Monday 24 July - Coopers Creek

As we were packing up this morning the guy in the van next door decided to hose his van down.  He did tell us he was going to do it and to keep an eye on him in case he accidentally sprayed us.  The water turned red from the dirt and was running off the van.  I felt a few sprays but as it was warm wasn't a problem until I turned to look at Ian, in his light blue t-shirt which had splashes of red on it.  Hope it washes out.

We are heading towards Longreach and were going to stay at Windorah but everyone we spoke to suggested we stay a few kms south of town at a free camp on Cooper Creek.  There are places for a few vans near the toilet, then the rest of the camp area is in surrounding bushland.  We crossed a dry creek bed and parked about 200 metres from the toilet and other vans.  We have noticed camper trailers further away.  Very quiet.  I had done a load of washing prior to leaving this morning and hung it out at about 12.30pm when we had set up here.  Currently 2pm and everything is dry.  Was meant to be about 28 degrees today but there is a lovely breeze blowing.  Going to put the feet up enjoy the tranquility and do some reading.  Once again no phone, internet or television.  Very peaceful evening.  Ian went out to try some night sky time lapse pictures.

 

Sunday 23 July - Quilpie

Set off later than usual.  We were ready to go when the lady came out from next door for a chat.  She was late 70's and they had been going to Yowah for years and years.  After chatting for over 30 minutes we set off.  Very pleasant drive with very little traffic.  Everyone is very courteous and as it is a single lane, all slow down and pull off the bitumen so you can pass each other without showering each other with rocks.  Arrived in Quilpie at lunch time and set up.  After lunch we went for a drive around town.  Everything is closed on a Sunday but the town seemed clean enough.  Drove to a sports ground and watched a game of polo-x for a little while.  Drove a few kms out of town to a lookout which was a complete waste of time as you could only see the trees surrounding you.   Back to the caravan park where they have 3 hot tubs, each capable of holding 4 people.  At the time we went there was only Ian and I so that was very pleasant.  The park are also having a roast night but decided to give this one a miss.  As we are only staying one night we have been placed on a drive through site.  Very cosy to our neighbours can hear every cupboard opening and shutting.  

Yowah to Quilpie

 
 

Saturday 22 July - Yowah

Before I start with today just a follow up on last night.  We went over to the fire pit for roast pork/lamb which meant we joined a new set.  The 5.30 pm dinner set.  Oh no we have joined our parents generation!   We were back at the van and in the pj's by 6.45. The food was good.  The meat had been cooked in a camp oven on the fire and was very tender. Our neighbours around the fire had just come through the towns we are travelling to so had a nice chat with them.  A pleasant evening but don't think eating at 5.30 will become a regular thing.  The caravan park is again full tonight and it is interesting to watch the line of vans pulling in from 3pm onwards.  Today there would have been 6 or 7 vans lined up in the driveway and out on the road waiting to book in.  It is just a constant stream with 90% staying only one night so they follow each other out in the morning.  We were not in the first wave pulling out but weren't the last either when we left at 8.50am.  

Another side track, we have spoken to a few other travellers who have liked Bourke and stayed there for a couple of days.  There is a port area with paddle steamers but as we had only been on a paddle steamer earlier in the year didn't feel a need to do this again.  There is also, I am told, a good museum, so judge Bourke for yourself.

Now today, we went through Eulo where we made use of their dump point.  There was a pub, general store with fuel, town hall and not much more.  Continued on to Yowah and set up at the free camp in time for lunch.  Had lunch and drove for a look around Yowah, there is a caravan park, shops selling opals and artesian pools.  There are two pools, the first was 39 degrees today and the second one was cooler but didn't have a thermometer to check the temperature.  There were three other couples there when we arrived and after a short chat to them they left, so we had the pools to ourselves for 40 minutes or so before another couple arrived who said the hot pool was only 32 degrees yesterday.  We sat in the pool and chatted to them for a further 30 minutes before deciding we had had soaked ourselves enough.   Back to the van for afternoon tea and to type this blog before we drove up to the bluff to watch the sunset.   Back to the van for the night.  The motor home nearest to us started its generator before we drove to the bluff.  Thankfully they turned it off about 8.15.  Quiet night.

Thursday 20 & Friday 21 July - Bourke - Cunnamulla

Pulled out just before 8am, our first stop Bourke.  We decided not to stay here overnight but just had a look around.  We got there about 10.30 parked and went for a walk.  I found the town depressing.  Shops had roller doors over their shop fronts that they obviously pulled down overnight, house windows were barred.  The supermarket had no windows on the two sides we saw and their carpark was fenced and locked at night.  Possibly not the day to visit as it was pension day and court day.  Half an hour saw us back in the car.   We did pass a caravan park about 5 km north of town which looked nice but we had committed to making it further.  Today we hardly saw live kangaroos because they had all became roadkill.  We spent the day weaving all over the road to avoid it and I actually had my first drive towing this van.  Only did 60km and the road was dead straight but you have to start somewhere!  Arrived at Cunnamulla where we are staying in a caravan park.  We are staying two nights so some washing can be done.  After we set up wandered over to the fire pit for damper and listen to a bush poet.  Gold coin donation for the Royal Flying Doctors so for a good cause and the damper was good.  Afraid poetry is not our thing so we discretely left.   The other campers seemed to be enjoying it.  Friday we drove down to the town, visiting the information centre and doing a lap of the main street.  The rest of the day was spent doing a few chores, getting the blog done and chatting to the neighbours.  Tonight we will be heading again to the fire pit for roast pork.  Life is hard!  

Wednesday 19 July - Cobar

Once again we were setting off around 9.  Travelled the 10km of dirt road where we pulled up to check everything was still in one piece, which amazingly it was, before hitting the bitumen to Cobar.  Could not believe the number of kangaroos, emus and goats waiting on the side of the road to jump out in front of you.   Have never before seen them constantly over such a long distance.  Arrived at the free camp in Cobar which is by the reservoir.  Luckily we arrived early to snag a position.  We unhooked the van and drove up to the Fort Bourke lookout which gives you a view of the open cut gold mine from a viewing platform 150 metres above the entrance to the site.  Next we went into town to the bakery for lunch and then strolled around the town grabbing some pamphlets from the information centre.  There is a mining display there but we elected to give it a miss having done this type of thing before.  Back to the van and hooked up for a quick getaway tomorrow before the 20 or so vans here with us do the same.  Have spoken to 3 or 4 different groups and they are all heading north.   We got energetic, well for me anyway, and did a lap around the reservoir.  Currently sitting on the bed typing this gazing out the window at the water and bird life.

 

 

Monday 17 & Tuesday 18 July 2017 - Wallanthery

Once again ready to leave around 9.  Nothing to the pack up as we had stayed hooked up.  A relatively boring drive with no towns of note worth stopping at.  We did stop at Hillston as we noticed an information centre and I wanted to grab some pamphlets on the towns we are heading for to work out what we wanted to see.  It was a lovely clean little town and the information centre was in the local craft shop where the Hillston quilters were having a get together.  Wasn't any information on the town we're heading for but I had a browse around the shop at the quilts on display and also the knitted items.  Back in the car and after a 10 km drive down a dirt road we arrived at our caravan park.  Cautiously opened the caravan door in case the fridge or microwave had fallen out.  Luckily this was not the case, although the knobs from the the stove top were lined up on the floor and there was a pool of liquid on the floor in front of the fridge.  Cook top was quickly put back together and further investigation of the fridge showed a bottle of fish sauce had tipped over and the lid had opened.  Pulled everything out of the fridge and cleaned then repacked it, although the fish smell is still present.  The park we are staying at appears to be set up in a farmer's paddock so there is no-one for miles around.  It is also on the Lachlan River and has 4 powered sites and about 15 unpowered sites with 2 showers and 3 toilets.  There was another van in the best site alongside the river when we arrived.  We had just finished setting up when the owners of the other van arrived back, hooked up the van and left so we moved onto that site.  Once set up I sat back in the comfy chair whilst Ian got the quadcopter out for a play.  Only downside is that there is no phone or internet coverage.  This of course could be an upside depending on your point of view.  As I am typing this it is 6 pm and we are the only people in the park.  Peace.  We decided to stay another night, just because we could, and had one other van with us for our last night.

 

 

Sunday 16 July 2017 - Hay

We are finally away.  Hooked the van on and set off about 9 am.  Very uneventful drive through very flat countryside.  We stopped at Deniliquin to grab a few last minute things at the supermarket.  We planned to stay at the free camp in Hay and got there about 1 and set up.  About 3 pm we set off for a walk along the river and through the park area.  About 2 hours later we arrived back at our van after spending 10 minutes walking and the rest of the time talking to our neighbours!   The site holds 75 caravans/tents and is meant to be 3 day maximum stay (although one van in particular looked set up for the long haul).  There was only about 18 vans the night we stayed with our closet neighbour being about 30 metres away.   A very quiet night and would recommend the camp if your passing through.  There are toilets there.