Day 6 - 11

Day 6 – Dubbo

We got to Dubbo in the rain and filled up petrol only to discover the Transit fuel cap lock had given up. With failed attempts to fix it with the Leatherman I decided it was necessary to get a new one. First stop Autobahn. The guy in the shop was so helpful he came out and tried to fit it himself to the Transit but with no luck. So then next to Auto One. This time I decided to fit it myself and I was in luck, also the fuel cap lock was on special for $10. After that we went to Information Centre to see what is to do in Dubbo besides the Zoo. Because of the rain we didn’t wan’t to go to the zoo so we went to see a movie – Killers. After that we found our campsite 10kms out of Dubbo besides a river where 2 other campers were also.

Day 7 - Dubbo Western Plains Zoo

We got up to a bit of sun and headed for the Zoo. It was not busy for a Saturday because of all the rain. They are also doing a lot of work on the zoo and several exhibits are closed. We chose to walk the 5km circuit instead of driving or hiring one of the safari electric golf buggies. The rain held out for most of our visit while Anthea filled the 4gb camera card.

After the zoo we headed for the pub to see a singer songwriter and eat a $6.50 schnitzel. The schnitzel was great but the singer never turned up so we headed for the bottle shop where the young shopkeeper told us some stories about some of his local patrons. When we got back to our campsite for the 2^nd night it was almost at capacity with all sorts of travelers pulled up for the night.

Day 8 – Warrumbungle National Park

We made porridge and got talking to the campervan couple close to us – a grey nomad couple in their 70’s who have invited us to their dairy farm when we pass through Victoria. After 3 hours of comparing our rigs (they had floating floorboards & gas heater) we finally got away and headed for Warrumbungle National Park.

At the Information Centre a young couple came in who we saw in a Kombi camper at the zoo, then again at the campsite. We had a bit of a chat before packing our backpacks and hiking up the mountain for the night.

We got the campsite at about 5pm and set up camp next to the hut. We are in the mountains. Beautiful views. A little cloud, but mostly sun. The hut cost $10 but what a rip-off when we have our new tent we’ve only tried out in the backyard! After pitching the tent we got to dinner- risotto with Italian salami sausage. It got dark. Stars.

7pm a little rain.

7.10pm a lot of rain, a lot of wind, a lot of cold. We moved our tent under the hut’s awning out of the wind. 8pm in the tent.

Next 10 hours- about 2 hours worth of sleep. The wind through the trees sounded like the sea was coming for us. The temperature without the wind chill was officially -1. We had warm sleeping bags. We were protected by the hut from most of the wind and rain and general blizzard weather.

Day 9 – Warrumbungle NP to Warren

We got out when it was light and it had stopped raining but still overcast. We decided to continue the 14.5km circuit up to the Breadknife and Grand High Tops and back down to the van. The views from top were spectacular, minus the fog. It rained along the way. We got back to the van and the orange Kombi was parked next to us. After figuring out where to drive to next the couple turn up and we exchange stories about the walk.

It was late. The nearest town in our direction was Gilgandra. We stopped there at 5.30. The town was shut except for a little supermarket and a Chinese restaurant. The supermarket had no suitable meat so we splurged in the Chinese restaurant. 1970’s décor, TV on in front of the heater we felt at home chowing down on chilli beef, special fried rice, boneless lemon chicken with crown lager and green tea. I passed on the prawn crackers and fried ice cream. It was great.

We drove in the dark past Warren to Sandy Creek. Very quiet.

Day 10 – Warren to McCullough Range

We woke up to sun. A little spring cleaning was in order. Got away at 9am. Got to Nyngan (a one street town) for petrol and shopping. We did some grocery shopping. Anthea being female went shopping and bought a new pair of jeans which were taken up by Dawn. I was in the computer shop doing emails. The computer man was very helpful and was a keen traveller himself. He strongly warned us against even stopping in WILCANNIA. After we picked up Anthea’s jeans, and Dawn herself warned us about WILCANNIA. We had lunch at bakery and headed off. I got petrol at Cobar and stopped 55kms before Wilcannia. Dinner: Vegetables with chicken and cous cous. It was a vegetable special because we are getting close to the border and will have to throw out all the fruit & veg we have. I go to bed waiting to see what Wilcannia will be like! Lots of stars… And occasional B-doubles passing by.

Day 11 – McCullough Range to Port Germein SA

We woke up early, actually 5.15am. Got on the road by 7am. It was freezing. Drove through Wilcannia and onto Broken Hill. Had to stop to throw out all the fruit & veg we bought because of the fruit fly zone. Ended up going to the Pro Hart gallery, which was amazing, His outdoor sculptures were across the road from the gallery. Then filled up petrol again.

During the long drive we entertained ourselves by discussing the etiquette of waving to passing motorists, and scaring goats, birds and sheep with the horn.

Got to Port Germein (about 250kms north of Adelaide) about 4pm and checked into the caravan park right on the water, 200 metres from the longest jetty in the world (1700 metres long). In the warmer months this is the ideal spot for blue swimmer crabs & fishing. Went to the local store to buy some new veges and checked out the pub, which had a nice log fire going. Did the clothes washing. Dryer broken but I twisted the caretakers arm to let us use his own dryer. The caravan park was quite muddy and busy enough with many 4WD’s & their caravans.

Went for a walk to the jetty, then to the pub. Friendly locals, all probably work in the mines close by.

Cooked up a mean dinner in the outdoor camp kitchen - sausages, onion, tomatoes & eggs, & chatted with some other travellers who are cattle farmers. Had a shower and settled in.