KUITPO CAPERS
Well this year annual dinner was a local affair held at Jacks Paddock camping area in Kuitpo Forest. With a typical winter weekend for July saw us gather in the dank forest in our homes on wheels. Arriving on Friday night we were not sure that we would not sink into the mud if we ventured too far from the track.
Friday night was spent quietly around the fire place (both inside and out) chatting. The early risers headed off with Gary and Ruth to investigate the markets, chocolate factory and bakeries. Us late risers enjoyed a nice sleep-in.
After lunch Gary had
organised Dean (SA Forestry) to take us for a tag along
trip showing us the range of terrain and forest that is part of the area. I have
landed in some pretty wild airstrips in my time and the one for fire fighting in
Kuitpo would rate up there with them.
While showing us some of the native forest we had to climb a steep muddy track,
everyone climbed the obstacle with ease but Denise and I. The cruiser just did
not have enough traction to make it to the top, so rather than rip up the track
I got George to pull me up. After that we had a look at the timber felling
equipment and back to camp.
Returning to camp, dinner was prepared and soon the smell of roasting meat on
the spit was drifting thought the trees. I believe it was Armadillo, koala, and
possum for dinner but it tasted like pork, beef and lamb to me. After a fine
meal and a couple of good reds it was back to enjoying the fire and chatting, until the hut got overheated.
Whilst most of us elected to vacate it while the flames were extinguished, there
were the odd couple who stayed and chatted and weren’t particularly concerned.
In the end a few buckets of water sorted the hut out.
The theme for the
dinner was cross dressing and a few had made the effort and
was very good. I dare say
I didn’t even recognise the President!!
Sunday morning, bacon and eggs for breakfast (that I did not have to cook) what a fine way to start the day.. What else could I ask for.
Then the big clean up, hook up vans and head for home. This we managed to do in between showers.
Well done everyone who organised and attended the 2008 Annual dinner, a great weekend with out lots of travel and entertainment.
PS. I forgot to mention that the spit roast was done by a chap that Garry H
had organised by the name of Glen,
and he did a sensational job.
Stuart Grant