It had been raining and storming in Melbourne all week and we were all thinking was it going to rain for the Deal Camp out that weekend ?

The Deal members had their higher power working overtime… the Friday came and it was warm and glorious !!  Great – off to Lake Eildon up the Maroondah Highway about 2 hours from the city…the directions were good handed out in good time at the meetings earlier in the week and newcomers and older members made their way….

The text came from one of the organisers up the dirt road on your right…..I made the mistake of turning left…and I had to ask for help…. hmmmm that’s hard for me…. but I did it…..:)

Once there I could see we had secured a large number of camp pitches to ourselves, it was a beautiful setting within the canopy of trees and with the Lake a few metres away….. the King Parrot birds in all the bright plumage weren’t afraid of us and ate food from our hands….we all mucked in with no fuss and got the Tents up…the kitchen area and food was being prepared for the first meal on Friday night…..ausages sizzelled and bread given out… a bit of tomato sauce and hey presto great snags were had !!

That first night the Deal Meeting had a special atmosphere and Mark one of the founder members celebrated his 24th AA birthday – experience  , strength and hope was heard and the message of recovery filled the night stars and lifted the spirits… all around the limp camp fire ….that was soon fixed afterwards and the fire roared as members got to know each other and told stories and jokes way into the night….

Saturday.. dawn broke early and the sun rose – meditation and prayer by the lake for some and then breakfast followed by a meeting where We Agnostics was read and discussed …

The activity site was yet to be decided as the location lacked a little space to kick or wack a ball around …it was then agreed that all should head into town as the temperature rose ….

I dont like cricket …..I love it it ah !!  it was decided that Cricket was the choice of activity a murmur of displeasure from some who wanted soccer..but all in good fun….teams were decided and into battle we went…  30 blokes on the local oval in Eildon… with lot’s of sledging from of one of the teams - you know who you are !!

Free time in the afternoon – many members went swimming or exploring the area around Lake Eildon , some even went to look for a bargain second hand store …. others just sat by the lake lazily catching some rest, eating melted choclate biscuits  and soaking in the rays…awesome

The Saturday  evening meal came Chilli with Fire and yummy dessert pies lovely…. followed by a meeting - fun for all !

Sunday came quickly after all the excursions of saturday and the camaraderie and fun ….tents came down and packed away in quick time – litter all picked up and items cleaned and put away ….the final morning meeting was heard and members all had their chance to say a few words -  all in all this was a great weekend of fellowship and it was said many time what a great location !!

Thanks goes out to all the organisers and members of the campout committee….The Deal is The Deal, .. so if you were there then you know how good it was -  you get what it means to be sober and in a fellowship,

See you all at the next one in February 2012 !

Sanjay