Going Solo - Collector and Crookwell.

The last Sunday of winter hols was a day for going solo. 

A day to leave all my chaps at home while I traipsed along back roads to meet up with new friends and discover new towns. I truly love the little adventures I have with my kids but sometimes I long for the freedom to explore a region without having to consider the needs of anyone but myself. That freedom to slow down and take a longer look at the things that have captured my attention without that nagging guilty whisper telling me I must be boring them to distraction and need to get a move on. My boys are incredibly patient but I'm mindful that even they have their limits. 

I've always looked at things through a mental frame. Everywhere I go there are scenes and moments that my brain aches to capture with my camera. These solo adventures help recharge my creativity, hone my photography and remind me that I have long held dreams that I am capable of realising. So...Sunday began with a drive north to Collector where I was greeted near the entrance of the village by a herd of the most deliciously curious cows. The morning sun bounced off their fuzzy white winter coats and their warm breath visibly curled up into the chilled air. 

To warm myself up after such a friendly hello, I stepped into Some Cafe. Sitting by the window with a coffee, I listened to the crackle of the wood fire, watched travellers stop in for take away coffees and locals gather for a lazy Sunday brunch and gazed at the lovely old building across the road.

 Coffee and lemon bar safely stored away in my belly, I wandered around the back of the cafe for a lovely catch up with Naomi in her farm shop Collector Fresh. I met Naomi at a recent insta-meet in Gunning and was keen to say hello again. I was greeted by Gorgeous George...this kid...oh the freaking cuteness! He was just yummy, wanting to hang out with his Mumma and living his best life with cake and toy trucks. There were serious conversations to be had about lambs and baby cows and vehicle colours and little sisters.

Naomi is the kind of person you can chat to with complete openness. She is warm and generous and funny. She awes me with the way she manages motherhood, a farm and her farm shop. I tell you, the space that she's created, stocked with seasonal market garden produce, flowers and locally made goodies is just brilliant. I've decided to make a regular habit of popping up to Collector to fill a basket with that beautiful bounty. Why on earth wouldn't I make the most of it?

After a lovely chat and with the promise of a farm visit and a coffee sometime soon, I bid farewell to Master George and left Naomi to her customers. Feeling adventurous, I decided to take the dirt road west to Gunning. It was surprisingly smooth for the first 20kms, then a little knobbly for the last five but the views were beautiful. Gunning was a busy hive of weekend activity with people chatting in the street, having coffee in the sun and perusing shops and sidewalk fruit stalls. To my delight I got to venture into the antique stores whose windows I had only been able to peer through on previous weekday visits. Oh what a treasure trove! 

 

I ordered a coffee to go and made the decision to keep travelling west to see what the town of Crookwell was like. Such a pretty drive winding up the range, with rich pastoral land on either side, dotted with cattle and sheep. Crookwell has a great mix of victorian, federation and art deco architecture. I took an easy stroll up and down the wide main street, popping into stores like Arcadia Crookwell, an inviting space full of pop up shops and antiques. I stopped for lunch at Cafe Zestt and thumbed through an old copy of Australian Country Style while I drank my peppermint tea. I'd love to come back in Spring for the Garden Festival, perhaps spending a weekend at one of the local farmstays.

By mid afternoon I was ready to head home. I had hoped to see another lovely friend on my way back through Gunning but best laid plans went asunder and I had to leave it for another time. Still...it was a glorious day to myself and I'm so glad I took the opportunity to do it. Feeling excited about what other adventures will unfold in the second half of this year. For now though, I'm ready to dive into another school term with these kiddos. 

xx Em.