Thanksto our friends in the "State of Repair". Every road we went on seemed to be under repair and speed limits of 40kph abounded. You certainly know how to boost employment there with all the STOP/SLOW people on the roads.
We met new(to us) people like Kiwi
Laura who is quite an intelligent
young mum with her Jonty in tow. Nice to meet you for that coffee
Laura and it was pleasant coffee even in maccas.
Further up the road we met with Member Garth J, who also drives towing a Karavan. Nice cup of tea at your
home mate, done just purfec. Was good to look over the Karavan as we have all tailored our own gear somewhat. Good to meet the face behind the 'voice'.
We then went on to stay with our old SD crossing friends Navigator 1, Charlie and Robyn. I had my bike with me too on the Karavan but the Hills of Caringbah were a trial with all I had to push! Thanks for your hospitatlity folks. I know how you enjoy EO now too, meeting so many EO people since your first gathering in
The Pyrenees last November.
Sunday Lunch with Member Willie (Epping) and Narelle was a treat and to meet Gramps too. I guess none of us is quite what is expected, it was great to meet these
Sydney folks. We have exchanged many quips over the last few years and it was great to see the faces and the characters behind the screen names.
We drove onwards and stayed in a CVP at
Nelson Bay where I had another opportunity to get on my bike and gently get around. Met another KK owner too, not far from there. We were able to find him despite the deficiencies of Whereis V12 mapping. Nice to meet you Darcy.
We then went out to
bush camp at the Forestry Park in Chichester Forest. The guys there had just cut the grass so we had a lovely spot with the kookaburras and currawongs. Just after we arrived a forestry guy arrived with a couple of logs to keep the fire going all night and
cook brekkie too. Good to meet and yarn a bit with him and he was pretty helpful minimising what we needed to collect.
Then off to the
Goulburn River National Park for another night
bush camping. Lovely spot reccommended by Navigator 1. We went in the full way to the far
camp there up a 4x4 track. Another camper at the earlier
camping area. Facinating to think of that peaceful river running the banker that helped to flood
Newcastle.
Onwards to
Mudgee the next day and do a couple of wineries before meeting with Heather's relos. Later that night in the cvp at
Lithgow!
Next day to see for the first time on the road another KKaravan. Towed by a Nissan. They didn't answer on ch 18 so I don't know iff they had a
UHF radio. We were to meet with Member Pete S later at the choicest spot of Mount Druitt shopping centre. Not a place he normally frequents either. Good to meet you Pete after talking so often. Pete is a KKaravan owner too.
We drove out to
Wombeyan caves that night to
bush camp again and treck through a
cave on a guided tour the next day. 800 metres through the
cave and it was pretty interesting to think about the number of caves in the local system. About 512 apparently but three that are usually publicly trafficed.
Later that day we drove down to a cvp at Albury. People next day telling me that they assumed we would take a while to set up so were surprised when they turned away we had set up and the lights were on inside. The comment was pretty negative about the costs of towning larger vans. They pondered that thee may be more pop-tops or even Karavans in the future to minimise drag and frontal area.
Our last day in Cockroach County was visiting a
young couple we met on our first time up the
Strzelecki Track that had rolled their car on the third day of their honeymoon. They had rolled three times and we spent over half a day with them that time making sure that they could access Moomba and the Santos people had provided for them. Santos organised a truck space for their car and air transport for them to get to
Adelaide that night. It was joyous to see them in their
home and meet their
young son too.
We arrived
home Monday afternoon in daylight after a lovely time away and it really highlighted the enjoyment we have in meeting with old friends and new. Extending hands in friendship and fellowship. I am sure we will welcome many if not all of the friends here at some time in the future. Thank you one and all