NSW

I have to admit, that we have loved travelling in Outback NSW.   The weather has been beautiful.  Everyday the sky is brilliant blue, fluffy white clouds, the red of the dust and the green of the trees has made it a stunning visual.  Not at all what we had imagined.   The roadsides have been very lush and green.    But all along the roadsides is tufts of

Cotton Plant in our caravan park at Bourke

cotton.   It is a huge industry out here and into Qld, and the

amount of cotton blown of the bales being transported along the roads is amazing.   The farmers are extremely lucky that there is a fair bit of water in the river systems at the moment.   They dearly rely on them. Especially the Darling/Lachlan/Balonne Rivers that we have travelled over.   We never realised just how much crop was grown in the Outback.   Whilst they have harvested the cotton now, you can see all the huge yellow bales out in the fields waiting to be collected.  Literally 1000s and 1000s of acres growing cotton or crops of some sort.   These trucks are seen on the roads everywhere.   The other thing that has amazed us is the wildlife.    Every road we have travelled, we have had to watch the road sides so carefully.  Animals everywhere. Obviously feral goats are a huge problem, have only seen one feral pig so far and that was roadkill.    The road out of Bourke was full of emus.  We saw hundreds of them, they are great to watch, especially when they are running.   Apparently the last two years of drought have seen them not laying eggs.   God only knows what the population would have been if they had been fertile.  

Bourke

The pool area looking very inviting behind that fence

This above is our overnight rest area a few kms out of Bourke.  It was very dusty but had a really nice feel to it and we didnt mind it at all.  Shared this quiet spot with another motorhomer.   Then we arrived at our caravan park, an oasis of green grass, gum trees and beautiful swimming pools.  What a contrast.   We enjoyed the pool after doing the "housework" and then with about 30 other people, enjoyed a campcookout by the campfire with entertainment by a local bush poet.   It was a lovely way to end the day.    The next morning we acquainted ourselves with Bourke, started off by using the "mud maps" of scenic drives you can take.  The first was a waste of time and so we didnt bother with anymore.   Visited the local cemetery to view the gravesite of Fred Hollows, our larrikin eye doc.  He was a very well loved man and I think everyone who visits this town, would also visit his resting place.   He studied to be a priest but died an atheist, was buried with sawdust (he loved woodworking) and a bottle of whiskey.  He hated the Federal Govt. when he saw the neglect of the aboriginal people. In the 1970's he treated over 100,000 aboriginal people for eye problems that were either easily diagnosed or easily treated but were ignored.   Thats an aussie hero for you.    Father of 7 children, he worked right till the end of his cancer battle and his work continues today.   Its always sad when you visit an old town and an old cemetery.  We wandered around and viewed quite a few gravesites.  So many babies and children dying in infancy. There was also an old mosque here, for the Afghan camel drivers who also came out here in the 1800's.

We also visited the Back of Bourke Exhibition Centre (also the tourist info centre) and watched a show The Legends of the Outback I think it was called, but I could be wrong here.   Anyway it was supposed to be a showcase of the old days with teams of clydesdale horses, working dogs, bullock teams, and camels with a some good old aussie showmanship.  What we got was 1 and 1/2 hrs. of sheer boredom. It was long and tedious and a waste of $$$$$.  The Back of Bourke Exhibition Centre is beautifully designed and would have cost a lot of $$$ but once again, it was absolutely boring and not worth the admission price.   So disappointing.  A quick bite to eat in town and we cruised up and down the main street.  A lot of the buildings in town have roller shutters on them to prevent vandalism which makes the place a little sad.   I have pictured here the PO and the Court House.   The furniture shop in the last photo was once the local picture theatre.   The lady who owns the shop was happy to chat and talk about the history behind the movie theatre.   At the back of this part of the shop the floor is raised on an angle as the old stalls seats would and all the furniture on display  slopes with the angle of the floor. Its a weird feeling when you walk amongst it.  Original posters from the movies are on display, found by her kids under the floorboards, all the beautiful old art deco light fittings are still there.   This was also an outdoor cinema, because of the hot weather and she showed us out the backyard, the old projection room on stilts that still exists.   The raised stalls seats were a permanent fixture and the seats in the lower area were moveable so that they could take them out and hold dances here.  Not that impressed with this town.  But at least we've been to the Back of Bourke.  From here we went back to the caravan park, the pool and happy hour.   Off towards Lightning Ridge next.

Cobar

 We spent two days at Cobar, mining is very big here.  Copper, Gold, Silver, Lead and Zinc are all mined in the area.    Visited the Heritage Centre and the Museum which was really interesting.   Had a walk around the town and its heritage buildings.    We also did a tour of the Weather Station and saw how the weather we see each night on the news is forecast and watched them launch the daily weather balloon which travels 29klms. into the air.     Also visited a couple of other mines, one of which wasnt open to the public, even though we had been sent there by the tourist info. centre.    Cobar was a reasonably nice place to visit but it was hot and sticky and we decided to head off on the afternoon of our second day there.  Hadnt had the best of nights sleep as we were kept awake by noisy trucks sharing our rest area.  It had been a perfect little spot to have happy hour and dinner but when night time fell, the trucks rolled in.  Looking forward to getting to Bourke and going into a caravan park for the first time on our trip.  So need to power everything up, clean and do the laundry.   The joys of travelling - dust, dust and more dust.

This is the site of the Old Copper Mine, established in the 1800's and now just a fairly barren landscape, but with water in it, looks very pretty..

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Repair job when our window awning came off the side of the bus.There is always someone to give a helping hand or just watch.  Bill, standing to one side, was someone we had met before in Deniliquin in 2011.   He recognised the bus and had had a happy hour with us at one of our Rallies. Also above, one of the gold mines we could view from a platform high above.  There is another mine, 8 stories high below this one's surface.  Hard to beleive.

Lake Cargelligo/Condoblin/Bogan Way Pics.

Utes in the Paddock.  20 Holden Utes painted by renowned artists in the middle of a paddock in Outback NSW. Why? we dont know but it was worth driving out to see them.

Tony feeling Irish at Tullamore

Bills 1915 T Model

Another Ute in the Paddock

The big tennis racquet, home of Evonne Goolagong, Barellan NSW

This pub at Trundle has the longest verandah in NSW, at  67.7M, the town also boasts the widest main street in the state at 60M wide.

Our Camp Spot one night

Pelicans on the Lake at Lake Cargelligo our free camp spot.

Sundown at Gum Bend Lake, another  free  camp spot

Lake Cargelligo/Condoblin/Bogan Way

We have spent a couple of days camped on the banks of Lake Cargelligo.   Lovely spot, small town, not much to see just relax and take in some sun.   We were visited by a couple of hundred pelicans on the lake and it was hard to tear your eyes away from them as they frolicked and fished on the water and soared around us in the sky, either warming up or exercising.  From there we went to camp up on another lake and another lovely spot in Condoblin.  Home of Shannon Noll,  ex Australian Idol.   From here we caught up with Ros and Tony from SA.  We were entertained by Grandpa Frank, a lone traveller in his late 70,s  who was staying by the lake and pulled out his guitar and mike during happy hour.  Nice way to spend a sunny afternoon. We also befriended an old bloke called Bill, who owns a 1915 T Model Ford.   He very kindly invited us to his shed to see his car and a few other oldies he had stored there.  He owns a couple of other sheds but wouldn't say what was in them.. We then headed to the Bogan Way.    It was really out of our way, but decided at the start of the trip we would do a few of the small country towns, rather than main highways.   Spent a night in Albert.  Camped at the Rabbit Trap Hotel.     This town was put on the map recently by singer Jason Owen, runner up on X Factor.   The town has a population back then of 9. Not sure if its the same, but on a Friday night, the pub was chockers.  The only business in town.   Jason's dad is the licensee of the pub and  seems to revel in his new found fame.   Jason did arrive at the pub whilst we were there, and whilst we were hoping he would entertain us, he was there to hang with his mates.
But Grandpa Frank rocked up and did a gig instead.!!!!!!!!   Then it all turned a little crappy as we missed a turn  on the main road and ended up doing about 30kms of dirt before we realised we were in trouble and had to turn around, do another 30kms back out, and find our right route.   The bus filled with dust, the car was sandblasted and we were really pissed off with such a stupid mistake.
So instead of being in Cobar by now, we are camped up at a free camp at the Showgrounds in Nyngan.   Not because we had this planned, but because we were desperate to hose off the bus and car and clean some of the dust out of the inside.   We can have a laugh now, but at the time it was not funny.   Have to be far more vigilant with our map reading and use the GPS more.  Still had a nice happy hour here with some fellow travellers which has soothed the soul.    I will post some photos next time I have some service.   We haven't had any for two days which has been a pain in the bum. Thought I should just update whilst I can so that any one who cares, will know where we are.  Cheers.

Narranderra Hot Rod Show

Big ticket item for this town.  On Easter Sat. night, the main street is closed to traffic, out come carnival type attractions, people bring their chairs and set up and watch the cars parade up and down the street. The shops are all open and its a good night.   Easter Sunday was warm & sunny and we had a great day at the Show n Shine.

This the one that Rick wants a 1937 Ford Coupe.   Wanted a 2 door but now thinks the 4 door is pretty nice as well.   Tattslotto kind of stuff.

Griffith/Leeton/Narranderra

For our friend Wade

We spent a very rainlashed stormy last night out at the Lake.   It had been incredibly hot and we were happy to feel it cool down but we had dust storms, rain, hail & lightning.   Happy Hour came to an end.

Brewery Building

Headed back into town to camp up and do the laundry, shopping etc.  At 4pm on Easter Thursday afternoon, Rick finally felt like doing something so off we went to the local Abattoirs!!!!!!! to the  Italian deli there and bought some salamis.  By the time we did that, everything else was shut for Easter, there are 15 wineries here but didnt get to any of them, so on Good Friday morning we left.    Fields of crops, orchards & vineyards  everywhere you look in this area.  What a difference having water makes to a region. Travelled thru a lovely little town called Leeton.  Full of beaut Art Deco buildings, did a quick walking tour and then headed to Narranderra.  Camped up there at the  boat ramp on the Murrumbidgee River where this beautiful old Brewery building stands.   In 1921 this brewery produced 10,000 bottles of beer and 15,000 bottles of cordial a day.   Employed more than 100.   Still producing cordial until 1986.    There is a Hot Rod Rally here in Narranderra this weekend so we will be cruising the streets looking at them tonight & tomorrow.   Have moved to the Showgrounds to camp up over the weekend as it is a very easy walk into town from here.

In Leeton