'Wherarwee' in Oz: 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!