Well it was slipping on the comfy old jumper known as our annual tour to Swan Hill for a dose of history and dance in early March of 2013.

Steam boat morris.

Since its initial start-up by Rob in the mid noughties it has been a regular gig looked forward to for the total package of (mostly) good dancing, good food and wine and excellent company, this year including Tyler’s Oz (Morris) from Melbourne as well as the usual representations from Britannia and Red Raven. The usual format was followed, after a six-hour sojourn across the plains, of a Friday night of meet’n’greetin’ at the, I have to say, appropriate accommodation, Saturday’s roaming and dancing through the Pioneer Village, followed by an often frank and vigorous beer and cultural exchange and session into the night, finishing with a Sunday market gig on the doorstep of our temporary digs. The weather and audiences were kind and there are few places where Morris seems to fit so well as in a historical installation such as the Pioneer Village, especially on a timber wharf alongside an old paddle steamer. The weekend went well despite the vocal efforts of a few denizens of an altered state at an ungodly hour. (Personally I thought we sounded bloody good, but then I would.)

Tyler’s Oz Morris dancing in front of a steam boat.

Kudos to Rob for his superlative organization of the whole box and dice which always has, and I’m sure always will, make the drive there and home well worth it.

More steam boat morris.