24 Nov Day trip to Castlemaine for lunch and live music
When I woke up into the day that we had set aside for a day trip to Castlemaine to celebrate my friend’s birthday, it was inclement.
Although I woke naturally at about 7 AM, I still felt the intense sleep pressure that has been a feature of my mornings lately, and eventually missed the 10:06 AM train from Southern Cross that my friends were on.
I didn’t see any problem with catching the next train at 11:06 AM, and as the metropolitan leg of my journey moved across my range of vision I contemplated the emotion that was laying dormant below the top layer of my every day consciousness.
There was just enough time to stop by the super on the way to the regional train and pick up a handful of dried peaches and some dark chocolate coated mini cakes.
I found a free double seat on the train to Bendigo, which was pretty much jam packed. We pulled out from the station and I felt that I didn’t want to be here, there, or anywhere.
The train trip was about 1 1/2 hours long, and I probably dozed for the last half of it. There is something so nice about dozing as a regional train rocks along the tracks, and when I got out onto the platform at Castlemaine I felt much refreshed.
Love Shack Castlemaine
What an incredible meal! We all thought the food was extremely good quality. And it wasn’t too expensive either!
I had grilled fish, chips and cabbage slaw. . . The fish was grilled with a wonderful combination of green leafy herbs, and the sauce for the chips was a creamy sauce that had been folded with aromatic herbs such as dill. It was a taste sensation. Yummy cabbage slaw with a light lemony vinaigrette.
My pick of the table was the baked eggplant with tomato sugo (which was surprisingly a stack of layers of eggplant and other vegetables). I didn’t taste it. However, it looked incredible. The vegan roast – (roasted half head of cabbage) was also interesting.
Exploring Castlemaine
During lunch we realised that the gig we had come to see at the nearby Theatre Royal did not start in earnest for at least another few hours. So we took to the streets of Castlemaine in search of coffee and refreshments.
It was an interesting urban form to me because it was built on a grid like Melbourne, however, the streets felt a lot wider and lower rise than in Melbourne city streets. There seems to be quite a large surface area of town streets in Castlemaine, and the fabric is interspersed with various activity spots including cafes, bars, restaurants, shops and community buildings.
It feels quiet, but like you could find some fun there, if you were looking for it.
Ren Blue – support act
We made our way back to the Theatre Royal and caught the support act for Liz Stringer from the balcony seats above the stage. Ren Blue was a wonderful folk musician who sang songs about a failed situationship, which was very satisfying.
I realised that listening to live music in this kind of situation can give me some distance from my own thoughts and feelings. . . I could observe myself as an alien again. And it was a very pleasant experience.
Liz Stringer
After some speeches imploring us to donate to local charities involved in social housing and homelessness, Liz Stringer came onto the stage and began to play (accompanied by her band). It was not really my kind of music. However, it was still enjoyable. Especially munching on the choc-top from the bar downstairs.
A couple of my friends lost their patience with the music (and ethics) after about an hour of Liz’s set and asked if I wanted a lift back to Melbourne. I decided to accept this offer and proceeded to enjoy the sights on the way back through the countryside.
The trip made me think of a couple of things I would like to do again this summer if the opportunity arises. I would like to go camping somewhere.
Eventually our conversation turned to relationships and sexual activities, which was incredibly refreshing, and I told my companions as much. I don’t think I have had a conversation about sex in a group of friends in the 10 years that I have lived in Melbourne. I think it is a productive thing to talk about. Especially with people who have a diversity of sexual identities.
They dropped me home an hour and a half later. It was raining when I left Melbourne and raining when we came back, so maybe it rained here all day!!
Celebrations
My friend who was celebrating her birthday had a great time and really enjoyed herself, so that was the main thing. It was nice to meet new people and to get closer to some acquaintances I have met a couple of times. There is something about getting out of the city.
No Comments