It was on a beautiful sunny day last winter that I decided to go for an overnight stay in the little known town of Starvingtum, which is about 15 kilometres west of Adelaide. I packed the motorhome and picked my way through the city traffic until I hit the open road. I had skipped having lunch that day as I’d been busy in the garden, and I was a bit late getting away so by the time I reached Starvingtum it was about 4:30 in the afternoon. I was amazed at the amount of water around the town; they must have had a lot of rain.

I found the Visitor Information Centre easily and met the friendly lady at the  counter. I explained that I had a very busy day and I was really hungry and would like to buy a steak and pepper pie.

“Well,” she said, “the council in this town doesn’t want people to eat pies here but I’ve got good news for you because we have a really up market restaurant just around the corner. It is a very clean place and well looked after. They have white table cloths, silver service cutlery and even have electric salt and pepper grinders. They have good toilets and even showers and just recently they had a bouncing castle added especially for the grey nomads that they want to attract. Oh, and by the way, if you want a chair  to sit on, that would be an extra $5 or $10 depending on the seasonal demands. It is a four star restaurant and you will probably have to pay about $25 for a basic meal.”

I looked in wonder. “Excuse me but I only want a steak and pepper pie in a bag. I’ve got my own table cloth, knives and forks and I even have my own salt and pepper mills. You might be surprised to know that I even have my own toilet and shower in my vehicle as well.”

“Look,” she said, “if you call in at the local bakery I’m sure they will sell you a pie but you will have to go back out of town in the direction you came from to eat it. There is a nice roadside stop only about five kilometres away and you can enjoy counting the B-doubles driving past as you have your meal.”

I thanked her for her advice and just as I was about to go out the door she commented that so many people in RVs just drive on through the town and do not stop to see all of the interesting stuff in the op shop and museum. The shop keepers just shake their heads and the councillors stand around with their hands in their pockets just watching the passing parade.

So guess what? I headed for home in St Kilda, bought a steak and pepper pie on the way and then savoured the moment eating it right there in the large parking area next to the RV Friendly sign.

This seems to have a familiar ring to it, doesn’t it? By the way, if you do want to visit Starvingtum, don’t bother, for you will be 15 kilometres out to sea!

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Written: Fri 01 Nov 2013
Printed: November, 2013
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