Day 19 Wednesday 2/7/2025 Wooli, 10 – 17 a strong breeze
Woody had the washing on the line before I even woke up this morning.
Apart from the washing, we have a lazy morning as the strong breeze is doing its best to make things feel cooler. The good news is that our site is well back from the river and sheltered by cabins on two sides. We’re quite protected and haven’t even needed to put the deflappers on the awning.
The weather improves a little after lunch so Woody heads off to the beach, while I take a walk around the riverside streets in this part of town. Whilst I’m leaning on a tree sketching the oyster barges, a tan-coloured kestrel flies overhead and returns with a fish in its claws. Of course, the camera was in the caravan. There’s still quite a bit of water about from the recent storm, and the Paperbarks are reflected in the water.
Tonight is Raffle night at the bowls club (aka the Bowlo on the east coast) so we drive over for happy hour and try our luck. It’s a very nice club with river views and tonight it’s busy as the beers are cheap. We buy our raffle tickets and soak up the atmosphere. The pool table is in use, the umpteen screens are showing horse racing, Keno, and the Sydney news of the storm damage that missed us. At 6:00pm happy hour ends, and the raffles are drawn. Woody is convinced that we’ll win something, yeah right. Hey! That’s us, we’ve won half a dozen Balmain Bugs, our favourite, and the barman will hold them in the fridge until we’ve finished dinner.
With raffles done and dusted and cheap beer over, the room starts to empty and we move through the side door into Harry’s Chinese. Prawn toasts, Mongolian Lamb and a Special Fried Rice and we’re well and truly full as a goog.
Accom: $29.00 (Solitary Islands Resort, stay two weeks pay for one)
itchingforhitching 
What a terrific raffle win! We often time our destinations by where there’s likely to be a local pub or club for Friday night raffles, usually only a meat tray though.
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A shame to have missed the kestrel pic. I was relieved to see the Bugs for what they are
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Always the way, no camera or if there is it’s the wrong lens.
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Those bugs have angry faces!
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Any wonder, wrapped in cling film and shoved in a fridge.😱
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I have never heard of, of seen, Balmain bugs! How big were the ones you won? One meals worth or several meals?
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We have two kinds Balmain Bugs and Moreton Bay Bugs. In the shell they’re about the size of a hand, but there’s not much meat in them as they are mostly head. We got enough meat from the tails for two generous sandwiches. The taste is about halfway between a prawn and a lobster. They look rather prehistoric don’t they? I should explain the names, Balmain is a Harbourside suburb of Sydney and Moreton Bay is the location of Brisbane. They made a delicious lunch.
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Ooh, my husband will be envious of your win. He lived in Australia for a number of years, and he often speaks with nostalgia about Balmain Bugs. Sounds like you chaps had a lot of fun that night.
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Tell him they were delicious! Yes, Wooli is a great little town.
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Friday night at the bowlo great way to end the week, especially if you win the raffle
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