A drive to St Albans (Jan 31)

So I get a text last Thursday (Jan 29) from a gaming buddy to let me know that he would be picking me up on Saturday around 11am. Hmm, I'm surprised. He hasn't picked me up since I was in living in East Gosford 3-4 years ago. I usually make my own way to gaming sessions at his place in Narara. He advises me to bring my camera.
Saturday morning arrives and off we go. It's a warm day and the trip, my mate informs me, was to pick up some gaming gear that he found for sale on eBay. To save a few dollars, he offered to drive down to meet the seller at St Albans, named for the city of the same name in Hertfordshire, England in 1841. Our drive would see us pass through the south west corner of the Central Coast at Spencer, where Mangrove Creek merges with the Hawkesbury River, then follow that winding riverway to Wisemans Ferry and continue along a narrow road, with a considerable part of it unsealed, through farmlands and forests, until we eventually reached an overgrown cattle grid that guarded one access point to the village. From my place in Woy Woy, it took us nearly two hours to get there.

The actual meeting point would be the historic Settlers Arms Inn, formerly known as the Travellers Rest. The original license was issued in 1836 but by March 1848 the inn apparently was still yet to be built, although a landowner had already constructed a stone house two stories high. The inn was constructed facing the Macdonald River, at a point 15 kms from the Hawkesbury. St Albans being the upper navigational point of the tributary. From there goods could be shipped to Sydney.

The hotel is well-preserved and there were campers by the river, a lunchtime crowd enjoying a meal, a few drinks and some musical entertainment, kids playing in the nearby park and a trio of peacocks strutting about, including a considerably rare white male (leucistic rather than albino) a photo of which I'll post on my life blog when I get the chance.

When the deal was done, we had a chance to eat. It was a simple choice to make from the menu – chicken schnitzel burgers served in a shallow basket with a decent serve of chips for $20. I couldn't refuse having an alcoholic beverage and grabbed a bottle of cider as well. A good sized tasty schnitty with lettuce, beetroot and tomato, which kept me filled until around 9pm when we drove off for a late dinner after our gaming session.
Must say, it was a good day out. I haven't been for a drive like that for, well, years. The camera hasn't had that much of a workout since the 20th anniversary of Eucalyptus Bowl Blood Bowl tournament in Burwood last year.

Pictures taken by Geoff G Turner (c) 2026.

Links correct at the time of posting.