Sunday 27th July 2014 Cullenbone School House Riverside Walk

After a day of rain and cold windy weather on the Saturday, things changed and Sunday was a beautiful winter’s day, couldn’t have asked for better weather for our BBQ lunch by the river at Cullenbone School House (aka Annette and Peter’s home) and Cudgegong River Walk. Those present were Peter, Joby, John, Monique and Lorraine, and me. Morning tea was enjoyed early on and we all inspected Peter’s ingeniously designed water wheel which powers a pump and lifts water quite a good height. Peter told us about the flooding which has occurred during his occupancy of the property, and his experiences and adventures with his children canoeing along that stretch of the river. He also read to us from a historic book written by a local gentleman, about the history of the very place where we were enjoying our picnic. Then we went for a very pleasant walk along the river. Peter showed us where there had been a tent city which had sprung up during the depression, with the occupants eking out an existence by panning for gold and subsistence agriculture. The river walk was lovely, under the shady canopy of beautiful river oaks and walking over the water-worn cobbles from of many varieties of metamorphic rocks. I found a lovely smooth rounded piece of rose quartz. Joby was living in hope of finding a gold nugget but as far as we know she was unsuccessful (or maybe she just kept it quiet!). We saw some very newborn lamb twins, and their protective mother. Once back at the picnic area, John and Peter got a fire going and Peter quickly prepared a tasty snack of BBQ Cabanossi which we ladies were very happy to devour. Then he brought down a bottle of Chardonnay – so things couldn’t really get any better.  We enjoyed our lunch together, and then sadly I had to leave, so my story of a most enjoyable winter’s day ends here.