Easter Sunday

Dorrigo Falls
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Hello from a cooler part of the country and us pair who are tired after a big day out. But to start the day we had a wee surprise, the Easter Bunny had dropped by and left an egg on our table outside. After breakfast we headed into town

for the Easter Mall Markets and quite a surprise to see a great selection of stalls selling everything from food to plants and trinkets. Three stalls got our attention. A table of beautiful day lilies in colours I've never seen and so robust and healthy. The cool weather makes such a difference to flowers and growth. Secondly was a small stall advertising cheese. Dorrigo Cheese Factory; but the cheese was quite out of the ordinary and nothing like the ordinary stuff you see in Coles. A feta that literally melted in your mouth and a soft crumbly cheese soaked in Pinot style wine. Now that was something very different. So we bought one of each and before dinner tonight we had a couple of slices each as entry. The third was a pottery stand selling

Technology is great when it works!

Restored Dodge
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a very classy collection of pottery dishes. We bought two coffee mugs for the van and we were there for a while talking to the potter. On the way back to the van we were breath tested by a new gadget that you talk to and it identifies how much you've been drinking. So that covered most of the morning, we then got back on the road and drove to Dorrigo. The drive to Dorrigo takes you along the Waterfall Way and takes about 1 and three quarter hours each way along a reasonable quality road. One of the observations along the way was that NSW plated cars take risks passing. They tailgate at 100KPH, pass on double lines, pass of the approach to a hill crest and of course we saw the consequences of one such happening. This afternoon we visited Dorrigo National Park and walked out onto the canopy and looked for miles in the distance and you could just see the coast and the sea. It wasn't as good as the brochure made out, but well used by the locals for weekend pinics with the family. On the way back we visited Ebor Falls, Wollomombi Falls, the Trout Hatchery (which was closed) and Edgars Lookout. A great day and millions of litres of fresh free air, green grass and lush trees, fat cattle and sheep. This area obviously gets plenty of rain. All along the roads are wild flowers, some identifiable some probably only in this area . But the most predominant was a yellow everlasting daisy. The car show yesterday was an other successful day. The old cars came from all over Australia. One a Marmon is very rare and so beautifully restored. A Morris 8 just like mothers old Polly except is was a soft top and green instead of blue. My old 37 Chev wasn't on the list and nothing like it either. One car was stunning, sleak and just purred as it drove in and although not a vintage car looked like one. It was a 1973 Excalibur SS Series Phaeton with a 7.5 litre engine, automatic, 4 seater and the owner had had it up to 240 KPH. I also saw my brothers old Wolsey, Helen saw the Bulls first can and I saw Gran & Denas (my Grandmother and Great Aunt) old Hillman Minx. For those who haven't worked it out this Email goes to 22 people all of whom are enjoying our holiday with us. At one stage I asked if anyone wanted out and all I got was no no no we love the letters. This time on the road with an ASUS notebook and a HP C4380 Wireless Printer we have all that is needed to keep in touch with the world. Post Offices and Telstra plays a little part when we can get a connection. Today we were 12 minutes out of Armidale and we had NO coverage on the Next G service. I think about it like this... In the days before power steering a few cars were fitted, then the demand grew that other models were forced to fit this new invention and now you wouldn't buy a car unless it had power steering. So the phone... well years ago we had fencing wire and party lines and manual exchanges, someone invented transistors and phones become automated and we had easier world coverage. Then along came the mobile and suddenly we didn't need to be anywhere special to make a call. But not like cars the mobile and telecommunications became a big business and an area of great communication confusion. Those who live in the big cities think nothing of it their mobile always works. But you get 12 minutes out and it is DEAD. I ask you why does Telstra make such a big Billion dollar profit each year? While in a serviceable area we rang my Mother (Pam) for Easter and it was the first overseas call I've made on my mobile, there is nothing to it, and it gave mum a great surprise. Technology is great when it works!