On Saturday morning, March 18 2023 i collected Margaret from her Paddington home, and we set off for Muswellbrook. The temperature reached 38 degrees C , so a lunch stop at the Royal Federal Hotel in Branxton was most welcome.
The next stop was the Mid-City Motel . We had a lovely furnished small house on the top of a hill , which afforded views over Muswellbrook. The property was owned by the Motel, and was delightful .
Margaret and I were in Muswellbrook to attend Scone races on Sunday, March 19 2023. However, the temperature was expected to be 40 degrees C on Sunday. An early evening email on Saturday night, confirmed that Sunday’s races had been cancelled. Saturday night’s dinner was at the Remington Motel.
On Sunday, late morning we called into the Hunter Belle Cheese Factory to enjoy a coffee, and some respite from the heat. I bought an ornament here for my garden. We then travelled to Scone, where we had lunch at the Royal Hotel.
We decided to return to Muswellbrook and do a quick shop in Woolworths. We learned that the races would be held on Monday! It was too hot to go out for dinner……
Monday morning, before the races, we visited Muswellbrook Art Gallery. It had over 700 entries into its Art Competition, which was adjudicated in late February 2023.
The children’s art work on display in the Art Gallery was wonderful. Miss Hipwell’s drawing of the emu’s head was stunning. The students are fortunate to have such a wonderful artist as their teacher.
Then off to Scone to find the racecourse. I stopped a lady in a side street to ask directions -she was going that way. I followed this lady in her work van, and she put her arm out of the car window when I had to turn right to drive into the racecourse. Directions , country style!
Margaret and I had a few flutters -a few places and a win. I was asked “if i had a horse running this afternoon.” The hills in the background gave the racecourse a lovely setting.
After the races, we called into the 1866 Belmore Hotel in Scone for a cold drink. Then, off to Muswellbrook.
Dinner was at the Eaton Hotel , where Margaret and I talked about our domestic and overseas travels . We had eaten dinner , the restaurant by now was empty , and the kitchen was almost cleaned . We were still talking …. I apologised to the bar staff for taking so long, but they were not concerned.
Tuesday, we were to stop in Gosford to have lunch with a friend of mine. This was cancelled, as she was ill .We had a morning coffee in Singleton Square, and a quick look at the shops. Then, we drove Wine Country Drive past many wineries. We had a short stop at Harrigans Irish Pub , but failed to locate the Alpaca Barn on Broke Road.
We had quick lunch in Cessnock, and then left for the journey south to Sydney . The traffic at 4pm was heavy, and bumper to bumper in the tunnel . I managed quite well, given that i am not used to the City in peak hour traffic.
A lovely few days in the Upper Hunter – horse country and wine country .
Scone Racecourse – Monday March 20 2023
The Belmore Hotel – Scone – March 20 2023
Hunter Belle Cheese Factory – Muswelbrook – March 19 2023
