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Published: December 10th 2015
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A hot day in Jamestown S.A.
We took refuge under this lovely shady tree. The temperature got to 42 degrees. 2000km/425 litres of diesel/6 days
Gawler 24
th November – Arrangements had been made to meet up with Michael and Christine who were on their way back from Western Australia. Crystal Brook is a sleepy little town where RV’s can stop for the night right opposite the butcher shop. Unfortunately it is also right alongside the train line and South Australia moves a lot of freight by rail. The next morning we drove a whole 50km to set up for the day/night at Jamestown. The weather was hot and windy so a big shady tree became our refuge. Rural areas not far from Gawler were suffering bad fires so we kept a close watch on weather and fire information. The 4 of us walked up town to patronise the butcher and supermarket. Dennis the butcher had us all in stiches relating stories of his butchering assignments for film crews over the past few years. The meat we purchased was delicious and very tender, however we had to abandon plans of a “Webber roast” due to the wind, settling instead for the best corned silverside we have ever had. By the time dinner was ready the wind had dropped and so too
had the temperature…..by about 20
°, and rain was beginning to fall,
so we all enjoyed our dinner cosy and dry in the big blue bus.
The next morning was when we were going to go our separate ways. The trailer behind the big blue bus needed some urgent repairs so Michael and Christine were heading for Murray Bridge. We wanted to take advantage of the cooler weather to travel via Broken Hill. We have not been to Silverton before, so that was our destination for our 3
rd night. We found a spot off the road, by the Umberumberka Creek. Arriving with plenty of time before sunset, Peter got himself organised to take some photos of the “desert country and outback scenery and sky”. There were foot/hoof prints from horses, camels, emus, cattle, kangaroos and goats. Sorry to say there are no photos of these animals, as we didn’t see any until we drove back past here the next morning. We woke at 6.00am to take advantage of the early morning light to get some good shots in Silverton. We waited till we got to Broken Hill before having breakfast beside a park in the town. After refuelling Broken Hill
Our isolated camp outside Silverton
The countryside is looking marvellous at the moment. The creek was dry but there's plenty of feed for the animals. in we hit the road for another big day. The roads out there are very straight. Feral goats almost lined both sides of the road from Broken Hill to Cobar. We also got to see a few emu families, but once again, no photos. Wedge-tailed eagles are sometimes seen on kangaroo carcasses but by the time we see them and get the camera organised, we’ve either driven past and/or the eagle has taken flight.
On the western side of Broken Hill we enjoyed the scenery, wildlife and feral animals. However on the eastern side the littered plastic and glass bottles stretched for kilometre after kilometre. It’s amazing the difference that the 10 cent cash-back incentive makes to the landscape. You see, in South Australia, every bottle returned earns you 10 cents and so people don’t throw their bottles away!
Our 4
th night was at Cobar. We had read on Wikicamps that the disused reservoir is a great spot to stay the night. We agree! After the 2 trail bikers and the 1 jet skier had had their Friday afternoon recreation, we had the whole place to ourselves.
Day 5 of travel had us passing through Nyngan, Trangie,
Dubbo, Molong and Orange.…..More green countryside, and quaint country towns. We promised ourselves a much slower-paced trip along this way some time in the future.
Our 5th night out had us dropping in on relatives of friends just out of Bathurst.
Our final day on the road and it was Wendy’s turn to drive. So up the steep driveway to exit the property and then in to Bathurst for the necessary waste-water tanks emptying. The thought of having to drive up Mount Victoria had Wendy somewhat nervous and wanting to chicken out. However, she was up for the challenge and away we went. Roadwork speed limits, truck and bus speed limits and adequate overtaking lanes made for a reasonably comfortable drive. On one occasion however, the idiot who overtook us just as the lanes were merging, and then decided to overtake the car in front of him on the inside, provided a heart-stopping moment for both of us. Mount Victoria had been taken on and conquered! The next challenge was to find somewhere to stop for morning tea. The improved roads in the Blue Mountains mean that there is much more traffic (it WAS Sunday, after all) and
all the townships were crowded and/or by-passed by the main road. Oh well, the back street behind Lawson Primary school was a good a place as any!
We skipped lunch so we could just get to our destination as soon as possible and not have to sit in the front of “the truck” any more! It’s been our longest journey in the motorhome and we’re looking forward to doing it (or something similar) again, but at nomads’ pace.
It’s good to be “home”. We’ll be here till just before Christmas, then we’re catching the train to Lismore for 2 weeks. After our return to the Central Coast in the New Year we’ll be heading for Werribee South for work again.
Happy Christmas to all of you. We are hoping to see some of you while we are here.
More photos below.
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