On the road again!

I feel I have been on a pilgrimage of some sort, on the road traveling from town to town. But I must say March 2017 is a significant period in my timeline for a number of reasons. Firstly my second Granddaughter, Zoe Paige Mortimer will turn one on the 31 March, and she has already taken a few steps too, bless her. March is also the beginning of Autumn, not that you'd believe it with the heat we've still been having. Also March is important to me as its is the anniversary of my entering the Australian Armed Forces, despite my being out now for about fifteen years, my service of twenty two years plus still weighs heavily on my mind. I recently attended a reunion of sorts with many old mates from previous units I served in. It was our motorcycle group AGM (not club or gang) made up of ex and still serving men and women who just happen to like riding motorcycles, it was held in Dubbo NSW and members came from far and wide to attend. We had the meeting which was important, but it was the comradeship that is still displayed by all military members still serving or not, it's incredible to see and feel. I was proud to be be a part of it all. Unfortunately I left my bike at home as I was heading further south to Corowa following the meeting, plus I had our dog, Molly, with me. Molly sort of became the unofficial mascot for the weekend in Dubbo, she was loved by one and all.
Met up with some long term civilian friends in Dubbo too, yes we do have civilian friends too. These good friends I have known long before my army days, when I was a long haired sixteen year old visiting a town called 'Peak Hill' in country NSW. I won't be naming people or telling tales out of school, but I can tell you we had a great time, chasing girls and being chased, seeking grog, hunting and fishing, that's all I'm gunna say.
I passed through Peak Hill on my way south and remembered with fondness the great times we had there, and wondered where everyone else is now. The township has changed little in the past forty years. Most I spoke to had only lived there in the last 6 to 10 years, although I did find the brother of a friend who now owns the Butchers shop in town and we had a great time talking about old times. I also spoke to a fine old gent who told me his shop has been in the family and open for eighty three years, I didn't know him personally,  he told me I would have been too interested in having a good time of it instead of shopping when I was there, he was probably right too.