The weather was almost perfect for the group of 17 that met at the Darnum Stump Tearooms around 10:30am via 40km/h re-sealing works on the Princes Hwy. After a desperately needed coffee and briefing by John Fowler, we enjoyed a very scenic drive taking in Bona Vista, Warragul South, Hallora and Lardner and everyone remarked on the wonderful scenery on those great winding and hilly roads, before arriving right on 12:00pm for lunch at the refurbished Royal Hotel in Drouin. It was a baptism by fire for a young staff member who hadn’t been warned that there were three large groups booked for lunch today, but he coped quite well with the crowds while taking food and bar orders.
I was surprised to see such dry conditions in the hills despite the high rainfall throughout December, and those of us that drove “roof down” were in no danger from the few spits of rain as we wound our way past yet more roadworks and farm machinery in the surprisingly almost mild weather despite the dire heat-wave warnings.
Our contingent was made up of an Austin Healey 100-4, Porsche Boxster, BMW Z3, Mercedes E280, Audi S3, Subaru BRZ, Land Rover Discovery and two MX5’s plus the throaty sounds of a Chrysler Charger that reminded me of my teen years. All I needed to hear would be air horns and my day would be complete.
Thank you to John and Jan for organising another fun event and I look for to our next Mid-Week Run.
Words and pictures by Sandra Levey and John Fowler
