Gulargambone

Overnight at Ponto Falls was rather cool and we awoke to a rather heavy overcast day so it was decided that we would move on again to try and get away from the chilly weather. Our first stop was not too far up the road only 50 klms to the Taronga Western Plains Zoo  Although we have previously been to Dubbo a few times we had never been to the zoo which is an open range zoo, that has a 6 klm circuit that you can either walk, ride or drive around. As we wanted to travel further north after visiting the zoo we elected to drive around but we were still there for two and half hours, someone kept getting fascinated with the animals especially the Siamang Apes. There was this little guy who was like a naughty child you could see that the older Apes were wanting him/her to cross the moat onto an island, the naughty litter guy would tease them going so far then returning to do his own thing back on the bank of the compound.

We unhitched the caravan and left it in the car park while we did the circuit at the zoo, after hitching back up we were on the road again heading to Gulargambone. Gulargambone is a small town on the way to Coonamble it has a population of around 500 people 60% are indigenous, it has a good community spirit all keen to see the town thrive. We stayed at the Gulargambone Caravan Park last year and we were keen to return and give Dave & Bernadette our support, they are great hosts putting on a happy hour every evening at 4pm, there is always something to eat that has been cooked outdoors whether its damper, soup, wood fired pizza's or camp oven roast. The camp fire is a great gathering point as all the campers come along and sit around sometimes for hours havin' a chat! Word of mouth is working really well for Dave and Bernadette as business has certainly increased in the 18 months that they have been here, and they encourage all their guest to spend some money in the town to help keep it going. Also the another good thing about the park the daily fee is still only $20 for a powered site. We had booked in for two nights when we arrived, we have already been here for three and depending on the weather we may stay longer, as rain has been forecast for Central Western NSW and it's not enjoyable towing when it's wet.  

Today the local ladies hosted a Biggest Morning Tea in the Main St, is was great to see all the people who were staying in the park go along and support the fundraiser. We were all made feel very welcome, think we must have had a sign on our forehead as they would ask are you staying in the caravan park?

Mouth wash anyone?

A visit to the Dentist!

Naughty

Gulargambone Happy Hour

Fire Pit -enjoying the Happy Hour or Hours

Caravan Park residents 

Biggest Morning Tea Gulargambone

Condobolin/Ponto Falls

We moved on from Lake Cargelligo on Sunday after a very pleasant three night stay and headed to Condobolin only around a 95klm drive. We had planned to stay at another free camp Gum Bend Lake but it was grossly overcrowded and not very appealing so we ended up back in town at the Riverview Caravan Park on the Lachlan River. I was able to catch up with the washing and enjoy an extra long shower we found this a much better option. It was a pity that we left today before morning tea as the managers of the park provide hot scones with jam and cream.

Disappointed I did not pass Shannon Noll as we strolled the streets of Condobolin, I am always hopeful that I will come across someone of importance in our travels. We headed off towards Parkes this morning stopping along the way at Ootha to check out the "Utes in the Paddock", a fine display of  the iconic Holden ute they have taken on a new life as art work a tribute to life in the outback. We also visited the Parkes Information Centre where they have a display The Kings Castle which is a collection of Elvis' personal artefacts  that is owned by Greg Page the Yellow Wiggle. Parkes holds the Elvis Festival which is held annually the second week in January. Also included in our entry fee was the Motor Museum, The Henry Parkes Museum and an extensive antique Machinery Collection.

Finally back on the road again we headed to Wellington, we are finally getting a little bit further north! We are stopping tonight at another freebie Ponto Falls about 20 klms north of Wellington. We have a lovely spot over looking the river not sure if we will move on tomorrow or stay another night.

Parkes Motor Museum

Fat man steering wheel collapses to fit a big girth!
(I didn't say a thing!)

Ponto Falls campsite

Cobram/Lake Cargelligo

Since I last updated the Blog we spent a night at the Willows Caravan Park at Cobram, this gave me a chance to catch up on the washing and Baz was able to get the battery back up to full charge after a wet and overcast day we had when we were at Echuca, not a lot of sun for the solar panel. We also spent a very pleasant afternoon and evening with Don and Bridget, it was great to catch up with them before they head off overseas.

Yesterday we left Cobram travelling on the Kidman Hwy passing through Griffith on our way to Lake Cargelligo. We en-counted a couple of patches of rain as we headed north it was more a nuisance value than any benefit to the farmers,  the countryside looks like it could do with a good rain.  Travelling via the Kidman Hwy is a much better option than using the Newell as there is far less traffic and no trucks and the condition of the road is good. We saw our first Emu for this trip after leaving Jeriderie, also there was plenty of road kill kangaroos, and black pigs.

This is our second night at Lake Cargelligo we are at a great free camp that is within walking distance to the town.  In the late 1890’s the town supported six hotels now there are only three but it is still a thriving rural town. We visited the Tourist information Centre today and viewed the unique Stone Butterfly and Gem Collection that is on display. There is plenty of birdlife to be seen on and around the lake sometimes there can be Pelican's in the hundreds. Watching the Pelican's today they were like synchronized swimmers all ducking their heads at the same time beneath the water feeding.

Autumn leaves Cobram

Campsite beside Lake Cargelligo

Sunset Lake Cargelligo

Pelican's feeding

Echuca/Moama

Today was quiet a journey to our next stop, a big 52 klms from Greens Lake to Echuca.  We certainly made the right decision to move on today, just as we were ready to leave we could see a storm on the horizon making a good photo for the blog.

We are spending the night at the Rich River Golf Club at Moama that has an area where caravans and Motorhomes are welcome. As its only 8 klms to Echuca we were still able to spend a few hours shopping in our favourite spot. I lost the old Baz for awhile only to catch him coming out of the Beecworth Bakery, he swears he didn't have a Beesting, only went in for a look!

 

Yeah right!

Tassie - Greens Lake (Vic)

Our time to head off again for a few months has certainly rolled around very quickly, does not seem that long ago since we came back from our last trip. We seemed very organised with our packing this year, actually it was too easy, must be getting it right at last.

We headed off on Saturday by 9.30am after first stopping in to say goodbye to Tan, Greg and the boys. Also to leave Doug with them for his holiday. It was a beautiful morning with clear blue skies making it a very pleasant drive to Devonport. We had arranged to meet our friends Pauline and Les to enjoy a light meal prior to boarding, a much better option than what is offered on board at the moment. Hopefully with the upgrades that will be taking place over the winter months there will be some improvement.

After another smooth sailing we were off the ferry by 6.30am, to be greeted with a beautiful sunrise and with very little traffic on the road our first stop was at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial at Seymour where we enjoyed a good cup of tea and breakfast. We then went for a leisurely stroll looking at the very impressive Commemorative Wall dedicated to Service Personnel and the 11 Tracker Dogs who served in South Vietnam.

It was time to say goodbye to Les and Pauline and head to Greens Lake that is west of Stanthorp. We had planned to stay here for our first night, finding it such a quiet relaxing pleasant spot ended up staying an extra day. We are only a couple of hours north of Melbourne but have already swapped our Jeans and Jumpers for shorts and T shirts. We have had our first campfire even cooking our Tassie Lamb Chops on it last night and sausages and chicken tonight.

Along the way to Greens Lake we stopped at Rushtown a quaint little town with a very wide main street. Visiting the local IGA to grab some milk we were told to help ourselves to anything from one of the freezer's as it had broken down overnight and food was partly defrosted. We helped them out by taking a couple of Pizzas, Hash Brown's and Herb Potatoes. The Pizza's I cooked to have cold later, the Hash Brown's were still frozen so they went in the freezer and the Herb Spuds had half cooked on the fire last night and finished the rest off tonight.

Beautiful calm morning at the lake

Tassie - Greens Lake (Vic)

Breakfast stop at Seymour

Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk

Greens Lake

Baz enjoying the vista

Sunset Greens Lake

Frankston - Melbourne

Thursday we had an uneventful trip down to Melbourne coming in on the Tullamarine Freeway and City Link  then heading towards the South Eastern Suburbs and Frankston. We struck a traffic hold up just before the Holte Bridge and we crawled along until after entering the tunnel when there was access to another lane which helped the backlog get away. It is not a nice feeling when you are in the middle lane and wedged between two massive B Doubles, just hope you don't get the wobbles.

We have spent the last three nights here at the Frankston Big 4 while we enjoy our last days of this trip until we catch the Spirit of Tasmania home. Our friends Pauline and Les were already here when we arrived and it has been great catching up and hearing what they have been doing over the last few months.

Thursday we took a trip back up the Freeway to Melbourne where we enjoyed a lovely lunch at the Sandbar Cafe on the foreshore along Beaconsfields Parade, and we could see the Spirit preparing for its next crossing. It was then back negotiating the City Link and Freeways and down to Sorrento where the vehicular ferry leaves to cross Port Phillip Bay to Queenscliffe.

Yesterday we left the boys in the park and Pauline took me to the Black Pepper outlet at Dandenong, they were having a sale and nothing was over $25 with most things being around the $15 mark. Again the plastic had a little work out.

We are now preparing to leave Frankston and head to Port Melbourne, so this will be my last Blog for this trip, looking forward to next years already. The weather today is very hot with 28 degrees forecast but we are having between 50 -60 knot gusts of wind, hoping it will die down sometime soon.

Until next year

Spirit of Tasmania Melbourne

Lunch Sandbar Melbourne

Sorento vehicular ferry

Sorento Beach

Cat early in the game as a Sydney supporter

Cat after she jumped ship during the game!

Ready to watch the AFL Grand Final

Frankston Foreshore

Baz checking out Port Philip Bay from
Frankston Foreshore

Frankston Foreshore on this windy day,
hoping for a calm crossing tonight!