REPORT FROM McLAREN VALE – 17th November 2016

Reporter: Don

There was only one early caravan at this rally. Your reporter and his wife and van started on Wednesday and entertained friends for Happy Hour that night.

The rest of the Caravaneers arrived at various times throughout Thursday and set up without incident. Happy Hour that evening began a little early under the trees, but Pierre and Sheila stuck it out until 4:30 pm before they succumbed. Rod and Ann joined us for Happy Hour.

The envelope was won by yours truly that night. A popular win. The Hugo winery cheese platter for two was drawn and won by yours truly. Slightly less popular win!

Nearly everyone wore their name tags but eight slack people forgot. Pierre is looking very relaxed since his presidential duties ceased! It is great to see. Those who stayed on after Happy Hour told many stories and finally went back to their vans at 8:45 pm for a very late meal.

As many of us drove out to Pirramimma Wines on Friday for a tasting and platters we saw a couple of the ladies taking Joseph window-shopping in the main street of McLaren Vale. Apparently a good time was had by all there too. Jo looked after us very well at the Winery - she was a good saleslady and some of us bought a few bottles of their Pirramimma wine.

On we went to Hugo Winery and more tastings and a couple of huge platters, compliments of yours truly. A lovely spot to enjoy some wines and we were spoiled a bit by Will (the son of the owner), and Don who works there. Some of us bought a few bottles of their wine too.

Yours truly won a quiz there and received a bottle of their Grenache Shiraz. By now a few were muttering about my run of luck!!?? Back to the park for Happy Hour and our Ruth McC won the envelope!! Open jeering from the crowd!!!

Jacquie and Graham & and Barbara and Malcolm had arrived in the afternoon and several of the men tried to help him with his antenna until the clock struck 3 and Joseph was seen running to his van to
watch Judge Judy!!

We all trooped off to the Bowling Club for an excellent meal served by their tireless volunteers. Ruth McC was the first to win a raffle prize in the group and there were howls of protest from the crowd of Carefree Caravaneers!! Fortunately she was saved from being lynched when several of our members also won prizes, including Graham who chose a bottle of red that had been overlooked by Ruth.

Audrey and Trevor had guests on Saturday and Cathy and Allan, who intend to join our club, joined in a game of disc bowls. Cathy darn near won too but she was handicapped by the presence on court of Kyrgios who spat the dummy more than once. The eventual winners were Keith and Malcolm. Well-deserved and congratulations.

Saturday night we gathered in the camp kitchen for a BBQ and games night and Margaret and Ron joined us for a little while. Nice to see you both again.

Donna and Leon took us through a game of charades with three teams vying for the chocolates. Many thanks to Donna and Leon for organising a hilarious night. The hardest charade was "playing with play-dough" and some of the antics by our members (Grovy hang-gliding and Pierre ballet-dancing) had us in fits. We then played Pictionary (same teams) but the best of them all was Graham's drawing of "Wun Hung Low".

This has been a really great rally and thanks go to all who came and made it so.

1.If your name is not on the list to come to the rally at Riverton and should be, please let Audrey know ASAP. (See page 1)

2.Can people coming to the Christmas rally please bring a salad to share, as well as drinks. (See pages 1 and 2)

3.You can express your artistic ability and dress up at the Christmas rally; as well as bringing decorations for the table. (See page 2)

4.Raffle tickets will be sold at the Christmas rally - $2 each, or three for $5. Bargain! (See page 2)

5.Please support the State Rally next year, starting on 4th May, for 4 nights. John is the man to talk to. (See page 3)

6.2018 is the 40th anniversary of our club. Do you have any ideas on how to celebrate? (See page 3)

Wine tasting – photo courtesy of John

More wine tasting – photo again courtesy of
John