2024 Road Trip Day 1 – Newcastle to Bowral

 

It’s been a while but we’re back on the road with Kev & Maz, this time heading south. For the first time we aren’t staying in caravan parks and have instead booked some Airbnb’s. The day started well with us actually leaving on time which was some feat as Gaz has been pretty crook for the last few weeks so he did very well to be ready for our 8:30am departure. After a brief stop to pick up some bread rolls for our picnic lunch, we hit the freeway and headed south.

 

It was an uneventful trip with the exception of my fight with Siri who kept telling me there was no such place as Lady Alexandra Reserve in Mittagong. Now I knew this wasn’t true as Maz had carefully written it down as our picnic destination on our Road Trip bible (aka The Spreadsheet). Siri was forgiven when I realised I had messed the name up and it was Lake Alexandra Reserve – oops, sorry Siri. Regardless of it’s name it was a beautiful spot and we enjoyed a lovely repast followed by a stroll around the lake (for three of us anyway). Gaz sat under a tree!

 

Luckily we were able to check into The Villa, Bowral, our home for the next two nights and we were very happy with it – very shmick! After unpacking we headed into town for a wander around the shops. I introduced the others to my favourite Gumnut Patisserie and we booked Franquette Creperie for dinner. A storm was brewing so we hurried home only to watch the radar and see the storm skirt around us.

 

We had found some cleanskin wines and had to taste all three (Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio & Semillon Savignon Blanc) bottles before dinner – the verdict was a big tick so we’ll be back to the cellars tomorrow to stock up. Suitably imbibed, we headed off for what turned out to be a sensational dinner. The food was to die for and the company was, as always, wonderful. A short walk after dinner to get up the required number of steps and it was back home for some TV viewing (a very funny comedy from Spain on Netflix) and then off into our king size luxurious bed … somewhat different from the usual double bed in cabins that we have had on previous trips. I could get used to this!