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WA Mega Down South Cruise II - 2008

Written by Nick theprotest

Monday, 15 September 2008

Friday afternoon saw the first couple roll in. Alex and Rachel, in the mighty blue B4 took out the honour of first to arrive. After a couple of cold bubbly ‘G'days’ a couple more of the WAR contingent had arrived. Redly Rocket (Red) and SublimeForester (Brett & Vicki and bub) were here and I started to let out a sigh of relief. By about 4:30 everyone was here, and by about 5:30 everyone was assembled together at the winery cellar door to begin the festivities.

The health and safety lecture was kept short.

As there were a few people who were on their first Mega Down South Cruise, I thought it best to begin with a fair lashing of social lubricant. So a full tasting of what we make here at my place was first on the agenda. After trying a good 15 or so alcoholic products, from Sparkling Wine’s to spirits, people were starting to get a bit hungry. Understandable.

The food created by Cowaramup Food’s Lainy and Pete came thick and fast. Chilli prawns to Caramelised Onion & Feta Tarts, Hot Gourmet Beef Rolls, etc. etc. All of which was very good, and very necessary as the keg of Pilsener (…had now defrosted the cold plate…oops!) was starting to pour, pint by pint. Joined on the evening by the owner, and head brewer from Cowaramup Brewery, Jeremy – he showed us just how much he enjoys what he does, and the beer he makes. Also some local Cowaramup forum members also came along to enjoy the evening.

Congratulations to Phil and Brett for finishing up with 8/22 in my super hard Subaru Quiz – who doesn’t know what 555 would look like if displayed as a hexadecimal? Phil for eventually getting over the line though, and winning the three top wines produced by Forester Estate here in Margaret River. Brett managed to get the twin pump washer bottle – perfect for his N/A Forester – and everyone received their surprises (shirts/hats), with the promise of more to come. Alex got the STi hat for being closest on the speed record question.

The keg finished at about 2am, Saturday morning. There are some great photos from the night, and I think it’s fair to say everyone had a great time.

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From great time, to not feeling great only took about six hours. Everyone was up and ready to cruise to a well deserved bakery breakfast in Augusta. The winding, undulating Caves Rd wasn’t to everybody’s liking but a few of us managed to find some breaks in the traffic…Alex…Alex.

The cruise back to my place was a bit more straight forward, and with the mop I’d just eaten already having me feeling better already, I was ready for another day. I have to say I thought we were going to have a casualty of a car on the drifting gravel stage… stroke of luck there!

A quick koffee tasting at Yahava here at work, everyone else was feeling the much needed energy coursing through them once more. We were all rounded up and thrown onto the huge orange school bus, don’t know if anyone got a photo of it, but let’s just say you couldn’t miss it. First to Brookwood Estate, were just about everyone found something they liked, lucky we had the big bus after all! Then to Cowaramup Brewery for a light lunch we went. Gourmet pizzas were the order of the day, and people were starting to blow off the cobwebs of the night before. We skipped around to the Margaret River Venison Farm, where Rachel decided she was now a vegetarian. Howard Park Wines was the next stop before home, where I think some people got some pretty good deals on great wine.

Back to my place once more, hit the Jacuzzis and get ready for another big night.

Saturday night saw a sit down Chinese style chicken meal for dinner. Another keg of Cowaramup Pilsener, and plenty more fun. Alex, Marcus, Jimmy and I got home at about 6am… good night!

Sunday everyone had cooked the breakfast pack provided and were packing up ready for the slow cruise home to Perth. Hope you all had an awesome time, and a cruisy trip home.

Can’t wait till we do it all again.

So to Alex, Rachel, Hamish, Cathrine, Lisa, Dustin, Rey, Shelley, Philbo, Red, Brett, Vicki, James, Alex, Marcus, Jamie, Kirsten, Monza and Jeremy - cheers for making it an awesome weekend.

I hope I haven’t forgotten anything.

Cheers,

Nik