We are sure we will return again to Trilby some other time in our travels.
We were directed to go out past Trilby mailbox - and turn left - heading for Tilpa.
We were advised to check at Tilpa Hotel as to the best side of the river to continue down - Liz thought the East side (our preference - as it is supposed to be some of the most scenic driving along the Darling) may be open now.
The low bushes growing along this section of the road were predominantly purple in colour and made our view of the landscape somewhat different to our journey to date down the Darling River Run.
The section of road from Trilby to Tilpa was pretty damm awful - lots of washed out areas and holes to keep a good look out for - plenty of deep ruts where there had obviously some traffic when it was still wet and muddy. Also - whilst you are sort of following the river - you do not see it along this stretch of the Darling River Run.
We made Tilpa pub for lunch. Another great pub lunch in the outback - and a bonus - in the sunshine out the front of the pub today.
The young guy serving us at the pub was Irish - he had been here for a couple of months - and said was looking forward to getting back home.
Tilpa is located on the western banks of the Darling River and is a well known place outback for freshwater fishermen.
The pub itself is located directly behind a levee bank on the river -
The pub is a classic that has been welcoming visitors for 100+ yrs.
The walls of this timber and corrugated iron pub are covered with the "graffiti" of travellers - who have left there mark here for the price of a small donation to the RFDS.
As you can see they are already using the outside walls now as well - and it was a struggle to find a spot. So on this occasion we did not join in the fun by leaving our mark.
Tilpa was originally a busy port servicing the river trade and local agriculture - it was a "crossroad" here in the outback where the bridging of the river served as a stock route and port for the wool clip being transported down to Wentworth (and onto either Echuca or Adelaide).
Tilpa has in the past been left as an island when the Darling has been in flood - as this photo shows-- the levee banks obviously work well for them.
Tilpa is apparently also famous for having the shortest heritage trail in Australia - just two signs on either side of the main road and the Cemetry is said to be renowned as the only one in Australia with no one buried in it.
We took up a conversation with an elderly lady, who pulled in after us, in a Honda CRV. We had a guess at her age - 75+ yrs - she was from Castlemaine in Vic. - and was travelling on her own. She had been travelling all up for 2 months and was now taking her time heading home. We found it a little bit concerning that she was out travelling some of these more remote areas on her own - and camping out in a tent.
Here a local advised us that the road down the western side of the river was "the lesser of two evils" - I still wanted to go down the East side - but i was over-ruled and it was the West we were to head down.
The elderly lady we had been chatting with said she would be going that way as well - and we left ahead of her as she said she would be travelling very very slow on this road.
Well this section from Tilpa to Wilcannia was still pretty bad - still steady as she goes - averaging probably only 65km/hr - but it did not have so many big holes asour first stint this morning from Trilby to Tilpa.
Well blow us down!!!! - if about halfway along this road - when I had pulled off to the side to allow another oncoming vehicle to pass (you had to pick your spots to get off the track a bit - as it was still pretty muddy and soft in many places) - this old dear in her Honda CRV comes flying past us. I might add - with only about a 6 inches to spare. She was going gang busters then for a fair while - leaving us in her dust.
We found this hilarious being overtaken by an old lady in her Honda CRV - she obviously did not seem to be caring too much about the damage she could be doing to her vehicle travelling like that on this road.
Our travels today down this road did provide lots of wildlife - plenty of big Roos and emus. Our favourite that we did manage to stop and get a photo of - was a male emu and his baby. So cute!!
We made Wilcannia by about 3pm and checked in at Warrawong on the Darling - a caravan park we had stayed at 2 years ago when we came through here. It was just not long open then.
It was a beautiful afternoon - quite sunny and not cold.
We were quickly setup and heading off into town for a couple of essential supplies - like milk, bread and wine!!! We only just made it back into the park for the start of happy hour by the fire at 4.30pm.
Happy hour was good with free nibbles and pizza pieces just cooked in their outdoor pizza oven. It bloody well should be good - as they were hitting us up for $27 night rate for an unpowered site. I don't think we will be heading back there any time soon.
At that rate we decided we would be moving on in the morning.
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