Last night there was a function on at the club rooms. The music wasn't too bad. You noticed it when it first started and when some songs were louder than others but you were soon able to block it out. The cars leaving the function didn't disturb us but the three couples that were camping overnight (and had to set us right next to us) woke us when they come back to their swags, car and camper and then proceeded to talk for awhile before retiring. They probably were not too pleased they were so close to us in the morning when we were packing up and they were still asleep!
Straight forward drive home along a road often travelled.
Sunday, 22 September 2019
Saturday, 21 September 2019
Saturday 21 September 2019 - Jindera
Back on the road again this morning. The countryside is greener around this area with splashes of color from the canola crops and cherry trees in blossom. The dams and creeks even have some water in them. Haven't see that for awhile.
It is overcast and the farmers have lost the top layer of their soil as that is in the air as well making it very dirty looking.
We are camped at the Sports Ground in Jindera. After setting up and lunch we went for a walk around town. They have boards placed around the town telling historic facts. This was the site of the flour mill, the first general store etc. The only original building was the blacksmiths.
We got back to the van just as a shower arrived. Only lasted a few minutes but would have been enough to get wet.
Friday, 20 September 2019
Friday 20 September 2019 - Young
I remembered during the night that I forgot to mention what happened during our drive yesterday. We were overtaken by 15 Porsches. They must have been having a club day or something.
Now on to today. Not much to tell really. Uneventful drive to Young where we are staying at the Showgrounds. We set up and had lunch before venturing down the street. We had a bit of a wander around before heading back to the van. The show was on last weekend and there were 2 caravans/horse floats with miniature ponies still here and also a carnival ride that was packed up on the back of a truck ready to go.
Only 5 vans here tonight so very quiet. (except for one very unhappy baby - hope it sleeps all night!)
Now on to today. Not much to tell really. Uneventful drive to Young where we are staying at the Showgrounds. We set up and had lunch before venturing down the street. We had a bit of a wander around before heading back to the van. The show was on last weekend and there were 2 caravans/horse floats with miniature ponies still here and also a carnival ride that was packed up on the back of a truck ready to go.
Only 5 vans here tonight so very quiet. (except for one very unhappy baby - hope it sleeps all night!)
Thursday, 19 September 2019
Thursday 19 September 2019 - Gulgong
Boy was it busy last night. I think there was only 1 or 2 empty spots and every third van had kids. I forgot to say yesterday the people that broke down must have had a minor problem because they had left by 7.30 am yesterday morning so we missed catching up with them to see what the problem was.
As we were leaving Tamworth we stopped at a roundabout and the lady in the car next to us was tooting her horn and pointing at the side of our van. I thought she mouthed that our door was open. I relayed this to Ian. We had to drive through the roundabout before we could pull up. I was watching in the side mirror and the door looked fine on the van. We pulled up and as we were blocking the traffic I jumped out and checked the door. It was closed and locked. I glanced down the side of the van and all appeared in order. Jumped back in the car and we drove a couple of kilometres until there was a shoulder to pull out of the traffic's way. We both walked around the van and could find nothing wrong with the van. Have no idea what she was on about but she sure gave us a fright.
The rest of the drive to Gulgong was uneventful. We are staying at the showgrounds here and at the moment there are 13 vans. Would probably hold about another 15. We set up and after lunch drove down to the main street. It is very narrow and has lots of lovely old buildings.
After strolling around the main street we drove up to Flirtation Point Lookout. Didn't realise there were so many houses. Have no idea what people do here for work.
As we were leaving Tamworth we stopped at a roundabout and the lady in the car next to us was tooting her horn and pointing at the side of our van. I thought she mouthed that our door was open. I relayed this to Ian. We had to drive through the roundabout before we could pull up. I was watching in the side mirror and the door looked fine on the van. We pulled up and as we were blocking the traffic I jumped out and checked the door. It was closed and locked. I glanced down the side of the van and all appeared in order. Jumped back in the car and we drove a couple of kilometres until there was a shoulder to pull out of the traffic's way. We both walked around the van and could find nothing wrong with the van. Have no idea what she was on about but she sure gave us a fright.
The rest of the drive to Gulgong was uneventful. We are staying at the showgrounds here and at the moment there are 13 vans. Would probably hold about another 15. We set up and after lunch drove down to the main street. It is very narrow and has lots of lovely old buildings.
After strolling around the main street we drove up to Flirtation Point Lookout. Didn't realise there were so many houses. Have no idea what people do here for work.
Wednesday, 18 September 2019
Wednesday 18 September 2019 - Tamworth
Up this morning and out for breakfast. It was overcast with a few drops of rain but only enough to put dirty marks on everything. We drove out to look at the Equine Centre. There was an event on and we could see riders and horses but the gates were locked with signs pointing for where competitors were to go. As we couldn't get in to see it we continued on our way and went to the Information Centre where the Big Golden Guitar is. There is also a wax museum and general museum about country music but as Ian and I are not really into country music we decided to give it a miss. We wouldn't have know who we were looking at.
Tamworth was the first town in Australia to have Municipal Electric Street lighting with the light being turned on in November 1888. Our next stop was the Powerstation Museum which opened in 1988 and was the first all electrical museum in Australia. It is run by volunteers and as luck would have it the only people there were us and another couple. The volunteer worked for PMG/Telstra and did the same type work as Ian so started giving us a personalised tour of the museum telling us information about different pieces on display. Another volunteer turned up so he took the other couple on a personalised tour. They had old electric kettles, vacuums, fridges, washing machines, light bulbs, batteries and a pictorial history about the early development of electricity. At museums I like to be able to skip past the things I don't want to look at and concentrate on what interests me but with a guided tour this is difficult to do. While listening to him I was trying hard not to yawn and half the time I had no idea what he was talking about so would just nod my head and occasionally say "Oh really". He seemed happy with that. We spent more time there than we expected to.
Our last visit was to Oxley Lookout for a view over Tamworth.
Tamworth was the first town in Australia to have Municipal Electric Street lighting with the light being turned on in November 1888. Our next stop was the Powerstation Museum which opened in 1988 and was the first all electrical museum in Australia. It is run by volunteers and as luck would have it the only people there were us and another couple. The volunteer worked for PMG/Telstra and did the same type work as Ian so started giving us a personalised tour of the museum telling us information about different pieces on display. Another volunteer turned up so he took the other couple on a personalised tour. They had old electric kettles, vacuums, fridges, washing machines, light bulbs, batteries and a pictorial history about the early development of electricity. At museums I like to be able to skip past the things I don't want to look at and concentrate on what interests me but with a guided tour this is difficult to do. While listening to him I was trying hard not to yawn and half the time I had no idea what he was talking about so would just nod my head and occasionally say "Oh really". He seemed happy with that. We spent more time there than we expected to.
Our last visit was to Oxley Lookout for a view over Tamworth.
Tuesday, 17 September 2019
Tuesday 17 September 2019 - Tamworth
We were the last ones to leave this morning. The couple we were speaking to last night left about an hour before we did. I didn't even hear the other van leave but it was first. We finally set off at about 8.30 am. Uneventful drive. Everything is so dry. At 10 am we came up a hill and just as you start to go down it we noticed our neighbours from last night parked on the side of the road. We presumed they were having morning tea. We stopped at the Barraba Silo for a look.
We then stopped at the township of Manilla where we did a lap around the main street. There was a lovely old hotel named the Imperial, which reminded me of Blue Heelers.
Back in the car and headed for Tamworth. We set up and had lunch, I turned and looked out the window and noticed a tow truck with a car on the back and towing a caravan. We watched them drive in only to then work out it was our neighbours from last night. When we presumed they had stopped for morning tea they had actually broken down.
We set off for a walk into town and had to walk straight past their van to get out the park so stopped to chat to them. They were driving along when the engine went bang and the car stopped. Luckily they had enough momentum to get up the last bit of the hill and coast to where they had parked. They were also lucky there was a cleared space for them to pull up in as there were trees either side of that spot. The car was being dropped at Nissan and at this point they have no idea how long they will be here.
We walked around the street and checked out a few shops before returning back to the park about 1 hr 30 minutes later. As we walked back into the park we noticed that the car has been returned to them. Hopefully we will run into them tomorrow to find out what happened. It obviously can't have been too serious.
We then stopped at the township of Manilla where we did a lap around the main street. There was a lovely old hotel named the Imperial, which reminded me of Blue Heelers.
Back in the car and headed for Tamworth. We set up and had lunch, I turned and looked out the window and noticed a tow truck with a car on the back and towing a caravan. We watched them drive in only to then work out it was our neighbours from last night. When we presumed they had stopped for morning tea they had actually broken down.
We set off for a walk into town and had to walk straight past their van to get out the park so stopped to chat to them. They were driving along when the engine went bang and the car stopped. Luckily they had enough momentum to get up the last bit of the hill and coast to where they had parked. They were also lucky there was a cleared space for them to pull up in as there were trees either side of that spot. The car was being dropped at Nissan and at this point they have no idea how long they will be here.
We walked around the street and checked out a few shops before returning back to the park about 1 hr 30 minutes later. As we walked back into the park we noticed that the car has been returned to them. Hopefully we will run into them tomorrow to find out what happened. It obviously can't have been too serious.
Monday, 16 September 2019
Monday 16 September - Coolatai
Thankfully a quiet
night last night. Packed up and headed off. Lovely scenery along
the way with mountain ranges around us which we then had to cross making
the trip more interesting going up and down and round and round. We
arrived at Texas at lunch time so we parked the van and went for a
walk around the main street. A few nice old buildings but none of the
stores enticed us for a second look. We found a park with seats in
the shade and ate our lunch. Left Texas, goodbye Queensland, hello
New South Wales. We continued on for another hour until we reached
Coolatai. We are staying at a free camp, which asks for donations
for use of their showers and toilets.
We set up and were sitting outside when another van turned up so we chatted with them for awhile. Ian set his camera and tripod up to try for some star shots seeing there didn't appear to be much lighting around to spoil them.
Another van pulled up so there were three of us for the night. Ian played with the camera for about an hour before we settled in for the night.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)