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Published: September 27th 2009
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Bowral
A pretty place to stay the night We’re out in the country now. We know because we have lived through two dust storms … oh yes, so have you.
We also have crossed the Great Dividing Range,
we have seen different species of birds, such as Turquoise Parrot,
we've driven past a polo club, and camped alongside peppercorn trees,
Peter saw a postie riding his scooter, complete with a cockatoo on the handlebars,
country teenagers have conversations with us,
we passed a stockmen’s camp on the “long paddock” alongside the Kamilaroi Highway - complete with young cowgirl riding her horse along the edge of the road whilst chatting on her mobile phone!
and we’ve been in “the Koala Capital of the World” - Gunnedah. The travel brochure states “Wild koalas are often seen strolling along main streets, lazing in parks and even wandering cross the local golf course.” My, my I’ll be sure to send photos of that, when I see it!
In early September we spent a few cold wet days travelling back through our old stomping ground in the southern highlands, staying the night in the car park at Bowral Swimming Pool. North, and back to the Central Coast for a quick and very busy
Tamworth
The Golden Guitar 5 days catching up with family, friends and business. (Thanks again to James & Judy for our reserved motor home site.) After attending a back-to-the-sixties, sixtieth birthday party and meeting Angela & Joel’s new Baby Ava, we were on the road again.
Oh, how nice it was to be driving on different roads an experiencing warmer weather. A few days in the Country Music Capital had us exploring surrounding areas on fellow travellers’ recommendations. The countryside is so green and we discovered new areas for freedom camping that we will have to utilise on our way through there next time. Nundle (an old gold-mining town) and Woolomin are beautiful little communities and Wendy couldn’t understand why Nundle seemed to have a stagnant population and Woolomin was experiencing a building boom. Then we found out that it snows in Nundle during winter. Guess there aren’t too many of us who like the cold too much.
A visit to the Blood Bank at Tamworth Base Hospital was scheduled while the Winnebago wheel alignment was being carried on our last day in Tamworth. Wendy was lining up for her first plasma donation and was growing more nervous as each section of
Dust storm
That's funny coloured fog! the “permission form” was being explained. Fear of another emergency hospital admission was playing games with her. Anyway, apart from a near-fainting episode that had all the staff running to her attention, all went well and we were off to continue our adventure. Thanks to Bob & Maureen for making their yard available for us in Tamworth.
The onset of rain in Tamworth on the day of our departure had us pulling up just outside of town near the airport to consider our options, and a coffee. The car still had to be connected and it was getting late in the day to be heading off into unknown territory. It was a bit noisy, parked on the side of the highway, but we decided to stay for the night and head off before breakfast the next morning. It rained a fair bit overnight and we woke to a very eerie red fog. When we ventured outside and discovered the state of our two freshly washed vehicles, we wondered why we had wasted all that water. As we proceeded along the Oxley Highway, truckies were relaying messages about the dust storm covering quite a large area of the state. …..
Lake Keepit
I could clean the car. Oh! DUST storm …. Not fog. Peter was wondering why the fog wasn’t dampening the windscreen. We arrived at Lake Keepit at 7:45 am but were unable to see the water for the dust haze. The wind and dust kept us indoors most of the day so we ventured out in the car to explore the bush-camping area on the eastern side of the lake. The wind had whipped the water up into an ugly brown surf (or what we could see of it). It was tempting for Peter to drive into the water to wash off some of the dust, but he resisted.
We spent 2 nights in Gunnedah (one in Caravan Park and one at showground). Day 1 was spent washing red dust off everything and discovering a very nice town that Peter went to many times as a kid, but can’t remember much of. We also met some really nice travelling folks, who were doing what we do.
On Saturday afternoon we arrived at Narrabri after 2 weeks of travel and are staying at the very dry and windy showground. Might move to a caravan park tomorrow.
On Monday 28th September, we commence training
Lake Keepit
The dust cleared. in Narrabri for jobs in the wheat harvest. We’ll let you know how that goes.
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Charmaine
non-member comment
Hello
Hi Guys, thanks for the update, interesting fog wasn't it! We went through Tamworth a week ago on our way to Qld for First Class Accounts Conference, didn't stop though we stayed at Guyra with a mate of Tony's. Then headed up to Ballina via Casino in 2 days, oh to have had a week up and a week back, not so lucky, one day. keep having fun and keep safe, love The Perry's x