Road Trip 2016 - Day 41 (17th August) - A bloody huge Frost this morning - and Homeward Bound we go!!

I'm I'm OWe awake this morning to lovely sunshine -  but it's FREEZING!!!!

Once we slip out from under the covers and head outside we find that very clear night has delivered a big frost this morning.

Apparently the temp got down to minus 2 Degrees -  without a doubt the coldest morning of our entire trip!!!! 

A nice finale for us wouldn't you say on our last day!!

Even with the sun on it now - the bonnet still had a layer of frost!!

I had to scratch these names in with my finger nail - damm my hand was cold after that!!

We aimed to be out of here by 8.30am - but we got caught up talking with one camper and then another  - a guy that had been pretty chatty with us yesterday afternoon. But all good we exchanged talk on lots of good places to visit and really we were not in a rush to be on our way!!

I think we pulled out of Tenterfield by 9.30am and then did not stop until Warwick - for an early lunch!!

We made good time on the final leg of the journey home - arriving at about 1pm and set about the unpacking.

And now --- OUR JOURNEY for 2016 IN A NUTSHELL!!!!

* We left home early on the morning of Friday 8th July this year and drove throughout the day to get to Walgett that afternoon to meet up with relatives and friends for a weekend of cards, campfires, fun and camping out. These few days were a great start to our holiday!!!

* We were then on our own heading down the Darling River Run to Wentworth on the border.

* Our plan to spend quite a bit of time along and in areas around the Murray River were thwarted by the cold fronts that keep moving accross Victoria & Souther NSW - bringing with them rain and high winds that were very strong and gusty at times.

* We made our way to Echuca and enjoyed the history of this town

* Then it was - ----  " lets get the hell out and just head north" 

* So North East we went through Hay, Forbes and Parkes to Dubbo. 

Why Dubbo!!  -- well Moores had never been to Western Plains Zoo and along the way she also got to see "The Dish" at Parkes.

* We then discovered Gulargambone  --  now called "GulargamHOME" - because the caravan park owners there are just so welcoming!!!

* Completing a circle we arrived back in Walgett - for another few days with Cindy and Russ. Always fun spending time with these guys!!

* Next we backtracked to Bourke - then onto "Comeroo" bore head campsite - and then meandered our way home - finding some lovely little villages with great free camps along the way.

* Tenterfield was our last stop - and here we had our coldest morning - with -2degrees and a nice big frost to see us off home.

HIGHLIGHTS!!!!!!!

* No flat tyres - that's always a bonus!!!!

* Gulargambone Caravan Park --  best value and friendliest caravan park we have ever stayed in!!

* Mungo NP -  I have always wanted to visit this NP with its unusual landscapes.

* Trilby Sheep Station - so welcoming and friendly and just a great place to camp on the Darling River

* Yelarbon Recreariorn Grounds -  best cheap camp - really sets the bar pretty high!,

* Mays Bend (Bourke) - best basic/primitive free camp

* Wallam Creek, Bollon --- best free camp with facilities (we made a donation to the honesty box and spent money in the town)

* Sandy Point, Hay -  equal best free camp with facilities (no donation box - but we spent money in this town)

* Best surprise packet of the trip!!  - the lovely friendly town of Hay that was not on our planned itinerary. Great free camp, friendly town, free bikes, free showers at the information centre and great museums.

* Best hot artesian bath -  was at "Comeroo" station - in the spa bath camping at the old bore head

* Fun night camping at Mt Oxley with McElhones and Galluccis. Thanks guys for a fun day and night in an awesome location.

* No house works for 6 weeks

* A step back in time on the authentic/ historic Paddlesteamer down the Murray at Echuca.

* All the wonderful and helpful friendly campers you meet along the journey - as always!! thanx for all the comraderie!!

* 6 satellites in one night at Comeroo Station

* Did I mention no housework!!! 

* All the beautiful sunrises, sunsets and wonderfully clear starry starry nights!!

* meeting the gorgeous little orphan lambs (Rio and Holey) at Helens property in Bourke.

* a chance meeting with old friends (from Bathurst) at Dubbo Caravan Park - it's such a small world really.

* Most recommended spot we must visit on our next trip -- "Lara Wetlands" (just S of Barcaldine)

LOWLIGHTS!!!!!!!!

* the weather this winter -- All travellers we met no matter where they had been had struck rain this winter. BUT --  it was great for the farmers to get all that rain!!! - and we wish them all the best for a bumper year!!!

* finding the water was not flowing all the way down the Darling River Run - at Pooncarrie it was just puddles. What have we done to this grand old river???  Although it seems it's flow in early European years when the paddlesteamers plied their trade was extremely variable.

* Being a "tick-magnet"!!

* Being charged for a powered site - when we did not use power and the caravan park said it was too dangerous with the high winds expected for us to be on the riverbank under the trees where the unpowered sites were located. It was late in the day and they had lots of powered sites so they would not be losing out. They get the "gong" for meanest campground we have ever stayed in.

We are glad to be home with our families and greatful for a safe journey.

I saw this recently - and just loved it!!

---- "Enjoy the healthy years!!!!  --  Your coffin is the only place you can't take your TVan and the hearse doesn't have a towbar!" ---

Road Trip 2016 - Day 40 (16th August) - Lovely Tenterfield!!!!

We had a cold evening last night once that sun disappeared and a cold start to this morning. But it wasn't long before the sun was up and we had ourselves a cool but sunny day. If you could get out of the wind it was very warm out and about.

First up Ruth has a shower -  and finds another tick. Obviously yesterday out in the bush I attracted the interest and jaws of another of these little brighters. 

It's very strange that for so many years I walked and camped in the bush at many different locations and never ever had a tick on me. Now I seem to attract them regularly. It seems to me that that my biochemistry must have changed in some way over the last few years and I am going to have to be more vigilant with covering up and insect spray when heading out to the bush.

We decide to walk as far as we can this morning along the footpath that follows the little creek running throughTenterfield. Then we head back down the main drag and seek out a coffee shop for some morning tea.

The walk was very enjoyable - all up about 6km this morning -  and the morning tea even better at a cute little coffee shop with an open fire and a sunny courtyard.

We then keep wandering further up through the CBD and we find the old School of Arts Building - now a gallery - and the Henry Parkes Museum. Damm and Bugger - they are both closed today!!!

The plaque in the School of Arts building.

I love the old PO buildings in these old towns - they are always so grand,!

 Another old building - "The Mill"

After lunch back at camp - we take a stroll around the showground and arena  - just behind the campground

We enjoy the rest of the day lazing in what is now a lovely sunny afternoon. Then once again as the sun sets the air turns very cold. Well we are in the NSW tablelands - we should expect this!!

We have decided tomorrow we will make the final part of our journey - home - to Brisbane.

Moores would like a few days to settle back into the rhythm of home before having to start her early mornings heading off to work.

So tonight - which is turning out to be probably the coldest night of our trip -  we take ourselves out to a local Thai Restaurant - eating in indoors in the warmth of air con.

It's a lovely meal and a nice end to our adventure!!!

Brrrrr!!!!!!!!   - this is a very clear and very very very cold night!!!!  It takes a while to get the bed clothes all warm - but our doona does not let us down and once you are warm and cosy in it - you stay that way in our little cocoon - the tvan.

Road Trip 2016 - Day 39 (15th August) - We Climb Bald Rock!!!

We We spend quite a bit of time at the dam wall this morning enjoying spotting the Murray Cod and the beautiful views and sunshine.

By 10.00 am we are packed up and moving on again - with the plan to spend a few days at Girraween NP near Stanthorpe. 

BUT -  not before having to remove a tick, that Ruth found on her back this morning in the shower!!!

Yep - seems I am still a 'tick magnet'!!!!!

I can only assume I got it yesterday when laying on the grass at the campsite.

Our route from Glenlyon Dam takes us East to Tenterfield where we would be turning, a northerly direction to make our way to Girraween. 

About 45 mins out of Tenterfield the weather turns and we arrive there looking for a coffee and freezing - as we have left Glenlyon Dam in shorts and t-shirts and now it is wet, windy and bloody cold!!!

Whilst looking for somewhere to park, and open the tvan so we can get some warm trackies out, we decide we might just stay a night in Tenterfield and head out to Bald Rock NP before moving on.

We spot the Tenterfield showground camping reserve basically a street back from the main drag and here we set up camp for the night.

All rugged up now - we decide to walk up town for lunch - get some nice warm comfort food in us and find somewhere nice and warm to defrost for a while.

A good hour or so later we are back at the showground and the sun is out, the rain is looking like it is going to clear away - and well it looks a whole lot more pleasant an afternoon.

We decide to fill in the afternoon checking out some of Bald Rock NP - it's only a 27km drive just out of Tenterfield and it turns out to be a lovely drive out there to the start of the walks.

The weather is still looking reasonably ok -- and a good hard walk will keep us warm - so we embark on the walk to the summit of Bald Rock itself - up the steep face of course.

That's 1.2km very steep climb/walk/crawl up to the summit!!

Needless to say it was damm windy and very steep - so Moores was not really that happy going up!!

It is stunning though as we climb steeply - and the expansive view quickly opens up for us!!

Having a rest halfway up!!!

Then we reach the view at the top -  lovely!!!!

 BUT -- its now looking overcast and possible rain again - so we do not hang around to enjoy it - as even though we are taking the longer, gentler walk down we do still have a bit of steepish rock face to negotiate before the gentle bush walk begins.

The walk down through the bush is quite beautiful as well and there are lots of funky rock formations and wattle!!

We make it down with only a light shower of rain and are soon driving back to Tenterfield - as it is now 3.30pm.

The drive back we have to be extremely watchful for wildlife - as it is again very overcast and the kangaroos are out and about - quite a few hopping across the road as we are approaching. Vigilance and slower speed means we are able to spot them in time and avoid adding to the road kill numbers on these roads.

We noticed this sign board on our drive back into town and pulled off for a look. Unfortunately we could not locate the posts they referred to in the vicinity of the sign and it seemed we might have to venture further into the bush on foot to find them.

We decided to leave this for today.

We have made the decision we will stay two night in Tenterfield. - and have a bit better look around the place.

Tenterfield is somewhere we have both driven through many many times - always open route to somewhere further afield - either heading south or home north. 

It would be nice to actually take a little time to look around!!

Early evening back at camp we were treated to a lovely - albeit murky - sunset today!!

Road Trip 2016 - Day 39 (15th August) - Where are those Huge Murray Cod!!

So at 8.30 am we are down at Glenlyon Dam wall to see the promised huge Murray Cod in the morning light.

We were not to be disappointed - there were quite a few to be spotted hanging out along the margins of the dam wall where they can find good spots for spawning.

They were a long way from us (looking down from the top of the wall) - but with binoculars we could get a really good view.

I did also manage a couple of reasonable photos ---

You can see they are really very large.

We also see huge schools of "Boney Bream" which in this dam is the Murray Cods main diet

Some interesting info I have learnt, at the information point, today about the Murray Cod --

* The Murray Cod is a large Australian predatory carnivorous freshwater fish - mainly eating other fish for its diet

* It is the largest, exclusively freshwater fish, in Australia, and one of the largest in the world. 

* In modern Australia, the Murray cod is nation's largest and best-known freshwater fish.  The stuff of legends, the Murray cod is represented in practically every pub in South Eastern Australia by photos and mounted examples. 

* Today Murray cod are massively reduced in numbers.  Wild stocks are now estimated to be less than ten percent of the population present at the time of European settlement.  

* Murray cod were originally extremely common and supported a substantial commercial fishery in the nineteenth century and in the early decades of the twentieth. Records from this fishery indicate that Murray cod were numerically the dominant native fish in the Murray-Darling system until the 1950s.

* Murray Cod in larger waterways usually reach 90 to 100 cm and 15 to 20 Kg, if not taken by anglers.

* The largest Murray cod ever officially recorded was 183 cm, 113 Kg (6 ft, 250 lbs), although there have been unsubstantiated claims for larger fish.

* Murray cod are extremely long-lived.  Specimens regularly reach ages of 30-35 years.  The oldest specimen yet recorded is 48 years of age, but they almost certainly reach far greater ages, most likely as much as 100 years.  Extreme longevity is a survival strategy for many native fish and particularly Murray cod.  This enables them to outlast prolonged periods of drought, so as to capitalise on exceptional conditions for spawning when they do occur.

* Spawning is initiated by pairing up and courtship rituals.  During the courtship ritual a spawning site is selected and cleaned — hard surfaces such as rocks in upland rivers, and logs and occasionally clay banks in lowland rivers, at a depth of 2 to 3 m, are selected.  The female lays the large adhesive eggs as a mat on the spawning surface, which the male fertilises.  The female then leaves the spawning site.  The male remains to guard the eggs during incubation, which takes 6-10 days (depending on water temperature), and to guard the hatched larvae for a further week or so until they leave the nest site (dispersal).  Larvae leave the nest site by drifting in river currents at night, and continue this behaviour for around 4-7 days.  

* Murray cod have been stocked into many water reservoirs throughout the Eastern states. Some re-stocking of river populations has occurred but the most important tool in restoring cod populations to something like their former glory is the appropriate management of the river systems.  

Road Trip 2016 - Day 38 (14th August) - Huge Murray Cod at Glenlyon Dam, NSW

It's back over the border into NSW we go today to check out a campground another camper has recommended - Glenlyon Dam.

From Yelarbon this morning we head down to Texas, QLD - almost on the NSW /QLD border. We have a coffee stop and quick grocery shop here. It seems a pretty little place and we have heard good reports about camping around here also - but we pass through this time around heading for Glenlyon Dam.

After lots of winding roads, sealed but crappy - and up and over hill and dale - we arrive at the dam. We pick a nice spot and are soon set up, having lunch and enjoying the sunshine - yes back in shorts again!!!!

Our camping fees here include free firewood delivered to our campsite - so we will be warm tonight having our dinner.

The campground at this dam is apparently a Fishermans paradise - and this is the reason most people come here it seems. We seem to be the only campers here who are not here for the fishing!!!

It does have beautifully clean modern amenities and the free firewood and entertainment of the local kangaroo population is a bonus for us.

What we find out later from the caretaker is that we have arrived at an opportune time for viewing the humongous Murray Cod they have living in this dam.

It's getting close to mating time and they can be seen, usually early in the day in the morning sun, hanging around at the dam wall. He they are starting to pair up at this time of the season for mating to occur.

We will definitely be heading down at about 8.30 in the morning (as advised) to see these Murray Cod monsters (they are apparently over a metre in length) at the dam wall.

The late afternoon we take ourselves exploring for a walk down to the edge of the dam waters. It is quite a decent walk as the dam is at only 26% capacity at the moment. The caretaker tells me that as soon as it starts to get filled up - the water authority - start releasing it downstream - as it forms a part of water supply as much as 500 km away.

It's back to camp and enjoying the last of that afternoon sun and also the local kangaroo population that wanders the campground. There are many mums with joeys and they are soooo very cute to watch - especially the really little ones that are just getting out of the pouch and 'finding their legs'.

The coldness settles in on us as night approaches so that fire is pretty nice to have to sit outside before bed.

Road Trip 2016 - Day 37 (13th August) - Yelarbon sets the bar for cheap camping sites!!!!

Tonight we are heading for a highly recommended free/cheap camp at little village of Yelarbon.

But first we are taking a diversion south to check out Mungindi - yes back down on the NSW/QLD border. There are two things I have on the agenda here - the "One Ton Post" and the Hot Artesian Pool.

Mungindi is a pretty little border town on the Barwon River (this flows on south west through Walgett - in fact we are on almost on the eastern edge of Walgett shire here).

Mungindi is a bit unique in that it actually straddles the border - with part of town being in NSW and part in QLD - and they have two police stations about 1 km apart - NSW police on southern side of the river and QLD police on northern side. Crazy isn't it!!!!

It is apparently the only town in Australia to be so uniquely placed - that is straddling the border. But it has a NSW postcode.

We grab a coffee and head out the 6km to find the "One Ton Post" - which is believed to be the largest wooden survey peg in Australia. 

We find it out in the bush a a little picnic ground on the banks of the Barwon.

I am standing here - astride NSW and QLD!!!!

This is a really interesting historic point of interest that I have never heard about - before reading a regional tourist notice board at Nindigully Pub yesterday.

The post is set at the end of the straight part (700km) of the NSW / QLD border - set on the 29th parallel - that's the part from Cameron's Corner (intersection of NSW/QLD/SA borders) to this point on the Barwon River (near Mungindi).

It has Cameron's name and NSW carved on one side ---

And 'QL' carved in QLD side.

We also checked out the site of the 'B tree' at 'Gregory's Pin' (details of Gregory's Pin can be found in the photo of the information sign above)

The steel pin is barely sticking out of the ground and has now been marked with this pink sash - I think partly so people don't trip on it!!

There is also an replica of an old 'Fencers Hut' set here near the 'One Ton Post' 

From here we head back into town to find the Hot Artesian pool - the other place on my agenda here in Mungindi today.

The pool is located within the swimming pool complex right in town and hence requires it to be staffed. So it costs us $5.00 each to enjoy this pool today - but it is well worth it as we do not have to share it with anyone else for a while - and then only with one other lovely couple until we leave.

The bore pumps out water from the artesian basin at 56 degrees - so they have to cool it a bit for the pool - and they try to keep it at about 40 degrees. It is absolutely luxuriant enjoying this pool today - no doubt our last for this trip.

We also get a hot shower - so we take in the toiletry bag and even get the hair washed today!!

Being lunch time by now - we head to a nice shady picnic spot under the bridge - on the Barwon River - and enjoy a relaxed (we are super relaxed by now!!!) lunch before setting off on a backroad from Mungindi to Goondiwindi - back into QLD again.

From Goondowindi it is only another 50km to our destination for today - Yelarbon.

This little town has the best cheap/free camp at the local recreation grounds that we have come across.

It is $10 / night unpowered site on the oval - plenty of room and go anywhere you like. A communal fire  pit well stocked with free firewood (with kindling even cut for you), fantastic, very clean amenities (including hot showers) set in what is the old railway station building. 

They even have a laundry and clothesline set up - $2.00 per load (that's really cheap) in amidst a lovely garden and picnic table under a shelter.

It's all maintained by local community progress association and they even have a herb garden for you to pick herbs for your cooking.

The donation they ask for to keep the facilities maintained is an honesty box -- so I hope all campers are doing the right thing. You can also get good clean drinking water here to fill your tanks - for which they ask a donation be made.

Road Trip 2016 - Day 36 (12th August) - Nindigully Pub - third time we have been here now!!

This morning in Bollon - seems like the coldest we have found it all trip. There was a very heavy dew and a foggy must - with the sun being very slow to hit us.

Mug of tea in hand - I wandered around finding bits of sunshine to stand in for a while.

The ute was booked in for 9am with the mechanic shop at Bollon - so we packed up and left the tvan where it was - dropped the ute off - and headed to "Debs Cafe" for breakfast (to help fill in the time waiting for the oil change to be completed).

The sun was shining right on the tables at the front of the cafe by now - so we had a nice warm spot for brekkie. 

Oh my god - the meals were humongous -  I have never seen such a huge scrambled eggs and toast serving in my life - so we were well and truly stuffed by the time we left there.

Against all current advice - we have headed for Nindigully Pub for tonight. We have camped at this free camp a couple of times, on previous trips and really enjoyed the ambience around the campsite and the old pub.

We have been told, and read on Wikki camps, that there is a new manager at the pub who is not ingratiating himself to the campers travelling through. Hope the owner gets wind of it and sorts it out - as it really has lost some of the charisma it had when we have previously stayed there.

We arrived just after lunch and got quite a shock driving into the camping/ picnic areas surrounding the pub. The grounds were an absolute mess - very very wet and slushy in a  lot of it and they had obviously had some heavy rain not too long ago. 

Apparently we found out later that we had dodged the rain last night where we were - as many places nearby had some big showers come through.

There are already some campers in there - so we decide to see what is available that looks suitable and dry for us. There is no rain forecast for the next few days so we should be ok getting out.

Interesting things you see when camped at a place like Nindigully!!!!!

Truck comes flying to a stop in front of our campsite with 5 horses onboard - girl jumps out of drivers seat - runs into the toilets - dashes back out - climbs up on side of truck and checks the horses through the gaps - jumps back into drivers seat and is gone.

They still have happy hour with cheap drinks late afternoon at "the Gully" - but they have no regular entertainment like they used to do during the busy/peak season. I really think they are missing out because of this - as people would get really settled and happily stay on for dinner and more drinks.

The night we are here they still ring the big bell for happy hour - but it's not the same without the guy (Adam) who used to also yell out at the top of his voice "Happy Hour". 

We went up for a couple of drinks at happy hour - as you do when there!!!! - but did not stay on after it started to cool - as they had not even lit the fire drums out the back to keep patrons warm and the main bar is not very big.

Nindigully gets a B minus from us at the moment -- still a good overnight free camp -- but certainly lost its shine a bit at the moment in my eyes.

Road Trip 2016 - Day 35 (11th August) - Back in QLD at Beautiful little Bollon

Today we left Comeroo and drove the 80km of red dirt road back to Enngonia - having decided to head up over the QLD/NSW border, via Barringun, to Cunamulla.

We stop just shy of the border (by about 1km) at the Bush Tucker Inn, Barringun for a coffee mid morning. 

After wandering a outside being followed by two resident sheep - we end up back sitting inside in their little lounge area watching the Campbell sisters swimming their semi-finals of 100m on television.

This roadhouse and the Tattersalls Inn (local pub) are pretty much all there is left of Barringun these days.

Before federation of the Australian states it would have been a busy, and important stopover where a customs house would have existed to charge the customs duties that were charged by each of the states for transfer of goods etc over the border.

By lunch time we are in Cunnamulla - and have a great Rissoles, veg, chips and gravy pub lunch in a dicey local pub. The food was really very good and they were quite friendly.

As we have previously been to Cunnamulla and stayed a couple of days checking out the place (on a previous trip in outback Qld) we decided to travel on further east to the little town of Bollon.

Here there is a great little free camp - with toilets and hot shower, along the banks of Wallam Creek 5min walking distance to the little village of Bollon.

We had been recommended to try this free camp on a previous trip, by travellers we had met, and it rates very highly in Wikki Camps.

We were not disappointed --- and we were not alone in this camp site. We share the night with about 15 other campers - but we were all spread out pretty well along the banks of the pretty little Wallam Creek.

Having now done 5000km since the ute was serviced (just before leaving home on this trip) - Moores wants to get an oil change done. She is a bit fastidious about these oil changes being done every 5000km. 

So we book it in for tomorrow morning at 9am - deciding that we will go have breakfast at "Debs Cafe".

Since we are spending up big in the town we elect to leave only a small donation in the honesty box for our overnight camp.