MEANDERING HOME.......

CHERYL, CAROLE & SUE

TUESDAY 4 - FRIDAY 7.11.2014: We are gradually making our way back to downtown Lemon Tree Passage. One more visit to make - Sue Pearsall is a friend and softball player from a time long ago when we were all young! Spent a couple of days catching up and resting. Big thank you to both Sue and Cheryl for their hospitality and great company.

THE FAREWELL PHOTO

Have to admit that our main travel tip from this outing is simple - after cleaning the motorhome and before departing check that all items are returned. Knives, hats and sunscreen just to name a few things, were left at home! Although not wealthy from the specking, fossicking and noodling we have as always loved our travels. The next scheduled trip is in January 2015 when we will be revisiting the Tamworth Music Festival - yeeha! Thank you to our blog followers, we hope you have again enjoyed the Leyland Sisters' misadventures. Have a great Christmas and a healthy and safe 2015.

RETURN TO URALLA

SATURDAY 1 - MONDAY 3.11.2014: Enjoyed our stay so much that we returned to Uralla Wooldridge Recreation & Fossicking Reserve. Madison and Shayden even went paddling in the water - more like Madison had a 'Pixie-Anne' moment and kept charging into the water. Neither surfaced the next day, little bit of a strain on the aging bodies! Carole again enjoyed her fossicking whilst Sybil (Nigel), and her new found friend Lizzy (lizard), communed with nature - very enjoyable and relaxing time. Question - how do you test a fossicker's reflexes, have a leech attach itself to the pan they are using! Certainly tested Carole's ability to react.

Met the equivalent of Eno the emu, but in the form of Mother Maggy. She has cleverly placed her nest high in the tree in the centre of the camping area. Each day she does the circuit of caravans requesting food for her screaming children.



TAMWORTH - POPULATION: 47,595

THURSDAY 30 - FRIDAY 31.10.2014: January 2015 will again see us visiting Tamworth and the Country Music Festival. Here is an idea, call into Tamworth before the crowds and pick up travel tickets. First issue, the Information Centre has been moved and none of the signs have been taken down. Found the Centre, but the travel bands would not be issued till next January, okay - is there any information we could collect, no! Exited Tamworth and headed to Bendemeer Rest Area ($5.00 Honesty Box).

"YOU KEEP A KNOCKIN', BUT YOU CAN'T COME IN!"

SOMERTON - POPULATION: 279

TUESDAY 28 - WEDNESDAY 29.10.2014: T-h-e H-E-A-T! By our third day at Lightning Ridge the temperature had hit 40 degrees - Sybil wilted! As with any trip we had determined a route that we were following - threw it out the window and we are now headed for the coast! First stop was at Oxleys Crossing Rest Area 37km W of Mullaley and then Somerton Hotel - Cathys Tavern. Passed the Warrumbungle Ranges (part of the National Park).

LIGHTNING RIDGE

GALE COLLINS

FRI 24 - MON 27.10.2014: We have no doubt made mention of how much we love Lightning Ridge and again this visit was no different. The main aim was to attend the final performance of the Black Queen by Gale Collins. The show was just as enjoyable as the last time we attended and Gale and Roger kindly provided a supper following their finale. We went back the following day and of course bought merchandise, then again returned the day after for a barbecue - yes , started to feel as though we were stalking them!  

SYBIL, CAROLE, GALE & ROGER




Carole had a little play in the mullock heap beside the Lightning Ridge Information Centre - surprise, no significant finds!


We stayed at the Crocodile Caravan Park and yes, we spent most of our time trying to eradicate the white dust collected from the 'Opal Fields'. Has to be said that Shayden the white poodle fairs much better in that environment - who would have thought! 

LIGHTNING RIDGE - POPULATION: ?

THUR 23.10.2014: Before leaving the Opal Fields area we made our way to Cumborah. Whilst 'noodling' Carole had a gem cutter and four locals stop to advise her that there was yet another road out past Cumborah that would definitely "have some colour!" There were many 'road meetings' held during Carole's time working on the roads. People would stop to make sure she was alright, advise better places to search and to wish her well! The heat kicked in and the pack decided to travel to their next destination - Lightning Ridge! 

GRAWIN, NSW

WED 22.10.2014: The morning was again spent on the 'white highway' searching for that elusive opal - did find some colour BUT........! Most 'field cars' were very considerate, but then you had the odd one that would leave the novice noodler covered in dust. After lunch the decision was made to return to Troy's secret place and see what fortune could be found (no luck). Spent the evening at the Club in the Scrub.

SHEEPYARD INN

TUESDAY 21.10.2014: We continued on the 'Yellow Car Door' trail and surprisingly headed for 'the long white road' - did  not anticipate that one! For some four hours Carole 'noodled' her way down the 'highway' with cars showering her with white dust each time they went by - have to admire Nav's dedication. Troy stopped to see how his student was managing, which is no mean feat given the car has no brakes.

Many of the miners driving their "field cars" (as they are called), obviously buy the cars second hand, unregistered and just drive them till they literally fall apart due to the rough roads. The car is then discarded on your property and the next one is bought. Last port of call was the Sheepyard Inn - time for a refreshment!



DISABILITY PARKING!

ONE KNACKERED NOODLER!



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No matter where you travel to in Australia, you will always be able to find a Hills Hoist!



GLENGARRY, NSW

MONDAY 20.10.2014: Onward to Glengarry, but not before taking a photo of the golf course at Grawin. Next stop was the common fossicking pile where all the tourists are permitted to try their luck. Fossicker Peel went up a v-e-r-y large mound of quarried rock that is continually dumped by the local miners. Domestic Goddess Sybil stayed in the motorhome cooking a pasta salad for lunch.

After about an hour Carole appears at the door "a man said he will take me to a better site for a small fee of $20.00". Sybil's response "I need 5 more minutes for the pasta!" We hurriedly packed everything away and followed Troy to the Road Closed sign (which was removed and replaced), then up yet another hill to the secret location. Sybil managed to salvage the pasta and the salad was completed, whilst Carole was having a lovely time 'noodling' with Troy.

L-A-R-G-E MOUND!

It turned out that Troy had just won the coveted title of the area's No 1 Noodler - an ability to find opals from dumped mullock heaps. Sybil's idea of a good day of 'noodling' - lying on the bed, fan running completing the blog!

CAROLE & TROY

The 'noodle' student had a lovely time albeit somewhat fatigued after working at Troy's pace - a few bits of colour and what is even better, we can frequent the same venue again. We headed toward the Glengarry Hilton along the l-o-n-g white road. The mullock heaps on the side of the road can also be fossicked through so guess what tomorrow's schedule entails!

Drove into the Glengarry Hilton and organised our accommodation amongst the mullock heaps - only fitting. As one would expect, Glengarry Hilton also boasts a golf course.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



ALL THE COMFORTS OF HOME!



GRAWIN, NSW

SUNDAY 19.10.2014: Bid 'Bushie' farewell and headed for Lightning Ridge to replenish supplies, then continued on our outback 'pub crawl'. The Club in the Scrub is the hub of social activity in Grawin. There is a unique, very brown nine-hole golf course right next to the club - alas, the Leylands did not bring their golf clubs with them! Saw many, many emus en route to the pub - certainly shortens the drive when wildlife can be spotted!

LOVE THE HAND RAIL ENSURING
YOU REMAIN ON YOUR FEET!

BUSH DOG!

 

 

 

  

 

 

'SPAG BOL' IN THE OUTBACK!

HEBEL, QLD - POPULATION: 149

NAV'S DRIVING DAY

FRID 17 - SAT 18.10 2014: Hebel is a hamlet in Balonne Shire and is close to the well known opal mines of Lightning Ridge. The original recorded town site name is 'Kelly's Point' due to the suggestion that Dan Kelly and Steve Hart (members of the infamous Kelly Gang), retreated here around that era and resided under assumed names whilst hiding from their pursuers. Hebel was reputedly named after a German immigrant Noble Van Hebel. Hebel helped stage the coaches for Cobb and Co. and Curriwillinghi Post Office opened on 1 January 1864. It was replaced in 1889 by Hebel Post Office which closed in 1989. We stayed at the Hebel Store Caravan Park, a venue we have previously frequented. Went across the road for our afternoon wine at the Hebel Pub and then had a beautiful dinner at the Hebel General Store (Woolpack Dining Room). 

HEBEL PUB

HEBEL GENERAL STORE



MARK "BUSHIE" THOMPSON

 

 

 

 

 

  

Sitting outside Poodle Palace  enjoying an afternoon refreshment when a chap came and joined us. Our visitor turned out to be Mark "Bushie" Thompson a bush poet that was performing over at the pub later in the evening. He kindly recited a poem relating of course to his dog - the Leylands wiped away the tears and thanked him for his visit. Bushie will be part of the Poet's Breakfast at the Tudor Hotel Tamworth in January so we will schedule a visit - if we can make the 8.00 am start!

NOT QUITE THE RIGHT CAMERA SETTING FOR THE TIME OF DAY!

C-U-T-E!