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I note our last part of our travels as relayed to the group ended at our arrival at the camp spot on top of Mt.
Panorama car racing track at Bathurst. We ended up staying three nights at that large and rather unique spot where there are
close to 360 degree views and quite good facilities for travellers.
From there we travelled through Bathurst City and started to follow the Mid Western Highway. The first town is
Blayney which we found friendly and convenient for shopping. We can recommend the first hotel on a corner on the right when
entering the town from the north. We ended having two great counter lunches there .. the daily menu and price is displayed
on a board outside .. something that appeals to us.
About 10 km past Blayney is the turn off to Carcoar Dam. Lots of other travellers have mentioned this spot, so it was
a "must visit" item. I must admit, it didn't initially appear as expected. The ground is mostly all sloping, it is difficult
(for us) to get access to some camp spots and there is a power line running right across the area. However, closer inspection
revealed a nice spot where we had an uninterrupted view of the water and was a reasonable distance from the dreaded power
line. The toilets and showers are cleaned daily and I was amazed how beautifully clean they were. The cleaner was there one
day when I was there to fill a couple of our water bottles, so I complimented him on their cleanliness. This lead to a long
yarn about the place and the local area. There is a large windfarm opposite the campspot which provides an additional
interest.
We ended up staying 5 nights, and as supplies were getting low, we decided to travel back into Blayney. We knew the
facilities there and it was an opportunity for another counter meal! It was then a matter of retracing our steps to the
Carcoar Dam turn off then a couple of km later to a rest area we were aware of. As there appeared to be no further rest areas
for quite a distance ahead, we decided to stay the night. I figured it would only be a couple of km over the hills to Carcoar
Dam, but what the heck!
The next day we continued to Cowra where we visited the Japanese Gardens. For those who are not aware, there was a
Japanese POW/internment camp at Cowra during WW2. We had vague ideas of overnighting in the Gardens car park as another
traveller had done. However, it didn't really appeal and as it was just after lunch time, we decided to continue ahead. About
5 km west of Cowra we turned north along the road to Forbes. About half way to Forbes is the town of Gooloogong. Here there
are signs along the highway "caravan park 200m ahead. However, there is no external sign at the actual spot. We eventually
worked out that one must drive in behind the playground where there a number of small council signs "free caravan park, free
toilets, showers and power. We stayed a couple of nights without power the decided to check out another camp spot just out
of town.
That camp spot appeared impractical and unattractive to us, so we returned to the free caravan park. Info in one
camp book said that one must pay for power at the store opposite. So we visited the store, but the owner said, in effect,
the power was council business not his. He said the sign indicated the power was free so "just use it" .. which we then did.
We both had haircuts from Cathy who was born and bred in Gooloogong. She cuts hair at the at the rear of her antiques/arts
and crafts business that she runs at the weekends. During the week she works at the large dairy farm just out of town. In
between all that, she has her own small farm. For a grandmother, she must be a busy lady!
From Gooloogong we travelled via a backroad to Grenfell and thus back to the Mid Western Highway. We walked around
the business area and did a little shopping then continued on about 9km to a rest area where we stayed the night. The next
day we travelled further west to Caragabal where we had ideas of staying the night. The town turned out to bordering on a
ghost town with the general store on one side of the highway closed down. The pub opposite was also closed and the water from
the taps in the park are between, was the colour of mud. These features plus the rest area being very ordinary caused us to
press on ahead.
We decided to take some back roads, south to near Quandialla, then west to the Newell Highway just out of West
Wyalong. This sealed route proved interesting, lots of very dry country and next to no traffic. Thus we arrived at the Newell
Highway. One only travels a km or so to the junction of the road south to Temora and Wagga Wagga. Now travelling south, we
checked out a couple of potential camp spots but found them very ordinary and close to the road. We noted quite a bit of
heavy truck traffic on this road, so a camp spot a distance off the road is desirable if one wants a quiet night.
Just on the outskirts of Temora, is Centenary Lake which proved to be quite an expanse of water with great facilities
and a massive sized sealed parking area. All this was being utilised by one vehicle at the time of our visit. However, all
this infrastructure is locked up during the hours of darkness. This, to us looking for an overnight camp spot, seems just a
waste. One would like to see the authority responsible, may be with a little prodding, open up the area at night time to
travellers. Thus, they could keep "us" around their town a few days, to their economic (and other) advantage. They probably
have a number of good reasons, from their viewpoint, why this isn't practical. I like to think, with the will and cooperation
from both sides, it could be made to work.
So, we camped the night outside the locked gate to the above park. I had hoped to visit the Temora Aviation Museum.
The airstrip was visible from this camp spot, so it wasn't necessary to get directions. The big plus for this museum, as far
as I am concerned, is they restore aircraft (of my era) to flying condition and actually fly them. Heaven knows what it all
costs as, from memory, they have 8 full time paid aircraft engineers employed. After visiting the museum, we continued south
not shopping in Temora as a protest, for what it's worth, against them locking up Centenary Lake!
Still checking out potential camp spots, we arrived at the rest area at Wallacetown. Apart from the rest area which
has recently been completely refurbished, Wallacetown consists of a closed down servo. Our night there wasn't all that
peaceful as we found the spot to be quite popular with truckies coming and going all night. The next day we continued on to
Wagga Wagga where we found our way to Wilks Park. This spot is tucked into an odd corner formed by the Murrumbidgee River
and its associated waterways. We were surprised to find this large, free camp spot with most facilities so close to town. I
guess it's only a 5 minute walk back over the bridge to the start of the business district. We filled up with water, then
drove around a lot of the city trying to find fuel, gas, and food but found no suitable parking. Just north of the rest
area, as we started our long drive, we had noted a small general store/take away on a service road. So, we returned there,
did our small amount of shopping and had the gas cylinder refilled at a reasonable price. We then returned to the rest area
for the remainder of that day and the night.
Leaving Wagga, the next day, we came across the Toll depot which also sold fuel to the public. Designed for their
large trucks, it proved to be a great refuelling spot for us. Continuing south, now on the Olympic Highway, we stopped at
Yerong Creek township just off the highway where a sign indicated a rest area. At, what appeared could be the rest area,
there is another sign to the effect that overnight camping was possible at the recreation reserve back across the highway
and along the side road. We moved there, through a narrow (for us) gate and into the rec. ground. Here was another sign
indicating that a key was available for the facilities at a certain shop back in town or at the adjacent Bowling Club. A $6
per night fee applied. We didn't feel like driving back to the town, there was no one around the bowling club, so we decided
to stay without the facilities. Not sure if this is "correct thing" in the eyes of the organisers?
The next day, after a wet night, we continued south to the junction of the Hume Highway. I was under the impression
that the Hume Highway, the principal Sydney to Melbourne route, had been upgraded to dual lane. However, this isn't the case
as we found out. At Albury, we turned west to follow the Riverina Highway. The initial section in Albury is rather torturous
as it is now routed around the main street, but we were soon in the country and had a few views of the river. Alan, VK4HBN,
and XYL Val, VK4FAIR, had told us about a nice rest area at Howlong together with a great bakery in town. We investigated 2
spots, one on each side of the river. However, there were the dreaded "no camping" signs, courtesy of Howlong Council,
erected at both spots. Consequently, we didn't visit the bakery or any other shops, but continued south into Victoria to
find a legal spot on the Murray Valley Highway.
It was back into NSW the next morning and travelled west as far as Kyffins Reserve on Lake Mulwala. This large lake,
on the Murray River, is formed by a weir further downstream at Yarrawonga. There are numerous dead trees in the lake and we
were amazed to see people water skiing and so on, amongst them. They must be aware of the location of the snags, of which
there must be plenty. The following day, and further west along the Murray, we decided to investigate a camp spot called
Sandy Bend. A sign at the beginning of the track indicated it was 4km from the highway. About half way we were stopped by
a dead tree that had fallen across the track. Fortunately, only the top section of the tree was across the track and it was
possible to break off the offending branches and continue. A little further on, we had to clear some other dead wood from
the track. As we got close to the river there were a couple of muddy sections to be negotiated. It was rather nice on the
river, but the only possible camping spots were either on soft sand or under large river gums which have a habit of
shredding, often large, branches from time to time. Neither of the 2 spots appealed, so after some manoeuvering to turn
around, we left. We don't think anyone had visited that spot for some time, but we met a caravan on the way out. After
talking with us, he decided not to camp there either.
So, we continued on and found a camp spot on the river at Cottadidda State Forest. There is a minor hassle with
this spot, as the road crosses a small deep, but narrow valley. There is a boom gate at the entrance which we fitted through
with only about a foot to spare each side. This is OK, but on the return trip I was concerned that if we lost traction coming
up the short, but steep climb to the gate, we may have "cleaned up" one side or the other of the gate. All worked out OK, but
it may be a different story if the track was wet. From there we headed into Cobram to do some shopping etc. We ended up, by
accident, finding the convenient "caravan parking" parking spot we had used on our previous visit.
That night we spent on the river at Scotts Beach. I had been calling Ed, VK3BG, on a local repeater over the previous
couple of days. Just by chance, Eds brother in law, Darryl, VK3KL, heard me, called me, phoned Ed and got him up on air.
Thus, it was arranged to go out and visit Ed, who actually lives close to Tocumwal.
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