Enjoyed the drive to Boggabri. It is so very flat through here but with hills along either side of this plain. Masses of cotton grown with irrigation dams everywhere. Further south you get in to sorghum as well. There has been enough rain to break the drought and the country is looking green. Surprised to see hay down near Murrurundi and the evenings are very damp - unless they are making silage.
Spent a pleasant 6 days at Boggabri Drovers Campfire. They were expecting 400 vans - ended up with over 600 I am told. Displays by heavy horses, old machinery, dogs jumping walls, pony club plus stalls, music, damper, scones....
Loved the idea of all the old coal ranges on a trailer that they used for the scones and to boil the kettles.
Some seriously old machinery
- an original static hay baler as old as me! took a long time for a bloke on a pitch fork to feed enough to make a bale!
Interesting Aus designed loaders for hay and sacks on the side of trucks. Sprung loaded to lift the sack up then drop down again.
The dog jumping outfit is a 'rescue' operation for boys at risk - Back on Track;. They use the dogs to help the boys. Fun display with the best dogs getting over an 8' wall.
Have been having trouble with the gas fridge inspite of having it serviced twice in the past 2 months. Had a think about it and decided I may need a new regulator so went back to Narrabri to get one. Installed it and what a difference it made. Had to turn the fridge right down to stop it freezing and the hob cooks twice as fast as it was. I have to wonder why the 'experts ' didnt check the regulator before cleaning the fridge....????
Stopped at Gins Leap - and old family tomb there.
A big new road going in to the mining area - lots of protests around here about some rare trees that are likely to be lost because of it.
Very impressed with the King of the Ranges Challenge. Have great respect for the men and women who competed and the versatility of their horses. They kept on inspite of shockingly cold and wet conditions on the second day and much mud on the final day.
Back now at a CP at Quiririndi. Lovely town on a hill and a great park. Biggest showers I have come across yet. Stayed a couple of days then on up
main highway to Tamworth and over the Moondi hills to Bendemeer. Did think of staying at the Moondi lookout but no very inviting and above the main highway. Camp by a
stream behind the showgrounds $5. Only 1 other here but cold so didn’t socialize.
Went to Woolbrook with the intention of stopping one night then on to Tia falls – but – windy narrow road – Oxley highway, and the camp was small and damp so back out to main road and on to Uralla to the Fossickers camp. Driving up and down a lot of hills. Not much feed anywhere – drought here so nothing for the winter. Reminds me of Taihape country – rolling and bush, but lots of big boulders. Busy road to Armidale! Lovely spot – will stay a few days. Very quiet. A few here.
Lovely 4 days of maintenance and quiet - changed the oil in gen, washed the van. Chatting to a bloke of WA. Played guitar for a while. Did a bit of prospecting on the beach. A few metal things. ‘Gold’ glittering everywhere. Very fine flakes that disintegrate when rubbed L Polished the ute, made griddle scones.
Sunday was cloudy and damp. All alone again. Ran the van battery flat playing on computer all day. Only had gen on for a couple of hours! Rained at night, one camper only overnight but such a lovely peaceful spot .
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