A Day At The Caloundra Races

On Melbourne Cup Day (yesterday) we joined around 6,000 others on the Sunshine Coast and travelled to Caloundra Racecourse (Corbould Park) for a day at the races.  Horse racing isn't quite my thing but the opportunity to join with great friends, have a day out and enjoy a few beers was always going to be enticing enough for me to get along.

The ladies prepared lots of nibblies.  Uber got 4 of us to the track comfortably while Ian and Kerrie drove there.  We were sitting back in bright sunshine and balmy 28° enjoying a few drinks.  Beverage tickets were $3 each and you needed 2 tickets for a beer and 3 tickets for a small champers.

With so much to eat, the warm sunshine, cold drinks and wonderful company, it made for a great day.  However as predicted the clouds began to arrive but it didn't effect us having a great time.  The young 'things' were all out in their 'going to the races' finest.  There was plenty of lace and plenty of tanned skin to take in.

People passing by just stopped for a chat or ask us how we were enjoying the day.  The big screen was up and running showing all the horse racing events across the country.  We even had races at Caloundra to watch as well.  The food and drinks flowed throughout the day.  Sometimes you just wonder how you could fit it all in.

The clouds did begin to build up and it became pretty obvious storms were brewing.  The Melbourne Cup was to be shown on the big screen at 2pm local time and it became a bit of race to see what would happen first, the Cup or the impending storm.  It was pretty much a photo finish with people scurrying for cover from the huge raindrops and flashes lightning or bashing of thunder.

We scurried up under cover and out of the rain.  It didn't dampen the day at all.  Trish won around $30 while John cleaned up with about $80 profit on the Cup.  But we had a great day and probably ate and drank too much.  Eventually, we left for home as the rain had eased, again via Uber arriving back home around 6pm.

We didn't need an evening meal as we had been eating and drinking so much throughout the day.  I estimate we went though a little under $90 worth of Beverage tickets so we were filled to the brim upon our arrival home.

But shock, horror! Upon our arrival at home, I discovered there was no internet, the storm had knocked out our home internet connection!  But by around 8:15am this morning (Weds) full internet service had been returned.  It rained on and off across the night and into the morning.  This morning I tipped 44mls from the rain gauge!

All in all a great day was had by all, it was so good as a matter of fact, we have already agreed to do it again in 2018, possibly at one of our homes where there is a pool and a BBQ!

But we will see!