Postcard from Berry and the Kiama Coast

I love a road trip. This weekend we packed our bags, loaded up our truck and headed to Berry and the Kiama Coast. The main purpose of the trip was to see the Australia's first Modern Quilt Show, but Berry has so much more on offer. We came home both tuckered up and tuckered out.

We've passed through Berry a number of times on our way to further destinations, but our only stop thus far had been at the Famous Donut Van. Looking back now, I see all sorts of missed opportunities for both feasting and fun.  Although our main destination was the quilt show, we were gobsmacked by how much Berry had on offer this weekend including a classic motorcycle show, country markets and a vintage VW gathering. Seriously, all that goodness in one small town.

We stayed at the a surf shack at Seven Mile Beach Caravan Park near Gerroa; and though the weather fouled our plans for fishing and kiteboarding; Berry kept us entertained, exhausted and stuffed.

When we travel, Craig and I tend to be frugal diners. We'd heard quite a few good things about the food in the area though; so we dug in the seat cracks of our truck, scrounged out our coins and headed to Berry's newest upmarket restaurant, South on Albany. We had crusted quail, lime-cured trout, mulloway and the smoothest potatoes you'll ever encounter. I couldn't fault a single thing, and ran around the next day raving about the restaurant to anyone who would listen. If you're staying near Berry, South on Albany is a must. Order the lime-cured trout. It's divine.

Thrilled to the bone with our Friday night dinner, we assumed we'd feel meal let down for the rest of the trip. To our surprise though, every meal we ordered was terrific. There's obviously a lot of pride in the local ingredients, preparation and flavor balance in Berry. My Saturday brunch was a pumpkin gruyere toastie with bacon jam at The Blue Swimmer in Gerroa. It was as good as it sounds. We had thai for dinner at Leaf, then we rounded out our Berry dining with Sunday brunch at Berry Sourdough Cafe where I had sky-high brioche french toast. If your passing through Berry, any of those choices would be worth stopping for.

I'm told I make an impression, and I'm sure to have left a mark on a few Berry visitors as I took on the role of action-hero-meets-cowgirl on Sunday morning. I wore a vintage-inspired winter coat and doc martens heels as I dashed out onto Tannery Road to move along Mrs McClintock's cow. It's not very often you come across a cow in the middle of the road ...unless you are driving around Berry ...where it might happen twice ...in a single day.  The first time, I scurried the cow off the road; ran to the neighbor's house and then played the role of traffic flagman; slowing everyone down until the little heifer was safely mooooo-ved on.

We spotted the second cow across town on the Princes Highway later that afternoon. As there was no safe place for us to stop, we instead phoned the local police. I was all set to give them the location, when the operator blurted out her first question, "...and what color is the cow?"  Having identified the perpetrator and knowing help was on the way, we rolled out of Berry satiated and happy. The ensuing trip home had no shortage of 'stock'y puns and 'steer'ing jokes.

It was somewhat grey and somewhat cold, but we had a postcard-worthy trip.

happy travels, amy badskirt.