South Maroota - Easter

South Maroota – Easter

We arrived at Sydney Kingsford Smith airport earlier than scheduled and had to wait a while for our rental car, another Hyundai I20, a great little hatchback for touring around.  Perfect size for the two of us and all of our luggage.  We headed north across the city, once more over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and followed Peter’s directions, hoping not to get lost in the middle of nowhere and arrive before dark.  Great directions and we pulled into the driveway just before the sun finally disappeared for the day.

It was lovely to see our friends Peter and Stephanie again and Stephanie had cooked us a lovely turkey dinner and scrumptious desert.  We retired not too late as we were off to the Easter Show in Sydney early the next morning.  For those familiar with The Calgary Stampede, the Easter Show in Sydney is very similar.  There is a midway, fairground, agriculture shows, cattle, horses, pigs, poultry, sheep, alpacas etc.  There is show jumping, hacking, rodeo and more.  In the evening there is a stage show, which is included in the price of your ticket with a fantastic firework finale.  A big highlight for kids of all ages, Peter included, are show bags.  You can buy these bags, priced between $6.00 and $20.00 and they are full of chocolate bars and goodies of all kinds.  Needless to say they did not all make it home.  We drove to the University car park, where Stephanie works, then caught the bus into the city and back out again.  Both bus trips were included in the ticket price too.  What value!!! 

On Sunday morning Peter, Jim and myself took Jess, the Kelpie cross, for a ramble through the bush at the back of the property and into the National Forest.  Stead wanted to come too but he is just too old for all that activity.  It was a lovely walk with Jess covering about ten times the area that we did, running all over the place, back and forth.  Needless to say she slept for the rest of the day.  Later that day, Peter and Stephanie had arranged for some friends to come over for a BBQ.  The big surprise for us was that our friends from Coffs Harbour were also going to be there.  Unfortunately, Peter let the cat out of the bag shortly before they arrived.  Too funny!  It was lovely to see them again.  The company was great and the food delicious.  Malcolm and Ros stayed overnight and we all had breakfast together before they had to drive back home.  We were so pleased that they came, as it is a very long drive. 

Monday lunchtime we went to Cattai National Park for a picnic with some of the friends from the day before and some who were unable to make it.  Cattai National Park comprises the Old Cattai Farm with its old Homestead and the river flats below, which has been developed into a beautiful picnic area and Mitchell Park an Environmental Education Centre.  You can also camp here and bushwalk, stroll through the rainforest, clamber over the sandstone outcrops or wander up the gully amongst the paperbarks.

When we left Cattai Park we were invited to stop on the way back, at Steve and Kays beautiful property.  It looks like a manicured golf course and as the weather was so nice we all sat outside and around 5 pm the Kangaroos all started to come out for an evening stroll or should I say HOP!

The Easter Show - Sydney

The Easter Show - Sydney

Stephanie, Peter, Barbara & Jim - Easter Show - Sydney

The Easter Show - Sydney

Picnic at Cattai Park

Steve and Kay's place after the picnic

Steve and Kay's place after the picnic

Steve and Kay's place after the picnic

Peter & Staphanies - Alfie

Tracy's  - Mia

Peter & Stephanie's Staffie - Stead

Peter & Stephanie's Pool

Peter & Stephanie's House at the back

Peter & Stephanie's - Jess

After bidding our farewells to Peter and Stephanie’s lovely friends we went home and after all the lovely food enjoyed over the weekend none of us were very hungry so we settled for beans on toast.  A perfect end to the weekend.

Tuesday morning, once again we bid our dear friends au revoir, they headed to work and we to the Blue Mountains, but not before saying a sad goodbye to Alfie the cat, Mia the tabby cat, Stead the Staffie and Jess the Kelpie Cross……………….