We are leaving today, sad to go but we need to start the long trek. Said our goodbyes to Marion before she went to work. We left Laurie just before 10 am, a bit emotional, but we will be back next year.
Off down the Mount Lindsey Highway towards Beaudesert, it is getting warmer, stopped at a rest area just before Rathdowney where and American on a motorbike stopped and asked to look at our map, he was looking for some interesting roads so showed him the road to Queen Mary Falls, he went off a happy chappy. South of Rathdowney took the road up and around Mount Lindsey
then the road to Tabulam, unfortunately they are doing a lot or road repairs (the road surface is terrible). decided to stop at Crooked Creek rest area for the night and just put out the back awning and sleep in the Landrover tonight (now back in New South Wales), and eat out of store cupboard. Clouding over a bit as evening draws in, and a caravan has pulled up for the night.
30 November Wednesday
Good night sleep for both of us. Caravan left early, and we moved on at 9ish heading down Bruxner Highway to Tenterfield, it is like driving in the English countryside, probably why the area is called New England.
Went straight to information centre and met a very helpful woman who gave us ideas of places to visit. Found a bakery and had breakfast and then went food shopping before booking into the showground for 2 nights (only $20), and it is short walk to town centre. Got set up and lazed around talking to other campers before going for a walk round the town, it is really pretty.
Back to stir-fry for dinner with brocolli, it was lovely followed by melon (Colin said he was going back to Brisbane as they don't have brocolli)
1 December Thursday
Bit of a chilly night and noisy with people shouting in the distance. Most of the other campers left early this morning. IT IS RAINING. Decided to visit Bald Rock
north of Tenterfield, it is the biggest exposed granite rock in Australia. We walked through forest to the base of the rock but the surface was too wet and slippery for us to climb which is a shame as the views are supposed to be stunning. Before we drove off spotted an adult kangaroo with a young one,
Colin managed to get photos.
further along the road we came across some more,
so exciting, it made up for the bad weather.
We then stopped at Thunderbolt's Hideout, had lunch in Landrover whilst poured with rain. Frederick Wordsworth Ward (aka Captain Thunderbolt) (1835–25 May 1870) was an
Australian bushranger renowned for escaping from Cockatoo Island, and also for his reputation as the "gentleman bushranger" and his lengthy survival, being the longest roaming bushranger in Australian history. The area is full of colossal sized Granite boulders.
This is where his hide out was, between two that formed two Caves. He could see for quite a long way!
He also used it to plan attacks on the north-south road. This area is so rocky, I think he would have been very hard to find. we started to walk back through the forest towards the Tank traps but my waterproof had given up trying to keep me dry so we went back to vehicle, I had to take off my t shirt as soaked through and put on a jumper till we got back to camp, where typically the weather is brighter. Colin started to take his boots and socks off and noticed blood on his ankles
LEECHES UGH
He has a ring of blood on both ankles, they had got to him through his thick boot socks, I was feeling smug till whilst taking off my socks I saw a big leech, then saw the blood on my legs still with leeches attached (horrible), Colin knocked them off me, one had got to just below my knee. I had the biggest but colin had the most. It took ages for the blood to stop flowing.
2nd December Friday
Rain in the night and cold, its now sunny but very windy forecast is brightening as day goes on. Rose left site with trousers on. On New England Highway, lovely road. Past a sign DUNDEE BALD KNOB RD. couldnt stop in time to take a photo. Not so lovely road further on, the pot holes are treacherous.
We stopped in Glen Innes for a look around, the buildings are lovely(for those that have been following the blog they are much better than Napier)
despite the bagpipes playing on the town hall balcony for 30 mins.(its a very Scottish town). After lunch went through Armidale, on the road south saw lots of hot rods towing tiny caravans, they must be going to a show. Stopped at Urulla for bread and to see the statue of Thunderbolt
(who is burried in the town), before carring on to our camp at Bendemeer. The site is right beside the rodeo ring and Creek river,
nice spot and the sun has come out.
It is very strange as we have driven through Dundee, Glencoe, LLangothlan, and seen a sign for Kentucky.
Went for a stroll after dinner, saw some very colourful parrots
and got talking to a couple who hade been on the site at Tenterfield, they are in a small bus and have been travelling for nearly 2 years(she is Oz and he is from Lancashire), they advised us to check road conditions to Dubbo due to the recent flooding.We now have internet so checked emails in bed.
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