Leaving home , the road and towns included The golden hwy, cobar , south to Griffith , West in southern NSW then into NW Victoria and into SA.
We left Port Macquarie after a flurry to remove excess weight from the van, got 45 mins down the highway and we returned home to pick up important trip info accidentally unpacked in the flurry.
When at Kriztina’s at Thornton a day was spent with the twins and John doing last minute jobs on the van and then another disaster struck, the fridge has completely failed.
We couldnt get it replaced for six weeks at Newcastle so decided to continue on and survive on the two small compressor fridges we had as backup for very hot weather untill we can get the main caravan fridge replaced. Then the12 volt lead to the small fridge fails, replaced at Dubbo.
After a overnight at Dunedoo we arrived at Pauls in Cobar spending an extra day working out where to replace the fridge ….solution Adelaide but not for two weeks.
Lots of plans rearranged or cancelled and a new travel plan.
We go to leave Cobar, and the brake safe system is alarming and after numerous attempts John isolates and disconnects the alarm and we are off but it was still squealing so a second fixed at our morning tea stop.
New plan
South to Hiilston, Griffith & Balranald into top of Victoria and across to Adelaide.
Cobar to Hillston
A common site was road kill mostly small roos everywhere. The limited traffic allowing us to wind from one side of the road to the other to dodge them. There were lots of goats on the side of the roads but they turn into the bush as you approach unlike the dopey kangaroos
We got to Mount Hope, which is just a pub and metal sign we are on a road we havent been on before till we get to Hillston and Griffith.
Hillston
A well kept town, settled in 1863, its attractions a
suspension bridge which lead to the Lachlan river 1:2 km trail which we walked.
We sighted the water tower silo art , store murals and lake Woorabinda which is man made.
After an icecream in town we camped by the river for the night
Griffith
A town we had been to before and loved, especially its Italian restaurants. We camped at Lake Wyangan again for two nights, the heat horrendous high 30s.
We had lunch out at out our favorite restaurant La Corsa , bought Murray cod , fresh pasta and went to Griffith excellent bakery , kmart and other shops.
No sightseeing which was done last time we were here.
One extra night here in Griffith was spent in a van park while John spent the day at hospital emrgency department for a persistent pain in his side. The persistent pain was thought to be a Kidney stone in situ, no treatment…. Not Debbie Lol
Griffith via Hay , Balranald to Manangatang, a free camp opposite a pub with good facilities but not that appealing. However we did have an amazing sunset that night.
We stopped at Yanga national park for lunch. Viewed the old homestead and the lake followed by a 1 km walk along its edge.
Victoria NW and the Mallee area
day 9
We start the Yarriambiack silo trail for the next few days after Ouyen.
Stops included
Ouyen lake … recently man made and recreation fishing. The town known for its giant tree root seen on other trips
Patchwollock.….a tiny township with a forgotten railway giant mallee fowl statues and a silo art
Lascelles, more silo art and millions of biting march flies.
Hopetoun, a small town with a few murals and lake corrong homestead 1881 which was closed in the house and the yard littered with ” old junk”.
We camped at Lake Lascelles in Hopetoun for two nights a great camp on the lake, lots of vans and ski boats enjoying the lake.
Woomelang
A town with lots of mobile silos art , an old shearing shed and town murals.
Then to Yaapeet with town murals
Albacutya with a colourful mural on a property out of town.
Rainbow for lunch and see the town murals . A historical farmhouse Yarunga.
Then out to Pella to a historical lutheran church from 1911 and in the middle of nowhere.
Next we went bush to Lake Hindmarsh via outback creek ,the lake currently dry so back to our camp by the lake.
last day in Victoria
A decision to move quickly to Adelaide as John kidney stone? causing grief,
So through to Brim and another painted silo
Then Warracknabeal with some town murals and a lovely old PO
Dimboola we wander briefly around town and took a photo of its mural ,
The reserve in town looked worth a walk but with no time today we drove out to the silo at Arkona.
Then the pink salt lake outside of Dimboola. The pink colour is due to a combination of algae and bacteria that thrive in salty water. The algae secrete red orange and yellow pigments called carotenoids that combine with the algae water when the water becomes hypersaline.
and onto Nhill where we stopped at the pinball museum and a drive through town.
Kaniva for our last silo and the town had little painted sheep everywhere.
This district is known as Wimmera river system, by mid afternoon we crossed the SA border and stopped at Bordertown lake reserve for the night.
Next is the drive to Adelaide and a new blog.
