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A weekend in the Stanthorpe State Forest, the sounds of V8's rumbling were heard from afar..........more about that later......

25 club adventure seekers braved the early morning start, didn't they Barb?, and met at Goodna Macca's at 7am. After coffee and itineries were served the group got under way. Following the shiny C6 with the organisers Mike and Isabel at the helm, we headed of towards Queensland's premier wine region, Stanthorpe.

It wasn't long though before the first cardinal sin was broken. Heading up over the gap, one shiny red ZR1with the Kev and Tracy combo on board decided to pass everyone including the trip leader, and go as fast as they could. Ali and I had to follow in case something was wrong, then Ern and Sal thinking our throttle had jammed came after us for assistance. Dave and Barb get lost easily so decided to join us as well not wanting to be left behind. This resulted in the trip leader now being the trip follower. The weekends fun was just starting........

Back to the State Forest, after 2-3 km's in on a dirt track, apparently, Mike decided Google maps was wrong and was leading us on a bum steer shortcut. The Tiger Shark turned into a road grader, three point turns were put in place by all, and after a bit of a laugh and Geoffrey doing some skids in the yellow car, we were all back on the right road again.

Arriving at our destination, the Happy Valley Retreat, check ins were completed then all aboard the wine tasting bus. Lunch and tastings filled the afternoon along with song and cheer, especially as the day got long.

Back at the Happy Valley most of us tourists thought we should light our fires in our cabins for that warm and fuzzy feeling. Ali and I got the dark and cloudy feeling as our chimney was blocked and filled the cabin with smoke. We know it was Bob on the roof sitting on it !!!

A scrummy big dinner was had by all, great to be joined by Glen after a migraine kept him in his room all day, so Jayne says anyway..... Early starts mean early nights and off we went, still listening to Tracy singing to Kev into the wee hours. Ern spent most of the night out on the veranda and most of us waved from ours as the wood fires were so good our rooms were 100 degrees making the verandas the answer.

Big buffet brekkie, just what Ali needed, she's always hungry then the peace was broken as the sound of V8 music once again filled the air. More chocolate and wine and lavender farms to visit, more eating, more drinking and more driving that wonderful Corvette and before we new it there were only a handful of us stayers left.

Warwick RSL for late lunch, the ZR1 headed back to Performax, the rest of us headed back to Brissy, a couple of showers, a couple of police cars and a couple of hours later we were home.

Well done Mike and Isabel, a terrific weekend, great tranquillity in our cabins and so much serenity on the highway!!!!!!

Thanks to all those attending as Ali and I had a ball as usual,

cheers Peter Turner