I had planned to do
Innamincka gathering (I was packed) but opted to fix the damage done by white ants first, so unpacked. By the time I had rebuilt all the damage it was too late to do
Innamincka and do it justice. Would have liked to have met the members from the last gathering and meet others, but that’s how it goes, next time.
I did manage to escape for a few days,
Wednesday lunch time a quick decision made after my sheeting for my renovations arrived to head to my brothers place to spend a few days while mum was also there visiting from Victoria.
A male type pack (everything just tossed in from the dryer and hope you washed everything) so far so good. The idea was as usual set up the tent air bed and crawl in very warm (hopefully) sleeping bag.
All gear in I point the rodeo south at 3 pm a quick fuel up, shoot over to the centenary freeway and run into bumper to bumper traffic crawling all the way to Gailes (bugger), eventually I make the
Warwick exit. The run to
Tenterfield was uneventful managed a little rain just after
Stanthorpe; the odd police vehicle was out and about as
well. Have to watch that fixed speed camera coming into
Tenterfield as it’s only a 50 zone as for all the speed cameras.
I arrived in
Tenterfield just after 7pm and figured this will be interesting to locate a
camping spot, listening to the radio I hear the morning was going to be -4 so that made finding a tent site easy, I found a room at a Golden Chain Motel $65.00 I had dinner at the
Tenterfield Tavern, they have great Lamb Shanks $19.00
Up early to find as expected the morning to be rather crisp and with the wind blowing made packing the vehicle quick but freezing. I made good time to Glenn Innes and fuelled up at the
Caltex heading into town I decided to have breakfast and ordered bacon and eggs and cappuccino ($15.00) which turned out to be huge with 4 – 5 rashers of bacon two eggs half plate of chips and 4 slices of bread, hence to say I never finished, neither did the 3 other guys having the same meal.
On paying the service station attendant he advised I will have to be careful as the road was closed because of snow south of town and to watch for the warning signs. Listening to the truckies they indicated the road was clear just be watchful and to be careful at Black Mountain. I noticed snow on mountains just south of balancing rock and over the fields the further south I travelled.
Guyra was covered in snow and looked very nice should have taken some photo’s but wanted to make The Oaks before nightfall.
Police were giving the
Tamworth to Murrurundi a bit of a work over particularly the Murrurundi end. A quick stop over in
Singleton to grab a bite to eat and I headed for Bulga to do the
Putty Rd run to Windsor, this was a very nice drive and one I would like to spend a bit more time at. Mind you with the number of crosses on the mountain road this simply highlighted that the road was to be carefully watched, the road was steep and windy in
places but otherwise good. A stop at the half way roadhouse was interesting and it appears you can
camp there. An hour and a bit and I was near Windsor and managed to take a wrong turn and headed to Liverpool and this took a bit of messing about to get on a road to The Oaks.
Friday dropped into David’s (aka signman) workplace and we chatted for while before I had to leave to pick mum up, nice to meet you David, from their mum and I just did a bit of the tourist thing and finally opted to head back and just relax for the rest of the day.
I visited Nattai Reserve with mum, which is on top of one of the old coal mining locations all over looking Lake Burragarang and is a top viewing location with bush walks.
Monday I headed off and once again dropped into David’s (signman) place for a quick cuppa and chat. I decided to return the way I came, over the
putty road, on my travels I came across a tow truck winching on a rather damaged range rover onto the tray that had come to grief, hope all were ok and no addition to the crosses on that road. I made Bulga in time for lunch at the Cockfighters pub, nice steak sandwich.
Chatting with the publican and a local they feel the price of fuel has had an impact on the tourist to the area the publican said instead of 3 staff in the kitchen for lunches (over the school holidays in the past) it was only him doing the cooking as the tourist numbers are only but a handful per previous school holidays, instead of packed out at lunch times. He was not an isolated case, of course there could be many other reasons but that’s seems to be what many people are saying.
Anyway I was hoping to make
Guyra for night but only managed Armidale (must stop taking so many photo’s). Once again opted for motel, Golden Chain $82.00 meal I had at the
St Kilda Pub (I think was the name) for a rump steak $12.00 a huge feed and I could not finish it.
Off
bright and early and more photo’s taken I still managed
Tenterfield in good time and following signmans information I elected to do the Mt Lindsay Highway, I’m pleased I did, what a great trip and I will return and do it some real justice. I visited Thunderbolds Hideout (impressive),
tank traps from WW2, Busket Swamp falls and
Boonoo Boonoo falls. Fees $7.00 per day vehicle and $5.00 night
camping.
Camp site area have plenty of tables and bbqs with drop
toilets. Had a bit of a chuckle at one of the comments in the book by a person from New
York, “drop
toilets how cool is that”.
Yes I took more photo’s but time was running out so I headed home finally arriving just on 5pm Tuesday.
Fuel ULP
Brisbane – 144.9, Glen Innes – 165.9, Muswellbrook – 164.4 (E10), Picton – 166.9, Murrurundi 169.9,
Aratula – 155.9
Diesel in Qld around 179.9 NSW varied but seemed mostly around 190.9
I may explore the E10 a bit more my paperwork shows I got at least another 50 klms out of that
tank.
Sorry bit long winded
Brian