30.6.15 Day around Lightning Ridge

Must say I was most surprised to wake up and see wet, wet, surroundings, it seems it had rained a fair bit during the night...not a sound heard by me. I was cosily ensconced in my cabin. Dad was cosy out in the T Van.

Up about 8.00 to meet Johnno's down the road at the Artesian bore baths, the water comes from the Great Artesian Basin and is approx 2 million years old. This pool is about 39-40 degrees, with the water coming from 1200 ft below The waters are reputed to give relief to aching bodies. It is recommended that you get in and out intermittently and cool down, supposed to be potentially dangerous to those wiht heart conditions. We bobbled around there for nearly an hour, very relaxing and draining, it makes your bones feel like jelly. Quite sulphuric and the water has a silky feel to it.

Dad fueled and I checked out the information centre. Saw some of the local engineering and artistic expertise along the way.

Then back 'home' for breaky before we all headed out to do some of the famous "car door" tours. There are four driving tours around town - you buy the short one page guide and map from Visitors Centre for a dollar, and follow a trail of numbered car doors. Each set of tours is coloured. Today we did the Red Car Door Tour - up around some of the opal fields -past a castle built by Amigo, through heaps of shanty homes - it took about 20 minutes, then went to look at airport, where the RFDS plane was on the tarmac.

  

There were some very threatening grey clouds building. We headed off to start the longer Yellow Car Door tour, but the clouds darkened and it began to spit, a quick retreat to caravan park to take down Johnno's awning and Dad and I took in our togs and towels. It really did bucket down, so we hunkered in Johnno's van and partook of cup-a-soup and toasted sangas for lunch, before venturing out after the rain to complete the second tour, we visited places such as the 'Fun Bus', Lunatic Hill,

a church built for a movie,

more opal fields, lots of holes in the ground, an amazing view across what was once the inland sea.

Back to town for a long promised coffee and cake, then a quick stop at butcher shop. Decision is to cook a camp oven beef stew tonight - as we are able to be home early enough. Dad in charge of the stew, with Aunty Cherry and I supplying the vegies. This was all topped off with Golden Syrup pudding and viennetta icecream, cuppa tea and after dinner mint...not bad for camp food. We also polished off a few wines, cheese, biccies, nuts etc during preparation and cooking time. Still very wet underfoot.

Tomorrow we are 'out of the cabin' but staying an extra night, so will have to put the tent up finally. So some logistics to play out tomorrow, as we need to visit the baths, have breaky, move 'home' and visit some places we want to see. Sounds doable, but best be off to bed. Typing this at 10.00pm - it feels like 2am...camera is in car, so I will upload photos tomorrow - if I can and update the blog.

29.6.15 Bourke to Lightning Ridge (LR)

Well I started this post this morning but due to poor service it didn't save - bummer.

So here's my down and dirty recount. 

Phaffed around this morn. The usual shower, chilly start - brrrrr. Breaky, make the travel mugs, fill the thermos, pack car, do the dishes. Dad gave the car a "dew wash" (wiping down the car with the chamois using dew as moisture.)

I walked the short km or so to the Darling river and Dad drove. Here the local paddlesteamer Jandra is moored (having wheel problems- waiting on circuitry and techs it seems. Bad time to be broken down)

They have had rain around here - 3 inches in the last little while.  There was a willy wag tail sitting on his stick over a low patch of water, then flitting around - after insects I guess.

Then we shot out to have a look at a bush camp recommended by some fellas at lumchstop in Cobar. It's called Mays Bend about 4 kms down the North Bourke Rd then 4kms of wet dirt today . Dad was having a but of a sook that the muddy patch ahead would get the sparkling car dirty. I was keen to check out the camp. On we ploughed and yes the car did get dirty. A great looking place to camp, lots of options along the river. 

Back towards Bourke again, we pulled off down beside the North Bourke bridge for a squiz  and some pics. An old bridge with the lift section to let the boats under 'back in the day'. 

Then a little closer to Bourke to visit the recommended Bourke Exhibition Centre. This gave a good history and overview of the development of the red west area of Bourke and surrounds. Well worth a visit and could have spent longer if we had more time. 

A quick trip into Bourke for fuel and supplies at the local Khan Super IGA. 

Finallly on the road towards LR about midday. We are catching up with Aunty Cherry and Uncle Lance. They have been in LR for 10 days already. They tried to book us a powered site but booked out. Managed to snag us a cabin thanks to a cancellation. 

Lunch under a bridge on a river??? Dad wet a couple of lines while I prepared the obligatory wraps and pot of tea. No bites but a good little spot. 

Then onwards to Brewarinna 

and Walgett. Had a drive through both towns. Both on rivers, broad streets, backwards parking in most spots. 

Approaching LR we spotted a tall structure. It was a tall bird - Stanley - made predominantly from old VW's. A good story - the pictures tell the tale.

Across the road was a popular rest stop with several vans/campers already settled for the night. A quick loo stop resulted in us learning that this is The ridge after which Lightning Ridge is named. Seems a shepherd, a dog and 600 sheep were struck by lightning and killed right here. 

Eventually rolled into our Caravan Park "The Opal CP" about 5pm. Dad went to sort the cabin, only to find it only has a QS bed. Looked like I was on my mattress on the floor. However Dad has opted to camp in the TVan just outside the cabin, so a nice comfy QS bed for me. Tonight's cabin is luxury- with toilet and shower and a kitchen. Last nights was very comfy but cold water sink was outside and we had to use shared park amenities. 

Johno's dropped by for drinks and nibblies with Levi (the hound). Then Dad and Uncle Lance went it buy some tea. Not much to choose from on a Monday night, ended up at club who were out of most things on the menu. Poor Dad ordered a parma for me only to be told they had sold out so pepper steak and veg instead then when they arrived back to van there was only veggies - no steak. Veg were yum and Aunty Cherry had some cold roast beef. Dad had garlic prawns, uncle lance had fish and chips and Aunty cherry a chick schnitz that was supposed to be a Parma. Anyway nice to catch up and plan the day tomorrow. More on that when the time comes. 

Will post this now. But more pics to come tomorrow. (now updated)

28.6.15. Griffith to Bourke

Our cabin with external en suite proved very comfy. With a little column heater that was super toasty even with the door wide open.

Up to a quick breaky, pack and fuel about 8.30. 

Travelling though the Murrumbidgee irrigation scheme area. Acres and acres of citrus trees.  Then into no irrigation area. Flat country with huge expanses sown to crop of some sort. 

Still in Kidman Way with the railway wending along beside us. Each little settlement had huge grain silos and storage whether it be in sheds or under tarps. Great place names like Goolgowi and Merriwagga.

Quite a few goats and Roos and sheep eating the new growth along the roadside.  Lots of kid goats too. 

Stopped for a coffee at Mt Hope. But no hope today, not open till one. Driver change.

Road is pretty good 110 speed limit for a fair way before narrowing off and back to 100. Stopped in at Fort Bourke Mine lookout 

 Then a couple of k's into a roadside stop at the entry to Cobar.

A quick lunch of the usual 'on the road' lunch - wrap, tuna, asparagus, cheese, beetroot. Even managed to get multi-grain wraps into Dad (there is no other option)

We had a quick look around, fuelled up again and headed for final destination...Bourke.

A tour around town, stopped off at historic wharf, on the Darling river, some pelicans fishing around the area.

Bourke is typically Outback, a couple of pubs, very little open on Sunday, lots boarded up and behind bars.

We got another cabin tonight at Kidman Camp, out at Northy (North Bourke) We signed up for Poetry on a Plate - which included a massive dinner of beef stew and lentil stew, with rice and condiments, followed by Lemon Curd Tart. All provided with a generous helping of Bush Poetry by Andrew Hull, seated on our own chairs around a number of campfires. Shared our campfire with a nice family from Melbourne - headed to Big Red Bash and seven weeks touring around.

27.6.15. Greenvale VIC to Griffith NSW

Yesterday…

Arrived at Dad's about 8.20pm after leaving home around 7am. Worked the day at Dandenong Office and headed off about 4.30.  Bad traffic through city - peak hour plus protestors closed Swan st bridge.

Dad had made slow cooked lamb shanks and Mary Marwood joined us for tea.

Saturday morning took time to pack up. Two cars into one. Hooked up the Tvan - Stuey's Cart - and we are off.

A quick stop at Mary's to see how she is coping with Facebook (I created an account for her last night)   We enjoyed some home made soup followed by cuppa and shortbread with Mary.
Off to town for fuel and finally left Moama at 2.10pm.

Through Mathoura to Denilquin, home of the Deni Ute Muster. Here's a picture of a ute on a pole.

Onwards via Conargo, roads are quiet skies overcast. 

We've booked a cabin in Griffith tonight and are travelling via The Kidman Way. 

Arrived Griffith and settled into cabin. Leftover lamb shanks on toast for tea and early to bed for this little black duck. 

We did get quite a nice sunset tonight but on camera rather than phone.
(OK so have tackled camera downloads)

Today we saw lots of agriculture:

Cotton - all rolled into huge round bales with bright yellow plastic.

Rice

Cherries

Oranges

Wine grapes

Sheep

Goats

Beef

Grain

Tomorrow we head towards Bourke.