Through The New England Tablelands

Monday was a fairly miserable damp sort of day and even though there is nothing worse than trying to pack up when everyone and everything is the same, there was no point in staying in the Warrumbungles whilst it was like that so off we went further north.  We hunted and gathered in Coonabarabran, gave The Turtle a nice long drink and even got caught up in a funeral procession - what a morning!!

Travelled through to Narrabri then took the turn off to Bingara.  Along the way, Team Turtle passed through the outskirts of  Mount Kaputar National Park.  It was still raining so we had to give our walk to Sawn Rocks a miss.  A very big shame as we had heard that they were very impressive.

Our planned overnight stopover was to be a place called Rocky Creek.  What we hadn't realised, until we arrived there, was that Rocky Creek was also an ancient Glacial Area.  Only one other family were there and we managed to find a great spot right on the cliff overlooking the creek.

Team Turtle's Dinner View

To help us dry out after the dampness of the day, The Captain found some twigs lying around and gave it his best attempt to start a nice warming fire.  With the assistance of a little accelerant, we had a lovely blaze going.  Unfortunately, we hadn't brought our camp oven with us on this trip and were unable to whip up a damper for dessert!  But, it was a great fire!!

Blazing Away

The following morning dawned bright and clear so we set off on an amble up (and down) the creek.  The boulders were fascinating and the water a little bit cool but we thoroughly enjoyed the couple hours that we spent there.

It Took A While To Look Like This!

We eventually stopped drooling over rocks and got moving once more.  Lunch break in Bingara, slipped through Inverell and pulled up at another little rest area called Swan Brook - halfway between Inverell and Glen Innes.  Nice but very, very cold!!  As we were headed towards Swan Brook we noticed that the storm clouds were gathering, getting very low and extremely dark - oops, we were in for a nasty storm!  Not to worry - the Turtle gods must have been looking after us as Team Turtle pulled into the rest area about five minutes after the storm - thank goodness for that!!

Another Storm Gathering Over Team Turtle

The Light Shining Thru The Clouds

And then it was Wednesday and the last leg of our latest little journey.  Completed a nice circle and it only took us seven weeks!

The best parts - The New Boat had her maiden voyage and The New Look Team Turtle behaved admirably.

Team Turtle has now settled back into its little pond at Coffs Harbour where it will attempt to regain some financial integrity before its next journey into the wilds of Australia.  When might this happen??  Who knows but you will be kept up to date!!

Wandering Into The Warrumbungles

Friday morning was a nice crisp morning as we awoke to the quietness of the Yeoval Showground.  A nice easy beginning as we headed north to Dubbo.  A couple of more sculptures at the local school....

It's a Tortoise

Running late for School

There were a few more before Dubbo - once more very imaginative but you came across them far too quickly to stop!

Stopped for morning tea and lunch with The Captain's friend and seeing how it was so late, decided to stop for the night halfway between Gilgandra and Coonabarabran at a little spot called Hickey's Falls.

Early Morning At The Falls

Our original plans to travel back to Coffs Harbour did not entail too much deviation but, after a little bit of research, Team Turtle thought that it would be nice to go and check out the rocks in The Warrumbungle National Park.  We backtracked from Hickeys Falls for about 18 klms so that we could go into the Park from Tooraweenah and then do the full circuit to Coonabarabran when we had had enough of rocks.

There are some wonderful facilities here at the Park and after setting up camp and having some lunch we headed out.  Our first stop was The Siding Spring Observatory.  

The Main Part of The Observatory

As it was then getting a bit late, we explored the White Gum Lookout and stayed there for the sunset.  It wasn't the greatest sunset but still, very enjoyable.

Whitegum Trees at The Lookout

The Western Skyline

Yesterday (Sunday) was our big walking day.  The decision was for a 12.5 klm round trip to "The Grand High Tops".  This walk would eventually take us right up to The Breadknife - one of the magnificent geological landforms that are part of The Warrumbungles.

First stop (after 2 klms) was Spirey View Lookout

On the Rocks

Our ultimate destination would be the sharp pointy bits in the top left hand corner (The Breadknife).  The pathway itself was well paved but very steep and then there were the stairs as we got closer to the top.  We didn't count them as we were concentrating on just getting up them.  Finally made it and all very worthwhile.  The Breadknife itself is between 2 and 4 metres wide and has a very decided lean to it - much like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It was with much consternation that we sat near it to finally have our lunch.  As The Captain mentioned "hope we don't get an earth tremor whilst we are up here as it may not be very pretty!"  Fortunately it didn't happen and we did make it back down safely.

The Breadknife from further Up In The World.

The Valley to the South West

That's How Thin It Is!!

There are, of course, several other remnant volcanic landforms in the Park but the walks to, and around, them were a lot longer and of a greater degree of difficulty so we didn't try and do them.  We both slept very well last night all ready for another day in the rocks.  Unfortunately, it is raining quite steadily this morning (Monday) and it would be silly to do any sort of a walk (phew) and so with much regret we are breaking camp and hitting the road once more :-((

Byways to Dubbo

Yes, on the move again!

After nearly a week in beautiful downtown Canowindra and enjoying the fantastic displays put on by the hot air balloons, we decided to break camp and start heading north again.  We had started chatting to other 'grey nomads' whilst in Canowindra and they suggested that we check out The Animals On Bikes display between Molong and Dubbo.  Hmm, why not and besides, it was going to be a brand new road for Team Turtle to travel on!

After a quick trip to Harden and back to visit another cousin of The Deckie, we put Team Turtle back together again and headed off.

First stop was Orange and Greg's front yard.  The road between Canowindra and Orange was very rough and just a small hiccup when the brake thingy on the trailer came loose and every time we went over a bump, the brake engaged.  It was no wonder that The Captain kept wondering why the trailer wasn't pulling very well!  Fortunately, there wasn't any damage and the little brake thingy has been adjusted so that it shouldn't happen again!

After a late start (cause we went to bed very late) we started northwest to Molong and the start of the Animals On Bikes on the Obley Highway.  There are 111 sculptures along the side of the road and it is so wonderful that there are so many talented people around with some wonderful ideas.  It would have been even better if we could have stopped and taken photos of every one of the sculptures but that would have been impossible and sometimes a little bit dangerous.  The road verges were not always conducive to pulling over and quite often we came across some sculptures very quickly.  Not a good idea try and pull up a heavy vehicle in a short time span - the consequences could be ugly!

Rosie the Redback Spider

Pigs on a Bike (right outside the Cumnock Police Station)

Caterpillar at Cumnock Pre-School

 So many sculptures........

After this hectic little trip, Team Turtle pulled into the hamlet of Yeoval - about 40 klms south of Dubbo and managed to find a very cost effective camping area at the Showground.  Nice and quiet, with power and television reception - what more can one ask for!!

More sculptures tomorrow to finish off and then possibly morning tea with an old friend of The Captain in Dubbo.  After that, not real sure, but it will be somewhere further north!!

Canowindra

Apparently it is pronounced "ca-noun-dra" not "can-o-win-dra" and woe betide anyone who does pronounce it the wrong way.  You will be hung, drawn, quartered and run out of town!!

It is a quaint little place and, unfortunately, with a lot of empty commercial buildings.  The lure of the big smoke - Cowra and Orange - would have been the downfall of these previous businesses.  But we were not here for the shops (well, one of us wasn't), but to enjoy what was on offer during their annual balloon festival!

First port of call on the touristy list was The Age of Fishes Museum.  Spent a couple of hours working our way around this very interesting place.  An outdoor area was a pathway, with signage, meandering through the different geological time periods, where our continent was and what the local area was like when the fossils were actually fish!  The indoor exhibits had the original blocks of rocks showing the fossils and other great stuff.

The Mosaic in the Museum's Foyer

Out the front of the Museum, they had some placed some intriguing sculptures to replicate some of the fossils that had been found in the area.  Quite sure that I would not have liked to have had to face them!

Now that is a decent fish

In the meantime, The Deckie's eldest daughter and family had also arrived in town and so we spent some enjoyable time with them during the weekend.

 

Saturday was the first day that the hot air balloons had their practice flights and being very dedicated tourists, we were up very bright and early - even before the sun - and off to the nearby oval where the balloons were leaving from.  Not ever been to an event like this before, we were not entirely sure of what to expect.  Lots of vehicles with all of the gear in their trailers pulled up, disgorged their loads and then the occupants started organising their balloons and hot air (lots of blokes around so that wasn't a problem) with the assistance of a group of volunteers.  Within a few moments, the balloons were inflated and they were off.  A wonderful sight so early in the morning!

Getting Organised

A Bit of a Rise

A Point of Interest for the Crowd

A Blast of Hot Air

All Ready for Lift Off

Up, Up and Away!

After all of the balloons had sailed away, The Captain and The Deckie returned to The Turtle for a warming beverage, breakfast and to try and have a bit more sleep.  The Deckie decided it was best to have the first two and then hit the shops and galleries.  Much better than sleeping!

Lots of nice paintings and things but the best part had to be the book shop.  This particular shop had lots of secondhand books as well as collectables and so some considerable time was spent perusing the shelves.  It was with considerable restraint that The Deckie only bought three books although if she was really strong, could have walked out without buying anything.  But then that wouldn't have helped the local economy at all.

Saturday evening and it was back to the oval where the Festival committee had organised Food and Wine Markets to coincide with the Balloon Glow.  Lots of different food and wine stalls to tempt the very large crowd and then the highlight of the evening when all of the hot air balloons were inflated and illuminated.  A great spectacle!!

Yep, it's a Kookaburra!

More of the Balloons

The local Garden Club had also organised the opening of six gardens on Sunday and for a small donation we received a map and headed off.  The first garden was the local Public School where they have transformed a very dry and dusty school yard into an oasis.  All of the gardens were different - from a very old one, very formal, fairly new, a combined vegie and flower garden and a 'work in progress'.

The Very Old Garden

The 'Work in Progress' Garden

"Twins" enjoying an Autumn Garden

As if we had not had enough of gardens, Monday morning saw both families heading into Cowra to visit the Japanese Gardens.  Totally different than the day before and yes, very tranquil indeed.  We hired a couple of Audio Tour Guides (which helped keep The Grandson amused), fed the fish and generally had a great time.

The Family Feeding the Fish

The View From the Top

Today, Tuesday, is a rest day.  It is also very windy so any touristy stuff would be a little bit uncomfortable.  Off to see another cousin of The Deckie tomorrow and then we are probably heading to points further north.  The only unfortunate thing was that we didn't to a hot air balloon ride. Not a big disappointment as there are many other places that we can do one!

M.I.A.

Or - Moruya In Autumn!

An enjoyable (nearly) two weeks spent on the outskirts of beautiful Moruya at The Deckie's eldest sister's property.  It was only going to be a social visit (and to stay off the roads over Easter) but we managed to do a little bit of gardening and cleaning up as well.  At least it was one way to keep fit and to certainly make us sleep of a night time!

We also managed to get in a couple of days "fishing".  The first day was on the Moruya River - lots of little fishies that literally sucked the bait off the hook as their teeth were not very big.  Obviously it is a case of the decent sized fish not having worked their way back up the river after the recent heavy rains!

Definitely not big enough!

Our next "fishing" expedition was on the Tuross River - about twenty klms south of Moruya.  Once more, a very nice day on the water.  We travelled as far up the river as we could before the river narrowed considerably and a slight misjudgement (by The Captain) ran us aground on a submerged log.  Fortunately, the motor was undamaged and aluminium boats are reasonably easy to slip off sharp, pointy things with a little bit of encouragement.

After our small hiccup, we stopped on a nearby river bank for lunch and a refreshing, very quick dip in the water.  At least in this part of the country we can do this and not have to worry about crocodiles and other big bities lying in wait.

Lunch Spot on the Tuross River

After lunch, we headed back down the river, tried our hands a lure fishing and even managed to catch a fish.  If it had been just a little bit older (and longer) he would have made a beautiful meal.

Not Happy!

After the jewellery was removed from its mouth, our little flattie was returned to the water and told to grow up!  Not long after this, the wind started whistling up the lake and river so we decided to call it a day and head back home.

This was a good thing as The Deckie had to rest up for a big shopping day the next day.

On Monday morning, The Deckie and The Eldest Sister headed into Mogo to check out a few shops.  A very busy little place but most enjoyable - especially the secondhand bookshops and coffee/fudge shop.  It was a shame that the two house dogs (belonging to The Eldest Sister) managed to eat most of the fudge that we had inadvertently left on the dining room table that night.

Wednesday and it was time for Team Turtle to pack up and move on.  We had to put The New Boat onto the top of the trailer and also The Rav into its travelling position.  The Team didn't leave Moruya until after lunch and our first challenge was going to be the climb up Clyde Mountain.  

Clyde Mountain has a very steep gradient (in parts) and The Deckie was under the impression that The Captain had travelled this road on at least one previous occasion so that he knew what to expect.  It was not until we had reached the summit that The Deckie found out that this was The Captain's first time ever!  Wow, one has to admire The Captain's skills!!

Just west of Braidwood, Team Turtle came across a camping reserve on the banks of the Shoalhaven River where we set up camp for the evening.

Upper Reaches of the Shoalhaven River

Another lovely spot, but once the sun went to bed, the temperature started to drop and kept dropping.  As there was no 240v power and no generator to produce any 240v power, we were unable to turn the heater on and had to go to bed earlier than normal just to generate our own heat and stay warm!!

Today, Thursday, we headed further inland and northish.  Another challenge was now before us - getting through Canberra.  Well, as it turned out it wasn't even a hiccup and we literally sailed through the CBD with barely a cross word between The Driver and The Navigator and no wrong turns.  What is the world coming to?

Team Turtle is now safely ensconced in Canowindra where, over the next week, some of us will be checking out their Balloon Festival and maybe even taking a balloon flight.  Now, won't that be something to talk about?