale and I found it
difficult to stand still enough to take a photo.
From here we moved on to Brewery number two, Castle Glen, so
named as the cellar door is a castle. We parked an entered, dazzled by the
array of colours in beautiful glass bottles. While Paul was there to try the
range of beers, they also make liqueurs, wines, ports and spirits.
Paul chatted to the owner, Cedric, as he poured beer after
beer and then he moved on to cider before bringing out some liqueurs. I enjoyed
the raspberry and pear cider, as well as the blackberry and plum. We ended up
with a bottle of musk stick liqueur as it was yum, pink and in a fancy bottle
along with a rum, chocolate and coffee liqueur.
With the tasting complete, we returned to the caravan park,
happy to leave brewery number three to tomorrow. Two very cool 1950’s
motorhomes were parked up and had the park patrons buzzing around. I walked
next door to the museum to take a few photos over the fence and then came back,
checking out the amenities.
Mum rang, so I talked to her for a bit, sounds the weather
is still unbearable and the dog is unimpressed. I organised dinner, before
ringing Chell in the UK to see how things are going with him. We then ate, cleaned up and took off on foot
for our evening wander.
We walked all the way to town, enjoying the mild weather.
Thankfully the wind had dropped right off and it was very pleasant on the
street. We then returned to the van ready to wind down for the evening before
heading to bed to read.
No comments:
Post a Comment