The morning brings another forecast of rain for this area - which does not help our plans much as we are still trying to get onto part of the Darling River Run from here to Bourke.
The day initially starts off a bit cool but nice and sunny - so we get the washing done early and out on the line. We enjoy another walk along the Darling River that bounds this property
-- even onto a small red sand dune as we are now back into the red dirt country of the NSW a Outback.
I love this fenced yard - it is just a perfect example of ingenuity and recycling in the bush - so much scrap from used to piece together this barrier.
The washing is dry and we head into Wilcannia for a quick look around and to get a couple of supplies at the merger general store there.
We are told the town is cleaning itself up these days and trying to shake off the reputation it has had - and trying to lure tourists back to the township.
There are a couple of coffee shops in town now - apparently only come to town in the last couple years. They have a chemist open again - for the 1st time in 17 years and the Post Office has been re-opened in its original historic site. Australia Post had closed the post office as the place was so dangerous - and locals had to collect there mail from the local servo.
Wandering around the heritage trail we see the beautiful historic buildings that still exist here.
The historic old bridge
The court house
The police station
Post Office
Made from local sandstone - these buildings are beautiful and the grandeur of them puts into context what an important port Wilcannia once was - when the riverboats were the main mode of transport up the Darling.
The Hospital
Apparently in their hey day there was 90 boats working the river and the port of a Wilcannia could have upto 30 boats at the docks at any one time.
It's a real shame that nothing remains of the docks here.
Moores wants to by a bottle of wine - so in she walks to the only derelict dodgy looking pub in town - to be informed that you can only buy cask wine and not until 2pm.
We head back to camp for late lunch - with plans to do a camp oven in the communal fire pit at the camp kitchen. A fresh load of wood has been piled up in readiness for us.
But - the weather again impacts our plans and the heavens open up - with a solid blisteringly cold wind to boot. Four hours later the rain stops and the sun comes out just in time for sunset.
Our prize for the day was the beautiful sight after the as the sun was about to set - the light was just magic!!
Even though some of the guys in camp manage to get a fire going (using a gas burner - I might add) - there would be no camp oven for us tonight as it is now too late.
We do however enjoy a chat around the campfire with some people from Newcastle who are on their way home from the Vintage Caravan get- together in Broken Hill.
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