Are We There Yet?

The much anticipated road trip saw our first leg to Tamworth pass with ease. Left home at 8:50 and arrived in Tamworth with plenty of time to cruise the shops and take in afternoon tea. How pleasing it was revisiting the shopping precinct to discover its many changes since my last visit. The commercial centre was a hive of activity; so different from that of our hometown, Maitland. Tamworth had a vital feel to its streets and arcades. The variety was appreciated. Bought a few treats for myself before checking into Tamwell. Tamwell is well situated to Piper Street so that made it a perfect choice for a late night dinner and wine shared with family. As we entered town I made a hurried stop to snap a picture of the famous 'golden guitar.' Stephen was a little incredulous but ever so patient whilst I parked (my turn to drive.) I then dashed to the golden structure so designed for tourists to stand, smile and retreat before the next group arrived for a photo op. Little nap, then a delicious Thai dinner with Alysia and Sam. A troubled and disturbed sleep for reasons unknown to us both thence a 6am revelry. No breakfast, too keen to hit the road again. Hotel room coffee and off we went. Glen Innes was the next stop where fuel was considered an important need so tank gassed with little time lost. The road to Ipswich was well maintained with the occasional reminder of the January floods along the way. One of the most significant being the crossing of Cunningham's Gap. Although we'd been advised re the road delays we had not fully realised the extent of the traffic disruption until an alternative route was out of the question. 23 minutes to travel 7 kilometres down through the gap was indeed surprising. Holiday traffic travelling south had parked on the steep rise from top to bottom. The queue seemed tolerant of the wait but one can only wonder how long before tempers freyed. The traffic travelling south appeared to be in for a wait of several hours due to the sheer volume of holiday makers.