I have been absent from my computer and drawing board, as I was out of the country on a short train sojourn from Brisbane to Adelaide, though I did have sketching on my mind. Well, more the potential for later sketches, as it would have been impossible to get the scenery down on paper as the landscape whizzed by. Fortunately I found that my phone camera could capture with technology that which I couldn’t by hand, and the shots I took of the landscape out the window turned out better than I imagined they might.

Our introduction to others at the meeting point in Brisbane was superb, with breakfast awaiting, complete with live music to accompany the event. Kerry and I climbed aboard the Great Southern anticipation rising, as we were to be spending three nights on this train. Many buses were lined up to feed us to the train, which was incredibly long, to cater for the three hundred plus people who were heading off on this adventure. I learned early on that being in a Gold carriage was lower down the scale of ‘class’ than I had imagined, as Gold Superior and Platinum won the top honours. Still, our cabin was fine, and the dining car and lounge the same. The staff were great, as was the food and plenty of nice passengers to talk with.

We arrived at Coffs Harbour at 6pm and were ferried to our dinner by the sea. Quite fabulous, with music accompaniment again. And once dinner ended the music played on and those brave enough (yes, me always) danced. A lovely evening. And then…our first night to sleep on the train. I let Kerry climb the bunk ladder and settle in while I snuggled into my bunk below. And then… I worked out soon enough that our cabin was over the wheel base, for the noise that resulted from every single bend and lurch on the tracks would have done a Metal band proud. I lay awake in the dark fearing for my life, as the top bunk was alarmingly close to mine, and couldn’t keep the thoughts of ‘what if it came loose’ with all the rocking, shunting and careening around bends’, which of course meant I was awake nearly all night.

Day came around and a lovely breakfast was served, and I was handed a pair of earplugs after speaking with our leader. We were corralled off the train soon after and onto busses for our first excursion, into the Hunter Valley. Ye Ha! Off we headed to a winery. I sipped little. I was not so keen to turn back my bedding that night, but found the earplugs helped me slumber through the night.

It was the Moorabool Valley for us the following day and lunch in a vast building on the vineyard. Another superb meal, with wine, of course, although I had no desire to do the tastings that followed. There was a resident band, and a huge dance area. So why not dance? And soon to bed, on what was our final night on the train as it rattled on to Adelaide.

Many of us were taking advantage of a night in the Sofitel hotel in Adelaide, as part of the experience, and why wouldn’t one wish to live like a Platinum person if even for just one night?

So, here I finish with the scene I sketched from the photo I took as we whizzed through to NSW from Brisbane. I used aquarelle colour pencils, ink pen, and watercolour.