We woke up early and it was warm already, had slept with all the windows open last night, the slight cool breeze was a nice relief from the heat of the day.
We packed up camp and our neighbour came over for a chat. He was very talkative and in the end we just had to drive away as he just wanted to talk all day. He was in for a long chat.
We then headed back in to Brewarrina and then off to Lightning Ridge.
We arrived at my sisters camp and set up camp. We did a full setup as we were going to stay for a couple of days. It is amazing how cool it is under the annex, was cooler under the annex than inside Fiona's camp.
Tuesday, 31 December 2013
Day 254 Sunday 20th October 2013; Location - Tilpa Weir Camping Area
Well the flies returned early, no reprieve from these little black flies.
As we were packing up, we had a visitor. It was an old timer who had been camping up the river and yesterday whilst fishing on the river in his boat, had flipped it and lost his brand new Bundaberg Rum Esky.
He was hoping that it had floated down to the weir, but unfortunately for him it wasn't there. Would have been a nice find for someone. I think he was really hoping that we had found it.
We then headed back out to the blacktop and headed in to Louth. We pulled up opposite the pub at the park and made lunch in the shade of the tree. It was a little hot, Rena decided to stay in the car to eat her lunch to stay away from both the heat and the flies.
James and I soon followed suite, flies. Got to expect them in the outback, but they have been so bad for so long now. Starting to wear thin.
We then headed for Brewarrina and headed out of town to the 4 mile reserve. Mum had told us about this campspot and was suppose to be popular with the gray nomad set.
Nice spot, right beside the river. nice little campspot, toilets, cold showers and a jetty for you to swim off.
James picked his spot and we set up camp, we enjoyed the shade of the tree whilst we had it as it was quite a warm day. The river looked tempting but none of us wanted to go in, so we got Rena's big black tub and filled it up with water and she had a dip to cool down.
We watched our fellow campers have a swim and a processing of locals come out for a swim. Our neighbours dropped a line into the river but all they got was cod. Was fun to watch the couple as they had a bit of a tiff as they were very competitive when it came to fishing.
The facilities wernt to bad. They were in need of some repairs, the showers were cold and 2 didn't have doors and the water was from the river, but it was free.
It was another warm night, it had been a hot day and now a warm night.
As we were packing up, we had a visitor. It was an old timer who had been camping up the river and yesterday whilst fishing on the river in his boat, had flipped it and lost his brand new Bundaberg Rum Esky.
He was hoping that it had floated down to the weir, but unfortunately for him it wasn't there. Would have been a nice find for someone. I think he was really hoping that we had found it.
We then headed back out to the blacktop and headed in to Louth. We pulled up opposite the pub at the park and made lunch in the shade of the tree. It was a little hot, Rena decided to stay in the car to eat her lunch to stay away from both the heat and the flies.
James and I soon followed suite, flies. Got to expect them in the outback, but they have been so bad for so long now. Starting to wear thin.
We then headed for Brewarrina and headed out of town to the 4 mile reserve. Mum had told us about this campspot and was suppose to be popular with the gray nomad set.
Nice spot, right beside the river. nice little campspot, toilets, cold showers and a jetty for you to swim off.
James picked his spot and we set up camp, we enjoyed the shade of the tree whilst we had it as it was quite a warm day. The river looked tempting but none of us wanted to go in, so we got Rena's big black tub and filled it up with water and she had a dip to cool down.
We watched our fellow campers have a swim and a processing of locals come out for a swim. Our neighbours dropped a line into the river but all they got was cod. Was fun to watch the couple as they had a bit of a tiff as they were very competitive when it came to fishing.
The facilities wernt to bad. They were in need of some repairs, the showers were cold and 2 didn't have doors and the water was from the river, but it was free.
It was another warm night, it had been a hot day and now a warm night.
Day 253 Saturday 19th October 2013; Location - Spring Hill Rest Area
We slept in, well we awoke at our usual time but due to changing states and daylight savings it is now a sleep in for us.
We had breakfast and then packed up. Lots of feral goats around this morning. The damage that they are doing to the environment. :(
We hit the road and headed in to Wilcannia as I had run out of gas last night whilst cooking dinner and needed to get a gas bottle refill.
Gas bottle refilled and we hit the road again, the town was boarded up more than last time we drove through this way. It is amazing to see the changes in towns from years to years when you are traveling through. Off we headed towards Bourke.
Next port of call is the Tilpa Weir, James selected the campsite and we set up campt.
FLIES!!!!!!! ARGH!!!!!!!!!!! FLIES LITTLE STICKY BLACK FLIES!!!!!!!!!!
Well I had my cuppa inside the camper trailer, couldn't even have a cuppa outside without the flies crawling all over me and trying to climb into every orifice of my body.
OVER THESE F$%#@N FLIES!!!!!!!
Just after dark we were sitting inside and there was 2 bright lights start just near our camper. They were high up in the air and close together, but too high to be on a 4wd. There was absolutely no noise what so ever. Had a look couldnt see any cars etc there. No noise before, during or after the lights left.
Checked outside for Tyre marks too, nothing, zilch, zero. Nothing. Real twilight zone stuff.
We had breakfast and then packed up. Lots of feral goats around this morning. The damage that they are doing to the environment. :(
We hit the road and headed in to Wilcannia as I had run out of gas last night whilst cooking dinner and needed to get a gas bottle refill.
Gas bottle refilled and we hit the road again, the town was boarded up more than last time we drove through this way. It is amazing to see the changes in towns from years to years when you are traveling through. Off we headed towards Bourke.
Next port of call is the Tilpa Weir, James selected the campsite and we set up campt.
FLIES!!!!!!! ARGH!!!!!!!!!!! FLIES LITTLE STICKY BLACK FLIES!!!!!!!!!!
Well I had my cuppa inside the camper trailer, couldn't even have a cuppa outside without the flies crawling all over me and trying to climb into every orifice of my body.
OVER THESE F$%#@N FLIES!!!!!!!
Just after dark we were sitting inside and there was 2 bright lights start just near our camper. They were high up in the air and close together, but too high to be on a 4wd. There was absolutely no noise what so ever. Had a look couldnt see any cars etc there. No noise before, during or after the lights left.
Checked outside for Tyre marks too, nothing, zilch, zero. Nothing. Real twilight zone stuff.
Day 251 - 252 Thursday 17th - Friday 18th October 2013; Location - Broken Hill
Thursday 17th
Spent the day catching up with Jan. I must admit it was nice to be inside a house away from the flies and elements, but even better to be able to catch up with my good friend.
I cooked my other BFF Karen's Chicken Adabo (which has now become a favorite for James) for Jan and the girls. It went down really well.
Really enjoyed cooking and washing up inside too :) another simple pleasure in life.
Friday 18th
Today we said goodbye to Jan and left Broken Hill heading east. We first called in to fuel up the cruiser and then hit the road.
We only did a short drive today as we didnt leave the Hill until midday.
We got to the Spring Hill Rest Area which had a great gated undercover playground for Rena. So Rena got to play on the playground for quite some time and even at times had James and I running around playing with her in the playground.
The flies were not that bad either, and the temperature was bearable, which made for a pleasant stay, we even managed to sit outside and enjoy a cuppa without having to dodge those little sticky black flies.
Cooked dinner late, this daylight savings and time zone changes over the past week are really messing with our body clocks. We will all be glad to be back to our normal Queensland time zone.
Spent the day catching up with Jan. I must admit it was nice to be inside a house away from the flies and elements, but even better to be able to catch up with my good friend.
I cooked my other BFF Karen's Chicken Adabo (which has now become a favorite for James) for Jan and the girls. It went down really well.
Really enjoyed cooking and washing up inside too :) another simple pleasure in life.
Friday 18th
Today we said goodbye to Jan and left Broken Hill heading east. We first called in to fuel up the cruiser and then hit the road.
We only did a short drive today as we didnt leave the Hill until midday.
We got to the Spring Hill Rest Area which had a great gated undercover playground for Rena. So Rena got to play on the playground for quite some time and even at times had James and I running around playing with her in the playground.
The flies were not that bad either, and the temperature was bearable, which made for a pleasant stay, we even managed to sit outside and enjoy a cuppa without having to dodge those little sticky black flies.
Cooked dinner late, this daylight savings and time zone changes over the past week are really messing with our body clocks. We will all be glad to be back to our normal Queensland time zone.
Day 250 Wednesday 16th October 2013; Location - Cutona Rest Area
Had a nice easy morning as I was really tired after my lack of sleep, before packing up and heading for Broken Hill.
We called in to Woollies as I was hanging out for a Sara Lea Lasagna for dinner. Restocked the vegetables and fruit and head to my BFF Jan's place.
Was really great to see Jan again. It is great how you don's see your friend for years, but it is as if you only saw each other yesterday.
Was great catching up with Jan and seeing how big her girls have grown. Rena really enjoyed having some girls to play with and also all their toys. :) Rena even learnt how to play the playstation.
We called in to Woollies as I was hanging out for a Sara Lea Lasagna for dinner. Restocked the vegetables and fruit and head to my BFF Jan's place.
Was really great to see Jan again. It is great how you don's see your friend for years, but it is as if you only saw each other yesterday.
Was great catching up with Jan and seeing how big her girls have grown. Rena really enjoyed having some girls to play with and also all their toys. :) Rena even learnt how to play the playstation.
Day 249 Tuesday 15th October 2013; Location - Orroroo Rest Area
After packing up we drove through the towns of Orroroo and Peterborough, what beautiful quaint little country towns.
Peterborough had some steamtrains and a rail museum. Both main streets had sculptures.
After a quick look we headed back to the black top and kept heading east. We got to the Cutona Rest Area and decided to make it a short day and set up camp.
Another easy night for me in the kitchen, sausages and left overs for dinner.
This rest area was like a rubbish tip, everyone had dumped their rubbish all over the place, despite the fact that there was bins provided, disgusting...... You really had to watch where you were standing and Rena had to watch where she played.
We went to bed at about 8.30pm and at 9.30pm a truck pulled in to the rest area, proceeded to put his choke on and must have went to sleep for about 3 1/2 hours with his engine revving. At 1 am he decided to turn his choke off idle the engine for about 10 mins and drive off.
GRRR!!!!!! at one stage was ready to get up and ask him to turn it off, but you just don't know. Thanks to that inconsiderate truck driver I didn't get much sleep. (there was a truck stop just down the road don't know why he chose the car rest area instead).
Peterborough had some steamtrains and a rail museum. Both main streets had sculptures.
After a quick look we headed back to the black top and kept heading east. We got to the Cutona Rest Area and decided to make it a short day and set up camp.
Another easy night for me in the kitchen, sausages and left overs for dinner.
This rest area was like a rubbish tip, everyone had dumped their rubbish all over the place, despite the fact that there was bins provided, disgusting...... You really had to watch where you were standing and Rena had to watch where she played.
We went to bed at about 8.30pm and at 9.30pm a truck pulled in to the rest area, proceeded to put his choke on and must have went to sleep for about 3 1/2 hours with his engine revving. At 1 am he decided to turn his choke off idle the engine for about 10 mins and drive off.
GRRR!!!!!! at one stage was ready to get up and ask him to turn it off, but you just don't know. Thanks to that inconsiderate truck driver I didn't get much sleep. (there was a truck stop just down the road don't know why he chose the car rest area instead).
Day 247 - 248 Sunday 13th - Monday 14th October 2013; Location - Kimba Recreation Reserve
Sunday 13th
Today we decided that we would stay an extra night here and have a rest day.
It was overcast then sunny, then raining, all whilst the temperature just kept getting cooler. At one stage it was hailing.
I decided it would be a good opportunity to pull out the laptop and update the blog. This really is a slow process, it just takes so long to upload anything with this Telstra broadband stick. Trying to add photos just takes a horrible length of time 4 photos 15 mins, so I have decided that after adding some photos today and taking such a long time I will wait until we get home and get back to home broadband before I attempt to load any more photos.
I cooked dinner and we retreated inside as it was really quite cool. Rena had spent the day playing on and off in the playground, this really is a good spot to stay. Hot showers, flat campground, clean toilets and all they ask is for a coin donation. Well done Kimba :).
As it turned out it was a very cold night, so much so that James got up during the night and got the spare blanket out of the car for the bed. Brrrrrr cold night.
Monday 14th
Well it was time to pack up and move on today. We could of stayed alot longer at Kimba, was a very nice spot to camp.
First I took Rena over to use the flushing toilet before we headed off again. (its the little things in life you get to appreciate). It was so nice to have a hot shower (without having to heat the water yourself and turn the water on and off) and also to have a flushing toilet . Luxuries for camper trailer travelers.
We headed out of Kimba but not before having a look at the Giant Pink Galah at the Half Way Across Australia service station. We didn't realise that Kimba was the halfway point across Australia until we saw the signs.
Next on port of call was Port Augusta & we called in to Woollies and stocked up on some items, we then headed for the petrol station and topped up the cruiser. Then off to the laundrymat. (This is one part of the trip that I will not miss when I get home).
Clothes all clean, dry and folded and we headed back to the highway and headed east.
We headed up the range and called in to the lookout/campground on the western side of the range, a very pretty spot, but it was just a little bit too windy for us to camp there for the night, so we decided that we would head further east to try and find a spot out of the wind.
We headed off to the Orroroo Rest Area, nice spot, lots of spots to camp well away from the road, and very little wind. Was good to have other vans around us for the night too.
Flies and some wind, but we cooked outside ok, luckily for me, I had bought a BBQ chook so made dinner nice and easy.
Once the sun started to set, the temperature cooled down quickly, and as the night progressed it got really cold. Being up fairly high in altitude we expected it to be cool.
Today we decided that we would stay an extra night here and have a rest day.
It was overcast then sunny, then raining, all whilst the temperature just kept getting cooler. At one stage it was hailing.
I decided it would be a good opportunity to pull out the laptop and update the blog. This really is a slow process, it just takes so long to upload anything with this Telstra broadband stick. Trying to add photos just takes a horrible length of time 4 photos 15 mins, so I have decided that after adding some photos today and taking such a long time I will wait until we get home and get back to home broadband before I attempt to load any more photos.
I cooked dinner and we retreated inside as it was really quite cool. Rena had spent the day playing on and off in the playground, this really is a good spot to stay. Hot showers, flat campground, clean toilets and all they ask is for a coin donation. Well done Kimba :).
As it turned out it was a very cold night, so much so that James got up during the night and got the spare blanket out of the car for the bed. Brrrrrr cold night.
Monday 14th
Well it was time to pack up and move on today. We could of stayed alot longer at Kimba, was a very nice spot to camp.
First I took Rena over to use the flushing toilet before we headed off again. (its the little things in life you get to appreciate). It was so nice to have a hot shower (without having to heat the water yourself and turn the water on and off) and also to have a flushing toilet . Luxuries for camper trailer travelers.
We headed out of Kimba but not before having a look at the Giant Pink Galah at the Half Way Across Australia service station. We didn't realise that Kimba was the halfway point across Australia until we saw the signs.
Next on port of call was Port Augusta & we called in to Woollies and stocked up on some items, we then headed for the petrol station and topped up the cruiser. Then off to the laundrymat. (This is one part of the trip that I will not miss when I get home).
Clothes all clean, dry and folded and we headed back to the highway and headed east.
We headed up the range and called in to the lookout/campground on the western side of the range, a very pretty spot, but it was just a little bit too windy for us to camp there for the night, so we decided that we would head further east to try and find a spot out of the wind.
We headed off to the Orroroo Rest Area, nice spot, lots of spots to camp well away from the road, and very little wind. Was good to have other vans around us for the night too.
Flies and some wind, but we cooked outside ok, luckily for me, I had bought a BBQ chook so made dinner nice and easy.
Once the sun started to set, the temperature cooled down quickly, and as the night progressed it got really cold. Being up fairly high in altitude we expected it to be cool.
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