A FEW FINAL SOCIAL SNIPPETS (UNASHAMEDLY SELF INDULGENT) - KURRIMINE BEACH (JULY - SEPTEMBER 2015)

This final Kurrimine Beach blog is, as the title indicates, somewhat self indulgent. You see, one of the compelling reasons we return here year after year is the company. Not only have we become good mates with many who discovered this place long before we did (and who return each year...as we now do), a number of those folk we have met on the road have, on our recommendation, also decided that a few weeks at the Kurrimine Beach Holiday Park in the July-September season is just the ticket! (we have almost put our hands up for a 'spotters' fee!)

And they come and go. Farewells become an important aspect of our stay here. The Vogts, Allendens and Eleftherious had all planned to leave within about a week of each other.....that was all the excuse we needed for a good party.

The camp kitchen is an ideal spot for these bigger bashes. What better than a BBQ with Chef Pierre's famed potato and caramelised onion mix? "Look and learn, Lyn and Steve!"

In the meantime Dennis and John saw to the first round of meat.

What a team....we were 'at table' and into it in no time.

And then there was the housework to be done, 

but we were soon rewarded with one of Liz's famed trifles for desert. This one acutally looks a little the worse for wear. Thank goodness it was in a covered container.....its appearance was not improved by having been dropped before serving, but what the heck, a quick bit of spoon work and the rationalization that 'it all goes down the same way' did wonders!

We were joined after dinner by two other couples for apres dinner drinks and, of course, the evening would not have been complete without the group photo. It was probably just as well we managed this shot before too much later...it did become just a tad untidy before the camp noise curfew sent us all off to bed!

And then, a week or so later, it was Dayle and Paul's turn to bid us goodbye (the guests of honour are nearest to Liz). This was a much more impromptu affair,

but, as often happens here, the word spread and the numbers around the table increased dramatically. Such is the social life at Kurrimine Beach.....if there is a party on, all are welcome.

The camp kitchen and 'Chez Marshies' were not the only hubs of our social activities. One of the things we discovered soon after our arrival this year, which both surprised and delighted us, was the fact that the local Motel was still providing meals at staggeringly good prices. 

Their Sunday evening BBQ is legendary.  Three courses no less...soup, a range of meats, very good salads, hot veggies, a pasta dish or two and sweets (apple crumble, bread and butter pud, jelly and ice cream) was still available for a mere $10 per head. Needless to say, this is very, very popular, particularly with those who make Kurrimine Beach their winter home away from home. I mean to say, $10. Apart from not having to cook, one could not do a meal like this for anything like the price.

The Motel also has other 'nights'.  Wednesday is 'roast night', and we did take advantage of this on several occasions. This is less crowded (the cost for this is $15, but again three courses, including three roast meats....pork beef and chicken) and great value. We much preferred the relative calm of these evenings compared to the long queues and hubbub of Sundays.

We shared one such occasion with the Allendens and Vogts before they left for cooler climes.

Of course, here at KB, as one lot of friends leaves another arrives. One of the biggest surprises for us was the arrival of Wendy and Mick, a couple from the Illawarra coast of NSW with whom we had been neighbours at the Duke of Orleans Bay caravan park in the wilds of the south coast of WA way back in February. They had not been able to get into Mission Beach as they had hoped, and joined us instead.

We rejoiced (gently) in their misfortune. It was great to catch up with them and their character dog Aero, and just the excuse we needed for another sortie to the Motel roast night where we were also joined by our good friends Trish and Silvio.

I could go on and on. As I keep saying, the social scene is one of the main draw cards which keeps us coming back to Kurrimine Beach.  That, the weather of course, and the marvellous way in which the park is managed.

Let me conclude this final Kurrimine Beach chapter for 2015 with an example of what I mean by 'being looked after' in the park.

These are the 'nibbles' provided for us at a rather quiet Friday afternoon park happy hour (it was the monthly Kurrimine Beach market night at the King Reef). Corey, one of the managers, just happened to have been a pastry chef in another life. Apart from the cheese and crackers, under each foil lid is an array of mini pies, sausage rolls, samosas and quiches, all courtesy of 'Corey's kitchen'. His sausage rolls in particular are, as the popular saying has it, 'to die for'. 

This is in addition to the regular Wednesday scones morning, when the redoubtable Tracey presents mountains of hot scones with all the lashings (she claims this is the limit of her culinary skills.....we doubt it somehow). Here the newcomers get the chance to meet and greet and are made to feel at home, and we are all updated with local news and that of forthcoming activities. 

And then there's the karaoke, when everyone believes they are singing like they always wanted to.....and no-one cares or disillusions them. Is it any wonder we keep coming back?  

But that's it for this year at Kurrimine Beach. I said this last would be self-indulgent.....some of these blogs are actually more of a personal record than anything else, but now it is time to hit the road again.

Adelaide awaits us, but not before we visit some new towns on the Qld coast, almost freeze to death in the 'Sunshine State' and spend quality time with friends in Brisbane, Canberra and Yass before resting up in Mildura prior to the final push 'home'.