Day 269 - Sunday 24 September - Oysters and Beer in Tuncurry

Day 269

Sunday –

24 September 2017

Port Macquarie – Tuncurry

It was another restless night of sleep, some of it due to the noise of the band playing at the pub and some of it because it was quite warm. I was awake at 7am and happy to read for a while before finally getting up and into breakfast. Today we were heading to Tuncurry Forster, about 100km further south to check out the Oyster and craft beer Festival at Hamiltons Oysters.

Before heading out on the highway, we stopped in at the front office and booked in for one more night and then we put the GPS in charge to help navigate us to our destination. The drive took in the highway for most of it, passing the exit fro Taree before turning left towards the coast and the Wallis Lakes district. 

At 10.40am, we pulled in to a car park along the edge of the Coolongolook River and next to the festival venue. We decided to take a walk along the edge of the water checking out the crystal clear blue aqua. It was very warm and there was a sight breeze pushing the hot air around us making me wish I had my bathers. 

We watched the many pelicans hanging around the fish cleaning station and sitting on piers and boats. A large school of dolphins was swimming further out, herding the fish. 

 

When we were done, we returned to the car, gathered all that we needed and entered the small festival area. Paul paid $20 for a glass and beer tokens and then set about chatting to the brewers. Little Brewing, who we visited yesterday, were there and Paul set about having one of theirs to start, no token necessary and this was pretty much how it remained for the day, his 4 initial tokens went a long way. 

Paul made himself known to Murrays Brewing and Coast Brewing, vowing to be in at the breweries next week. He flitted from one to the other, chatting to the reps and or brewers for much of the morning. He also managed to find plenty of other beer drinkers to strike up a conversation with. 

Being an oyster festival, there was also an oyster eating competition, fastest to eat 3 dozen oysters in 1 minute, so Paul signed up for that too and proceeded to gulp down 33 in the allotted time, not a winner, but happy to eat them for free. 

I was satisfied with a burger from the kiosk, that turned out to be delicious and just what was needed. 

While I was gulping down the water in the heat, Paul continued on the beers, making sure he got more than his money’s worth. The wind picked up causing the marque tents to fly about, but they were well anchored and not going anywhere. Phew.

Being on my feet for the majority of the day and not moving around was playing havoc on my legs and I was happy to take a seat for a while, though it was in the sun and I was getting burnt. I joined Paul, chatting to other beer drinkers, striking up conversations with fellow craft beer enthusiasts, but he seemed to always end up speaking to the same few.

By 3pm, I was ready to head, having done my wifey duties for the day ( I need a gold star!) and seeing Paul was well and truly ready for a sit down. We left the venue, made it to the car, and I began the journey homeward. Meanwhile, sleeping beauty was well gone by the time we hit the highway.

I enjoyed the quiet time as I navigated north. The sky was a heavy pinkie grey colour. A large fire could be seen spewing forth plenty of smoke clouds into the air. No doubt the firies would be busy with today’s hot and blustery conditions.

Just after 4pm we pulled into Timbertown and unloaded the car. The awning had copped a battering while we were out and needed adjusting, before Paul opted to put it a way altogether as the wind picked up again. He had to get the pliers out and try and bend back some of the dents that had occurred somehow while we were out.

The van was warm, so the air con went straight on and we proceeded to take it easy. Paul was happy to fall on the bed while I did the computer bits. Night arrived soon enough and we had a small dinner as I did some bits for the craft beer website and some research for the continuation of our trip.

The air con packed it in, no longer pumping out cool air, but at least the fan was still going. Hopefully we can last with out requiring it for a while. I had to open up the windows and let the cooler air seep in and hope the bugs didn’t also follow.