Log 27-10 Narrabri

Sally rang to say that there was a great parking spot by Narrabri Creek so we drove the 80K’s arriving Saturday morning. There was a huge number of RV’s there but we found a shady spot under a tree to stay. Walking by the vans we met up with several people from previous rallies, it was good to catch up. There are still the three of us together so we made sure of happy hour. Next day a committee member came round to say we could go into the rally a day early if we wanted, almost everyone left except Liz & I as we had heard that the showground was a dustbowl. We had another pleasant night by the creek & then ventured in. We joined the long morning queue & ended up getting a spot around 10:30, it was fortunate in a way as all of the powered spots were taken& they made some extra sites for we latecomers which was adjacent to the entertainment marquee. Only 810 RV’s turned up, probably because it was going to be hot (& it was). Several people cut the rally short because of the 35º days & 20º nights. What a week, seminars, workshops, craft lessons went on all day & then fabulous entertainment every night for the whole week.  Friday night was the ball & the theme was a gangster night, some people go to great lengths with their outfits.

We had happy hour every afternoon & dinner from the food stalls a couple of nights. We met more great people with stories to tell & information to share. We can’t believe the growing number of people that are selling up & making the motorhome their principal residence.

On Sunday, the last day of the rally we went sightseeing around Narrabri in the Suzuki. We first went to Mount Kaputar  (pron capitar) National Park & drove to the peak of this extinct volcano, on the way were several walks, all with tremendous views over the surrounding farmland. The road up was partly gravel, narrow, steep & very twisty but well worth the drive & the walk at the to the top. Back into town & then out to the Australian telescope, actually an array of 6, 22mt dishes, 5 movable dishes on rails & the 6^th set up in a permanent spot 5km’s away to make a very large radio telescope. From there we went to Yarrie Lake, this 3Km saucer shaped, perfectly circular lake on the edge of the Piliga scrub is thought to have been formed by a meteor several thousand years ago. It being nearly happy hour by then we made tracks back to the showground.

Sorry photos' all mixed up, spent ages trying to sort them!

At the Gangsters Ball

Euglah Rock

Summit

Australia Telescope

Portion of Yarrie Lake

View from Governor Lookout

Some of our table

Log 17-10 Piliga Bore

It was 400K’s to Piliga Bore & we stopped at 2 roadside camps on the way I was first to arrive & picked a spot to park on the large clay pan that surrounds it. Once again we made up a square to give us a courtyard  to sit in. As soon as we had set up we went for a dip in the baths that have been built here (The bore was originally sunk to supply water for the town) to enjoy the warmth of the water. The artesian bore here is only 37º so one can just walk straight in unlike Lightning Ridge into which, at 42º, you lower yourself into very slowly.

The camp area is very primitive, one shower (cold), no toilets or other facilities other than a couple of bench tables & seats & 2 electric BBQ’s adjacent the pool.

Campers of every description stay for a while, there were motorhomes, campervans, caravans, camper trailers & tents around the pool. Town was just a K away & was comprised of a pub, café, police station, community hall & about 50 houses. No provisions, other than grog, were available. History tells us that this was once a thriving community with all facilities, even a movie theatre, there were 5 saw mills keeping the locals in work. The only trees in sight now are a few stunted growths & the bore is the only attraction.

We used the pool several times a day as the mineral water is eases ones aches & pains, it is also supposed to be very healthy to drink & many people filled their tanks with it before leaving. We had dinner at the pub Friday night to support the local community &, as there was no internet or mobile phone service (funnily enough we could get TV), use the land line to ring relatives who were endangered by the bush fires, one of our roady friends owns a pub near Windsor & it was right in the bushfire area, she was very worried but all ended well although, at one stage, the pub was evacuated. After 3 days we headed out for Narrabri.

The Piliga Bores

The pool

Our camp spot

The clay pan

Log 13-10 Bedgerabong

Bedgerabong, pronounced b-jeer-u-bong

We only travelled about 80K’s down the road to Bedgerabong for the Country Music Campout. About 250 vehicles attended. Our days started with a poets breakfast where we bought bacon & egg rolls & a cuppa, then listened to walkups (people from the audience) doing poetry or jokes, it varied between brilliant & very ordinary. We could then move to another area to listen to country music till lunch, (walkups) then a break till about 2:30 when there was more music till 5:00, another break till 6:00 then music (with an occasional artist) & dinner.

This went on every day but our foursome broke it up a bit by travelling into Forbes for a bit of shopping, sight seeing etc. It turned out very well that we took the Suzuki as that was our only means of transport other than taking a motorhome into town.

It was a nice relaxing week but we had had enough country by the end & were glad to get back on the road. Our next trip was to Piliga, just another short hop where we became a threesome, losing yet another of our group as they were volunteers at the rally we were heading towards & had to get there early to help set up.

Sorry about the lack of photos’, not only did I leave the charger at home but also the camera so these are only phone photos’.

The sign says it all

One of the outdoor stages

The inevitable markets

Log 05-10 Gum Bend Lake

Log 5-10 Gum Bend lake

This log is a bit late as we have had to wait till we arrived at Narrabri to collect the computer charger from the post office that our daughter sent it on to, but now that we have the charger it is all systems go.

Spent 2 days on the road getting to Condoblin, we took the scenic route avoiding any steep climbs over the range. We travelled through Cessnock & onto the Golden Highway stopping at Battery Rocks rest area for the first night.

Next morning breakfast was at Merriwa bakery where we had delicious pies & a cuppa before travelling on. We decided to get off the highway & see some of the small country villages & so we went through places like Turril & Ulan, stopping at Gulgong for morning tea & a walk through this historic village. Both days the winds have been gale force, blowing us around on the road as we travelled & while in Gulgong there was a sudden heavy tropical storm where we had to run for cover. 10 minutes later it was all bright sunshine & we continued on our way to Lake Burrendong for our 2^nd nights stop. It is a beautiful spot though when we awoke the next morning it was only 2º, not nice for boating so we pushed on to Condoblin.

We arrived at Condo lunchtime Wednesday & continued out to Bend Gum Lake (4K’s out of town), Sally & david were there in their motorhome, pulling up at right angles to them we set up camp & spent the afternoon catching up. During Thursday, 3 other motorhomes arrived that we knew & 4 of us set up in a square with the fifth nearby. We spent 5 days there talking, eating, putting the fold-a-boat in the lake & going for rides, going into the local club in town for dinner. Bend Gum Lake is man made, about a K across & 2 metres deep. Locals ski & swim there, there are BBQ’s & shade huts around the lake & good facilities for campers. Sunday night we had a combined feast with a local that Sally had made friends with joining in. She (the local) was about 85 years old, brought her own table & chair & the most delicious sweets to share. A band was playing rock & roll on the waterfront adding to the enjoyment. It was a great last night.

Battery Rocks

Lake Burrendong

On Gum Bend lake

Lulu at the lake

Lulu

The camps

Log 02-10 Leaving home

Log 02-10 Leaving home

We left home a day earlier than planned, but it was a hot sunny day & great to be on the road again.  To avoid the steep climb over the range, we headed North through Branxton & onto the Golden Highway (no, we didn’t find any gold). It got hotter as we turned West, 37º, with gale force winds. Wherearwee was being blown all over the road. We decided to stop at a freedom camp called Battery Rocks, 15K’s from Merriwa. By then we were looking for a nice shady tree to stay under. It was only a small area, big enough for 10 vans & so called because of the crystalline rocks jutting out from the hillside, hexagonal in shape, about 30cm across the face & over a metre long.

 Next morning we drove to the the bakery at Merriwa where they sell the most fabulous pies, our breakfast. After another 50K’s we turned off towards Wellington, travelling through villages like Amwah & Birriwa. Dungog was the next stop &, after a walk through this historic town, we stayed for coffee at a sidewalk café. Just as we were finishing there was a flash of lightning & then the skies opened up. We had to retreat into the shop & wait for it to pass. 5 minutes later it had stopped & we got on the road again. The gale force winds were back with rain squalls all the way to Lake Burrendong. A state forrest so Lulu was allowed in (on a lead). We parked near the lake & it would have been beautiful on a nice day but the water looked black from the cloud reflections. We had a few walks & retired to the van for the night.

 Wednesday dawned bright & beautiful at a chilly 2º. No wind, so we set off for Condo. We love travelling on these secondary roads, very little traffic, beautiful scenery, & we can travel at our own pace. By 10 o’clock the winds were back so we were glad to arrive at Gum Bend creek (3K’s out of Condo) & to pull up next to our friends. After a big chat to all we decided to end the day by going into the RSL Club for dinner & drinks, a courtesy bus picked us up & drove us home.