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Published: August 20th 2018
Left Mildura Saturday morning for our next destination, Bindara Station on the Darling River between Pooncarie and Menindee, didn't get far out of Mildura and we hit the red dusty and sandy road to Pooncarie. Stopped in Pooncarie for our breaky/brunch.....went to a lovely little cafe down in the Wharf Area....beautiful guy running the place....his wife had taken the morning off to trek down to Mildura for a bit of shopping...he was flat out since 7am...had not stopped, running short on eggs...someone flew into the cafe and says I rustled up a couple of doz for you $6...all good....it just never ceases to amaze me how these guys are in the back of nowhere can rustle up such a great feed...it was delicious! The drought is so bad....not a skerrick of grass anywhere....it was so noticable....lots of dirt and bush shrubs but not much else. Animals are dying everywhere....not just the farmed ones but our national symbol ones too! Arrived to a gorgeous warm welcome from Barb when we arrived at Bindara Station on the Darling....we were accommodated in the Jackaroos cottage and so lucky to have a little ensuite bathroom. Barb has lived here for the last 38 years.....so isolated
but the mail truck comes twice a week....bringing groceries that she has ordered online from Mildura....the postie stores anything that needs to be frozen in her freezer until she hits the road with everything in banana boxes and styrene boxes...delivery is $6 a box...which is a pretty good deal! Barb is truly a magnificent bush lady, running her establishment for the last 5-6 years since Bill her husband has died. They are always fighting battles here with governments who don't have a clue about outback life.....not letting the Darling River flow and cutting off much needed water for these areas....disgraceful! We did a lovely walk down the Darling River with her much loved Blue Heeler ......she tackled a kangaroo on our walk and I was screaming at her.....would have been just lovely to take her back to Barb with a split open tummy from the kangaroo...fortunately very obedient and came straight back to me. All the while Barb was back getting dinner organised in her outdoor kitchen and dining area.....everything cooked over the camp fire, variety of roast veges, TBone steaks, vege korma curry, beans and carrots and polished off with a yummy apple pudding....great night had by all. Barb
says her quietest month is August so we were lucky there were only 5 of us for dinner. Barb has an extensive garden and orchard here so is able to provide a lot of veges and fruit for all her guests. Also there on the same night were a couple from Mornington Peninsula who have become friends over the years.....they are overseeing the place whilst Barb is away in Alice Springs to attend the induction of her brother into the Truckies Hall of Fame. Barb is one amazing woman.....next morning cooking us a magnificant breaky and on the road we were again heading to Menindee and the lakes.....just amazing countryside that I haven't seen for years.....love the outback! Onto Broken Hill for a couple of nights. Broken Hill is still quite like I remembered it as a child, though lots of shops closed and for lease....sign of the times with buying goods on the internet. The drought is shocking out these ways....but people are still cheerful! Could not believe we found this amazing coffee shop....the best coffee we have had so far, Silly Goat.....right out here in Broken Hill and it was packed! Our motel is attached to the pub
BRAS
Could not find my sizeso had our dinner here Sunday night, great home cooked dinner with a musician playing in the arvo. Monday tour of the Day Dream Mine out towards Silverton....with fresh scones with cream and jam afterwards, characters these people, the mine has been leased by the same family for the last 24 years to run as a tourist attraction.......the landscape is full of disgusting wind turbines...much to the disgust of the residents of Silverton...AGL have done a real job on them and they are not happy...but now have to live with the blight on their landscape. Silverton is such a quirky place....lots of galleries, a great pub and a few houses. We loved our visit here. Then back to Broken Hill for a long walk around the town...first to the Miners Memorial up the hill overlooking town...a couple of galleries and then to the Palace Hotel for dinner....amazing pub with great food! Variety Bash hit town tonight too....so was great to see all the cars all done up with some bizarre things. Tuesday headed from Broken Hill to Ivanhoe via Wilcannia......stopped in Wilcannia for a coffee and lunch and it was quite nice then onto the Cobar Road to head to
BOOTS
Brand new ones too! a friends propertty.....stopping ground from my childhood.....boy we just could not get over how dry it is and after having a cuppa with Leonie we felt flat as tacks.....the drought has hit them extremely hard....they have not a blade of grass on their property....have destocked as much as possible and have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on hay and grain....we are hoping the drought breaks for them soon, there are hundreds of kangaroos, emus and goats all eating whatever they can. Spent the night at the Ivanhoe Hotel.....what a great night that was....some old people from when I lived there and spent my first year at primary school there in 1962.....overseas backpackers working out this way and newcomers....everyone was very welcoming....the place was pumping for their parma night and it was a ripper.....probably 40 odd people there. Packed up early and left as no power so no shower....headed to Hay for breaky/brunch and then onto Deniliquin to stay with a great friend Fi.....had a beautiful hot fresh shower and then hit the Sportsmans Arms for dinner, lovely to see Jeff and his new venture....great steak and a few glasses of wine! Whilst here also visited an old friend from
POONCARIE
Race meeting coming up John's railway days who runs and boat maintenance and engineering business....had a great old yarn! Thursday night had a fantastic night with our mates at Moama Muz and Betty....it is so nice to catch up with beautiful friends that you haven't seen for a while.....more beers, wine and lovely dinner. Next stop Yarrawonga.
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