Baradine, Coonabarabran, Warrumbungle

Easy drive from Pilliga today. Roads are not wide  but with so little traffic it is easy to stay away from the broken edges. Stayed at a CP in Coonamble - needed to do washing. Pretty town - so many Silky Oaks in full flower, and the Jacarandas of course. Very heady perfume in the evening - not sure what tree it was from.

Headed off to Baradine Monday. Lots of cypress forest here – grows like a weed I think. Heaps of young trees along the road verges and very thick. Still very dry everywhere. More grain. Road ok but rather broken on the edges and not very wide but very little traffic. Heading towards those ‘misty mountains’.

Had lunch and a long chat with a lovely Kiwi couple from the Grey Nomad site who live in Baradine.  They plan on being on the road again in March.  Left about 2.30 and down to Coonabarabran. Roads still narrow and started going up in to the hills. More bush here. Saw an observatory high on a hill.

Once again in a Caravan Park - $25 per night x2  but want to go to the observatory. (I will make up for all these CP stays when I get to Greens Lake or sooner when I find somewhere I feel good about that is not a truck rest area on the side of a highway!) Really tidy park, and I am in heaven - lovely Lombardi Poplars. Planes trees, grass, CLOVER and BEES! First time I have seen that in 4 years in Australia! Then couldn’t get to sleep – so many trucks passing all night it seemed.

6/11

Went for a scenic tour to Warrumbungle National Park to see the Siding Spring observatory. Lovely drive winding through the ranges. A couple of very pretty picnic spots beside a stream only a few km out of town but no camping.  There must be a competition for the best letter boxes down Timor Road – and why did I not stop and take photos – didn’t come back this way!!!! Rocket, emu, truck wheel with chrome wheel arch, tree trunk, ….. there is obviously an artist in the area as there were more sculptures at the observatory as well. Wound up a steep hill expecting to have a magnificent view but trees everywhere and of course they don’t build these observatories to study the countryside below so nowhere to get a view once up in the top – what a shame. Even a viewing platform around the outside would have made the trip more worthwhile. Interesting display and information there though.

Decided to carry on and do the tourist loop back to Coonabarabran. Another lovely drive through forest with lots of cypress trees. Turned left and down to Tooraweenah then back on Newell Hwy – so many big trucks!!!! Good road but I don’t think I want to go that way – those guys are in a hurry!

There is something so attractive about rolling farmland with scattered trees. Another place that would be very picturesque when it is green. They do more controlled grazing on this land as well it seems – much smaller paddocks and better fences.


 Wednesday
 Had to go for a drive to photograph those letter boxes today.  Had a play with Photoshop.
Decided to stay another day - weather forcast was not so good and it is raining this evening.