Dubbo, Mt Panorama, Blayney

Tues.

Rain in the night –woke to find the side wall leaking down inside the van – another hole in the top from the clamp I see. Lots of towels to dry it up then put the side out for the rest of the night. Quiet catch-up day at Dundedoo.

Wed.

Off to Dubbo City holiday park. Rockylizard here also from Nomad site. Drive through concrete pad to sit on – wonderful. Found caravan repair place re freezer door – booked for Friday. Found a MALL! Haircut, and a few other things needed.

Caravan Park guy brought ladder and patched the hole in the side wall for me. 

Thurs.

Wildlife park all morning. Really well set up. $32.50 pension rate! Drove around and walked in to zones. Interesting watching the elephants shake the straw on to the ground then sweep it into a heap to pick it up - clever things. Galapagos turtles are huge.

Went to see old slab house but gate shut so went to winery – gate shut there as well.  Then found a plane etc. in a paddock beside the road. 

Rain in the night but no leak!

Fri.

 Up early to hitch up before the rain came again.  Off to B&C caravans to get freezer door springs done - $122 -  springs are $33 each! Raining all the way to Wellington. Stayed at the Caves Caravan Park and did the Cathedral cave tour at 12.30. 82 kids from Tamworth in the BBQ area having lunch break – didn’t do the tour thank goodness. Interesting but I think Waitomo has more features.

Sat.

Off to Bathurst via Lake Burrendong/Stuart. Didn’t enjoy the drive – Saturday and lots of people with boats etc., narrow road with broken edges…. Got to Stuart and 13km in to the lake so just headed back to the Mitchell highway and on to Orange. They should have named that place GREEN. Hundreds of glorious old trees in the parks and down all the streets. Very attractive town. Just outside I got 1kg of cherries for $12 at a roadside stall! 

On to Bathurst through very ‘familiar country’ – reminded me of NZ with proper paddocks, green grass and lovely wide open rolling hills.

Found Mt Panorama – can hardly miss it!!!! Took the VAN around the track – darn - only allowed to do 60km! Think I went the wrong way but cool fun! I wasn’t the only one going that way either! Down to 2^nd getting up the windy hill climb.

Got fuel and groceries then off to  Blayney. Was going to stop at the Carcoar Dam but too tired to be bothered with free camping so at a very nice park.

Fairy Wren