Pizza Night - Night 16

Last night’s downpour produced just a few minor washouts along the trail, though much standing water remained on the path, suggesting we need to increase the convexity of the gravel cross sections. A task for next week. By the lunch hour, the second track was nearly finished, so we knocked off for the day. A pizza night is scheduled for this evening so we spent the immediate afternoon cleaning up our quarters and setting up tables and chairs. About 2pm another set of dark clouds rolled in and once again the skies opened up. It outright poured until about 5pm. I spent the afternoon reading Thoreau in the newly named study, a small closet type room that contains an old, but not quite antique, recliner. Half of the team ventured into town again to get more beer and pizza toppings and to pick up an ex-CVAer, Claudia, who happened to be staying at the Stanthorpe Backpackers while picking fruit at a nearby orchard.

Pizza Night

Pizza night here at the Hobbas means personal sized pies cooked in the massive wood-fired oven. Everyone had to make their own crusts (the dough was supplied), apply flour, oil, and pizza sauce and then add whatever toppings they desired. My first masterpiece was green olives, salami, cheese, and anchovies, the second, chorizo, onions and black olives. The first I went with a thin crust, the second a thicker, Chicago style. In all honesty, some of the best pizza I have ever had. Toppings ranged far and wide, from pineapples and bananas to baked beans and Romanian feta cheese. The Hobba’s grandchildren (offspring of Jane, their daughter and John and ex-CVA leader who live on the adjoining property to the east) were experts in this field and took to making calzones and stuffed crust pizzas.

By 8 pm the clouds had begun to break

Full Moon at Dragonweyr

and an amazing full moon shown itself. We finished the evening around the home-made lanterns/fire pits roasting marshmallows, and talking politics and life.

What I Learned Today: The vast majority of us, myself included, are much more concerned about what fuel goes into our cars or what shampoo into our hair than what food we put into our bodies. I’ve always had the excuse of being too busy to concern myself with amateur dietenics, however, this is now fortunately no longer the case. The Omnivore’s Dilemma, which I read a few months back, got me to thinking more seriously about what I eat. Being out here amongst a cadre of vegetarians, hypoglycemics and otherwise food conscious people had again forced me to reevaluate my diet. As I’ve aged I’ve found that my mood swings have increased and I now think that my diet is likely to blame. It is funny that as you age things you used to think foolish endeavors you now realize have true substance, while other customs and concerns you grew up you now know to be entirely superfluous.

written by

exumenius on October 26, 2007 from Stanthorpe, Australia

from the travel blog: Kiwis and Kangaroos

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