Twas always going to be a multi-faceted week-end adventure. Mixing a visit to relatives in Toowoomba with a fancy lunch at Crows Nest, finished off with a bit of off road fun on the way home.
We set off Friday with plans to meet our good friend and also Defender owner, Terry, (sans wife Michelle who was overseas) at Crows Nest late that afternoon. Being our first real journey together since we welcomed Tonto into our stable, we had heaps to discuss. Was the seating going to be 1000k day bearable? Was the decision to get the 400 hp petrol version the right choice over the diesel alternative? but most of all, did we just love it?
Tonto stood out on every metric. He was simply a better car all round than Panther the Discovery was. And to hell with the cost of fuel!! We love him already.
With a very late breakfast done and dusted in the little place just out of Gatton that for the moment has no name; although I remember it did cost me a $300 hand bag last time i was there; we climbed the mountain to say hello to our nephew and family.
To kill a bit of time we headed into Toowoomba to have a look at the flowers for it was that time of year where the City puts on a great show for seemingly the world to come visit. Mercifully our schedule was willing us to move on.
Always a good place to stay, we grabbed a cabin at the van park in Crows Nest before settling into an afternoon of not much, cheese, biscuits, wine and conversations with Terry. His jet black Defender has performed very well on the way up over The Bluff. It was already covered in dirt. He was smiling for ear to ear.
The next morning had us grabbing a decent bacon and eggs at the only place open in town. History told us it would be good. Without disappointment we waddled to the cars with full bellies intent on heading out to The Farm for a coffee.
Well, ‘Holy Wedding Venue Batman’ this place is next level. Immaculately designed and maintained with incredibly attentive and polite young staff, it made our day. And what a business model. Coffee by day, nuptials by night. We will be back.
Time for lunch. As if we were starving. Myrtille restaurant in Crows Nest is our all time favourite. It is streets ahead of any city equivalent with food and service excellence unmatched. Neal the seal looked like he had been on a diet compared to us slithering to our cars then to the cabin for an afternoon nap. More drinks, cheese and chocolate and we were ready for bed.
Today was the day for adventure. We intended to head over The Bluff, down to Toogoolawah, over to Kilcoy, up to Jumna then down over Mt Buggery in to Imbil and home. Save one little Peter and Google agree to disagree moment, we did pretty much as planned although the hill descent control was given a real test in low range.
A stop at the Jimna fire tower revealed it was closed for repair. Thank god, for the decision to climb or not was taken out of our hands. With neither of us loving heights we were quietly happy with that.
Finally finding our right turn after a couple of direction misfires, we cruised through deer farms and generally bone dry country that was auctioning off water droplets to the highest bidder. A hard left had us atop Mt Buggery. With some anticipation we headed down knowing full well the challenge it had last been when Peter rode up it on a Suzuki 1000cc sports bike 30 years ago.
Hasn’t technology come a long way. Admittedly this road is not a 4wd challenge but it is steep and in places rutted. Totno gave us a wry wink and said “is that all you have”. He told us in no uncertain terms we would have to get far more adventurous before he even raised a sweat.
Some play time in a few creeks rounded out our day before a sort of ok lunch in Imbil ended the adventure. For a first foray off the tarmac we have complete confidence in Tonto to serve us well in the Simpson Desert next year. Can’t wait.
