Tuesday 29th November.

We had a fairly restful day in the caravan park in Gilgandra. Just a walk into town, and then a visit to the Information Centre where a very helpful lady gave us a lot of interesting information about a National Park that we should visit.

Our 'Space Vehicle' outside of our unit in the Gilgandra Caravan Park

 

Having a restful lunch.

Wednesday 30th November.

We left the caravan park early and headed for Tamworth - there are an awful lot of places with English names. But we had been advised to  make a detour to the Warrabungle National Park. This was actually about 20km off the main road, but well worth every kilometre. We entered the park area and drove through some absolute lovely forested country side and arrived at the main Visitor Centre, where another very pleasant lady gave a lot of info about the park and all the numerous walks and campsites there were. We decided to just do a reasonably short walk around part of the area. It was so lovely to be able to walk around and the only noises you could here were those of the wind, the tress etc - no people and no vehicles.

We were very careful where we walked as there was a notice in the Information Centre to the effect that a large Black Bellied Snake had been seen in the vicinity.!!!

views from our short walk.

We were advised to  make another detour - this time to White Gun Lookout. Not a wasted trip I can tell you. Having parked the vehicle in the carpark we headed off through light bush (on a track) and observed some really unusual flowers - very small but very beautiful.

After about 500 metres the track finishes and presents you with a truly magnificent vesture - quite breathtaking.

This photo shows a plaques indicating the different rock formations of the Park as caused by volcanic eruptions.

We met a very nice couple at the lookout, who like us were travelling - the only difference (well there actually a lot of differences to be honest - they were brown - we are pale) really was that they had been on the road since April 2021 - just 'nomading' around Australia. We felt very jealous.

We then continued our journey towards Tamworth. This part of the drive was again quite different. We drove through absolutely FLAT landscape either side of the road, lovely good cattle and arable land, but as flat as a pancake. There a few trees and no buildings so the horizons are so far away it is unbelievable - even in the daylight the sky is ENORMOUS, and at night quite quite spectacular. I think they boast the biggest skies on the planet. Can quite believe it.

However, in parts of this very flat terrain, there are suddenly high and isolated pointed hills - they look completely out of place - what they are and how they came about we have no idea.

We arrived in Tamworth late afternoon and found our Motel - not the best we have stayed in - but clean. It was located on GooNoo GooNoo Road! Tamwoth is reputed to be the country Music Capitol of Australia (not many people know that!).

We bought some readymade pasta dishes for dinner, but whilst manoeuvring round the microwave she managed to land mine on the floor - recovered most of it. Finished the meal with fresh strawberries and cream - and of course a glass of wine!!

We have decided to alter our plans and not now go to Port MacQuarie, as we have found it very difficult to get into a caravan park or motel, and the hotels are really expensive.

 Tuesday 29th November.

Well we are now 'on the road'. We collected our 'camper - Thor the Space Vehicle from the depot in Melbourne and have to say it was not without a problem or two. Basically the vehicle was in a pretty dirty state with quite a few dents and scratches - we did at one point consider cancelling the whole thing. However, the chap at the spot was very good and cleaned ip up for us and even gave us a free SatNav. So, off we went - an hour or so later than we had hoped.

Our first day target is the town of Albury in Victoria, and we are very much aware of the fact that there has been considerable flooding in the State. Anyway, safely navigating the outskirts of Melbourne we headed off to Albury. A lovely drive through the vast farming countryside  - a good combination of arable and livestock in vast rolling hill scenario. The Albury area also boast about being a good 'winery location'. Eventually arrived around 5.00pm and booked into the Australia Park Motel. We went out for a meal - but neither of us were that Hungary so just a 'Spag Bol' for Pete and Risotto for Merle - oh yes - we did have a drink as well!! Covered 325km

Sunday morning, up bright and early on on the road again and heading for the next stop-off at West Wyalong. This proved to be a more difficult part of the journey. We headed towards Wagga Wagga ( pronounced Wogga - as we were reliably informed by a couple Chris and Wanda who we met in a lay-by) - we were a bit lost or confused in what actual direction the next place was as there were diversions due to the flooding. They suggested that we head for Narrandera which we did and came across a lovely little town on the way - called Rock - where we had a revising coffee. Lunch was Ham & Cheese rolls. It was a very quaint town, and as we have also discovered in some of the other towns full of beautiful old buildings dating back to the late 1800's when they were all thriving townships following the discovery of Gold. Sad to say, those days are long gone, but the fabric of the buildings remain. Arrived in West Wyalong around 3.0pm.  Again, we travelled through wast areas of open rolling countryside. Not very busy as it was Sunday. Stayed in the Charles Sturt Motel - OK but not as good as the first one. We found an amazing place to eat - the Royal Hotel - full of late 1800 early 1900 character.  Merle had 'Sunday Roast' and Pete had Chicken Shnitzel - both delicious and enormous!!!  Covered 340 km.

Monday morning we were a bit concerned about the road condition especially as we were heading for Forbes which was actually under water a some point. We were told that the road conditions were not too bad but that there possibly diversions around Marsden - if we could get through Marsden OK then our journey to Forbes would be quite straightforward. Guess what! The road at Marsden was 'Closed' due to flooding and we had to detour via Grenfell - just a short 64 kms.  Anyway, as we approached the area around Forbes it was pretty obvious how bad the flooding had been and there was still an awful lot of floodwater around and much evidence of how deviating it had been. But it is recovering. Stopped for coffee and then headed off again for the next place - Parkes - straight through and making good progress and travelling towards Dubbo (Pete always wanted to visit - doesn't know why - it just sounds as if it needs a visit - 'Gibbo goes to Dubbo'). Big place, but just before the city - there is the Western Plains Zoo. We had time, so we stopped and spent a lovely couple of hors driving round and watching the wild animals in as near natural habitat as you could want. Really nice place. 

Photos from Parkes

Through Dubbo to air destination Gilgandra. We decided to stay for two nights, having been on the road for a couple of days we thought it sensible to 'chill-out for a day.  Dinner was Steak and Salad accompanied by a glass of wine (white and red).  Travelled 377 Kms.

 Friday 25th January 2022

Well here we are now in Australia. We had some good flights from Birmingham to Paris, then to Singapore and finally to Melbourne where we were met by Caroline and John (Jenny's daughter and husband), and we are now at their lovely house in Mount Eliza on the Mornington Peninsula
south of Melbourne.

All went very smoothly, except for a minor hic-up which could have serious. I dropped my passport in the departure lounge at Birmingham and did nor notice it until be were booking int the lounge. Luckily, when retracing my footsteps we found a chap who had picked it up and so I retrieved my passport - I have to say with some relief!!

    

Relaxing in the Business Lounge in Changi Airport

We are having a very relaxing couple of days with Caroline & John.

Photos of the back and garden of Caroline and John's house.

Tomorrow (Saturday) we pick up our camper van and head off north towards Cairns - should be arriving there on 16th December. Our first stop on the trip will be at Albury which is on the Victoria and NSW border.