Silo Kick Challenge

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Everywhere was misty this morning and there were three horses wearing coats standing miserably in the field next to us. Poor things.

Barry managed to rig up a strap to take the pressure off the rear-view camera connection, which seemed to work, so he can see behind again. Time to move.

I wanted to have a quick look at Mirrool on our way past as it had been our planned destination yesterday. We’d read in Wikicamps that it was very good and free (gold coin donation) and behind the Royal Hotel (another one!). Unfortunately the pub is now closed and up for sale ($220,000 if you want a pub in the middle of a very small community). The camping area is not actually part of the pub but behind the Fire Station. There is a really new toilet block with one shared shower and a very modern children’s play park. Evidently 2009 was the town’s centenary and they celebrated by investing in these projects.

There were also some wonderfully colourful information boards including, most surprising of all, a map of all the buildings showing where some of the locals live e.g. “Sam’s House; Mrs McPherson’s;” as well as the usual “Post Office; Dunn’s Garage”. That’s the first time I’ve ever seen private residences named on a public town map. Also, every October they have a Silo Kick Challenge which is a competition to see who can kick a football over the silos alongside the railway. What fun! Only in the country!

Then on to Forbes, our next stop for a couple of nights. We set up in a free site in Wheogo Park next to Lake Forbes. It was a bit muddy after all the rain but there was plenty of space among the trees and there were lots of fresh water taps and bins (no power, of course). It was very pretty.

We went into the town centre for a lovely coffee and scroll at the bakery and sat outside on wicker seats with pretty floral cushions to enjoy the sun. We were immediately besieged by about twenty sparrows, most standing around the kerb looking hopeful while a few bolder ones came up to our feet and even landed briefly on the back of another chair at our table. Barry succumbed and fed them some crumbs. A farmer had parked his ute at the kerb and the birds also hopped under the spare wheel and frame looking amongst the scattered hay for any grain. The cheeky things looked so funny poking their heads through holes in the frame to check out the street.

After that we drove around the town and looked at the many interesting old buildings, some from the 1880s and 90s and quite a few Art Deco. Back near our camp site we noticed a ute sitting in the park surrounded by a fence. I had to discover why they had imprisoned this poor vehicle so we investigated. Turns out it is part of an Art Project called “Utes in the Paddock” that is situated on the Condobolin Road. A load of donated old Holden utes have been decorated by well known artists and set up along the road in the outback. I would have liked to see them but it was rather a long way off our path. Still, the one we saw was lovely, even featuring one panel by Peter Browne, instantly recognisable by his comical weird-looking emus getting up to all sorts of mischief in the barren outback. We get one of his calendars sent to us every year by our friend Yvonne.

As we were admiring the ute, hundreds of galahs came down to roost in the trees next to us. They were all chattering away but, unlike the cockatoos at Gundagai, they weren’t raucous or deafening and sounded lovely.

Arriving back at the van we were hailed by some other campers who were enjoying Happy Hour together so we stopped and chatted for a bit and were given a taster of a very nice whiskey liqueur called Glayva, which was bought in Bundaberg. When it started to spit again we decided to beat a hasty retreat and have dinner.

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Photos

Mirrool
Little silos advertise the Silo Kick Challenge next to the big silos

Mirrool, NSW
The Royal Hotel, unfortunately just closed. You can buy it if you have $200,000

Lake Forbes, Forbes NSW
The lovely lake next to our free camp site in Wheogo Park

Forbes, NSW
The Post Office and the Town Hall, built in the 1890s.

Forbes, NSW
The captive ute advertising the "Utes in the Paddock" Project.

Forbes, NSW
One of the panels on the captive ute. This was painted by Peter Browne

Comments

[Debra]

Escapism via Kathy's blogs
Sitting in my office in Parkville - I am avoiding going into the cold dark night to drive home by reading your very entertaining, evocative and descriptive blogs - which I have finally found some time to dip in to. Port Arlington missed you!

[dragonlady]

Missed Port Arlington
Thanks Debra. I'm glad you're enjoying them. It takes ages to do them but I'm enjoying it. I missed Port Arlington, too. I was looking forward to singing there and we always have such a great spread afterwards. Glad it went well.