UK 2011: Road Trip No.1

Beth and Joanne drove to Linda’s one weekend from Kingscliff then on to Campsie. The road trip was eventful for the two girls, lots of laughter, tears, singing and learning about each other, more then they already knew. The girls referred to themselves as the two old aunties, traveling the country side with their thermos and picnic basket. After leaving the main highway to head from Grafton over to Armidale via Nymboida the road was full of bends and narrow in parts.

It was while talking about Cliff and approaching a bend with not that much room either side a large wide loaded lorry came around towards them, it was if Cliff was looking after the two of them as if by miracle a clearing was just there on the left for them to pull over. No where else in this couple of hundred kilometres was there a clearing like it. There were a few more occasions where they thought Cliff were looking over them which are mentioned below.

What would you do with out a mobile phone? So what if you are driving through the bush you can always call ahead and ask “what’s for dinner?” well it was decided as thanks for putting Beth and Joanne up for the night the duo would cook a feast for Linda and Mark. Well lamb cutlets and vegetables!

Joanne being the avid amateur photographer she is was driving down the main roan of Uralla camera in hand taking photos. After Joanne took a photo of a pink pig Beth & her realized they had stumbled over a butcher. They pulled over to buy meat at the butcher for dinner. As always the two of them had a fight over what meat and who was getting the bill. The poor butcher didn’t know what was going on when the two of them walked in. first question he fired at the pair was “sisters hay?”

“Yes” was the reply.

Then he asked “twins!”Well Joanne saw RED! “What, I ain’t 50!!!”

“Na” he said trying to back track, but the butcher wouldn't believe Beth was soon to turn 50.

Well after they brought what was left of his lamb cutlets and loin chops he was relieved to make the sale and say good buy. I think they succeeded in leaving a lasting impression in Uralla. Not sure if it had anything to do with the crazy pair but the butcher closed shop as soon as they stepped out the door. If nothing else it would have given them something to tell their wives when they got home. Must admit they were great and would suggest stopping there if driving through.

After picking up Linda the three girls ventured in to Tamworth to find a grave at the cemetery. Joanne parked the car and looked out to her left to realise their pulled up along side the exact row of the cemetery they were after. not sure the car was parked safely she decided to move it across the road, parked safe and sound she got out, locked it and looked up to see the sign for the Racing Pigeon section of the show ground, pretty ironic considering pigeons were part of growing up for her thanks to Grant. Within a few steps of walking into the Tamworth General cemetery Linda located the grave of Stephen Abbott Ramsey Johnson that we were after. Stephen is the half brother of Edward Currell, born on the journey out from England in 1873.

The trio spent the late afternoon sitting outside Linda’s gallery nibbling on chips and having light refreshments. Watching the sun slide down under the distant hills with the glowing purples and orange in the sky was magical that afternoon in Dungowan. They through back and forth memories of the past, bringing things to the surface that were once thought dead and buried. Some things were surely meant to stay unearthed, but no with these girls anything was possible.

The short time together was fabulous and more of these weekends were proposed for the future. Beth and Joanne made comment on their drive home that it has been a long time coming being together again and the time between visits has to be kept to a minimum. Even in these days of high petrol prices and increasing interest rates, these things should never become between families. You are only here on earth for a short time and time can be taken from you as suddenly as it was given. Time is a valuable asset, one that should not be taken for granted. Never expect memories to be created for you, you have to go out there and live them, be part of them.

Beth had never seen Steven's plaque ( Steven is our oldest Brother) at the Beresfield Crematorium, so this was a must see stop over on the drive from Tamworth to Campsie. It was a bitterly cold and wet day in Newcastle and it only hindered the search efforts to find Stevens plaque. Joanne had been there many years before and had vague memories of where it stood in a brick wall in a low corner. The two girls split up as the sky drizzled on them. They soon found it and took a photo to add to the research folder Joanne has compiled. After some time of reflection another photo was taken of location to make the next visit easier for the family member. Beth stood along side pointing in the direction of the plaque and Joanne standing a distance away to capture the surroundings.