XJ Register Run to Renmark

After months of planning and so many changes due to Covid etc, we finally got together on the morning of the 6th August, at the parking bay on the South Eastern Freeway. I had typed out an itinerary on the Monday, only to have to change it on the Tuesday. On Wednesday I had to change it again, so I thought, forget it, I will tell the members on the day. In the end, it all worked out well. We drove to Tailem Bend for morning tea and then on to Renmark, passing through Karoonda, Alawoona and Loxton, where we stopped for lunch. After booking in at the Renmark Country Club, we had time to settle down and relax for a short time before happy hour from 4.00pm to 6.00pm. Then it was only a 10-minute drive into Renmark Township for our evening meal at the Renmark Hotel. The meal was excellent and we had a place to ourselves in the main area. After breakfast on Saturday morning, we all gathered for the short drive to Loxton and the Historic Village. Although somewhat restricted by Covid, the townspeople went out of their way to make us welcome and the local ladies provided a lovely lunch with fruit and drinks included in the price of $12 per head. We arrived back to our accommodation just in time for another happy hour, until it was time for our coach to arrive to take us out for dinner. This was something special, The Mallee Fowl Restaurant about a 15-minute drive out of Remark. If you’ve never been there, it would pay to look it up on the internet. Just walking into the place gets you in the mood for a special night. John Flanigan had arranged for two men to sing for us, but once again Covid

prevented that, so at the last minute we were able to obtain the services of a wonderful magician. This man was fantastic and captivated the audience for 45 minutes. On Sunday, after breakfast, most people made their own way home, but a few journeyed to one of John Flanigan’s sheds to view a selection of his 400 cars. I was told it was well worth the look. I have a few people to thank for the weekend, Don Tyrrell, who mapped out the route for us on some lovely roads, with no traffic at all. John Flanigan for all the work he put in to organise the Riverland end of things and lastly, all the members (63) who came along for the weekend. In a time of lock downs, masks, QR codes and who knows what’s next, 63 people took a little time out to enjoy themselves and enjoy the company of other Jaguar drivers.

Bob Charman