B C -in- O Z ---------------

Narranderra 2

Next to the information centre there was this display of an old Tiger Moth which has been fully restored.

We took a walk to the Wetlands it was not a very nice day a bit windy and the start of the dust storm, walking along the track I saw what I thought was a stick BUT it moved - Brian was slightly ahead of me so I yelled snake, he stopped in his tracks not knowing where it was. It was a brown snake one of Aussies nasty ones, it was moving pretty slow as it really should have been in hibernation, it was a biggin.

Narranderra Showgrounds 1

We left Condobolin around 1030 heading for Narranderra, a very easy days drive. We have decided to stay at the showgrounds, $15 per night,power, hot showers and town water supply. We again arrived around 2.00pm and were met by Kevin the old caretaker in his mobility scooter a dear old chap who was so crippled with a gammy hip, he's been waiting 7mths for surgery and thinks he has another 5mths to wait, one things for sure there is no way in hell he will be able to walk in a months time, he can hardly move and is in terrible pain, his face told it all, he shows up to a nice spot behind the showgrounds office which was great gave us a bit of shelter. We spent 4nights here, again we have never stayed at Narranderra. We went to the Fish Hatchery and on the way there we could see what we thought was either smoke or rain up ahead but no it was bloody dust - just as we had decided to take a picnic lunch and sit in the sun - no not happening until the lovely Trish showed us to the staff outdoor area away from the dust and wind. At 1.30 Trish was back from lunch and she took us on a tour of the hatchery, very interesting and we spent around 2hrs there, driving back to the showgrounds surrounded by dust - thankfully it was not red dust. We spent a nice 4 days here leaving on the 7th for our destination Tocumwal at Town Beach camp spot on the Murray River.

Below photo shows our camp site

Below photo is Brian treading through the Spinky Burr Prickles not good in thongs!!!

Condobolin 2

Condobolin from the lookout, it is surrounded by hills.

Condobolin 1

We have never been here and decided this time down south we would go a different way, again the weather has been great still in shorts and tee shirts - wow. Arrived at the Riverview Caravan Park a large grassy park off the main highway and almost empty. We had a great spot with some real hard case caravanners near by. We stayed here 3nights, just relaxing and taking it easy. 5.00pm was wine and beer at the camp kitchen come get together area, there is an amazing log burner in there that the owner lights around 4.30 so by 5.00pm it is roaring and toasty warm, we had some great chats with a few of the other vanners that were staying and soon it was time for us to head off toward Narranderra another place we had never stopped off on our way through. There is alot of cotton grown in this area and we had many many road trains transporting these huge cotton bales to the gins to be processed.

Cuppa stop on our way to Condo

Below bales are not hay but cotton

Below photos are of the caravan park

Onward To Coonabarabran

We arrived into Coonabarrabran just after midday once again another stunning day and the drive was really easy. We decided to stay here a couple of nights to not only recharge our batteries but the caravan ones also. We caught up on the washing and did a spot of fruit and veg shopping, other than that we just took it easy and relaxed. We have stayed here at the John Oxley Van park before so this time was just a stopover. We went for a walk into town to take a few photos, the color of the trees and leaves were simply beautiful, we have not had an autumn since leaving NZ as Qld only has two seasons the wet and dry. Anzac weekend had just been and the Poppy display at the memorial on the main street was lovely. We left Coon on the 30th heading for our next stop at Condobolin.

On the road again

We are on the road departed Kallangur Qld on the 26th April as planned, being a Sunday it was pretty good driving the 15mins to the beginning of the D'Agular H/Way, not alot of traffic and once off the bloody Bruce it was pretty good driving. We had a good run through to our cuppa and lunch stop and at Cooyar, the sun was shinning and the weather pretty warm. We arrived at our first night free camp at Kumbarilla. We arrived around 2.30 still had water in the flask so we settled down for a cuppa and cleaned up the rest of the piklets that the dear old lady across the road at Kallangur had made fresh in the morning and gave us a good share, dinner was Silver side and vegs + mustard all cooked in the dream pot as we drove along, it was so yummy and having the dinner all ready to serve and eat was fantastic. No power and only depending on the battery for lights it was into bed early. The Kumbarilla stop was just a siding on the edge of the roadway shared all night long with trucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!. We awoke the next morning 27th to a real chilly but beautiful day once again, breakfast over the flask once again refilled, personal washes and teeth all done we packed up and were ready to head off, today we are heading for our next free camp overnighter on the side of the bloody Newell H/Way and this stop was super busy trucks all night long, we overnighted at Boolooroo.

Below 3 photos are of our first night free camp at Kumbarilla