LIGHTNING RIDGE - POPULATION: ?

FRI 14 - TUES 18.6.2013: Love it, love, love it! As the sign states - population ? Just out of college (in the 60's), Carole had a two week stay at "The Ridge" with a female gem cutter (the only one in town at the time). One evening Carole was left shot gun in hand to protect the precious stones. All well and good, but Carole was unable to release the safety catch! Asking subtle questions as you do here, we have found that the lady (yes Carole did remember her name), only passed away a few years ago and different people have offered tiny bits of information. Interesting place - did we mention we loved it! Lightning Ridge is so called because the unique composite of the ground's minerals attract regular electrical storms to the area, adding to the attractiveness of the landscape as it lights up the darkest night as if it were day. We are staying at Crocodile Caravan and Camping Park - we booked in for 3 nights and are staying for 5! The park is very small with only 10 sites available, but very clean, friendly and quirky. Would stay here again, with the bonus of a field next door for the puddles to exercise. Spent time walking round "downtown" Lightning Ridge and saw the dramatic changes that have occurred, then had lunch at the very large Lightning Ridge District Bowls Club.

ACQUIRED A PLAYING PARTNER!

MURAL AT THE CARAVAN PARK

Arranged for a pick up to the award winning "Black Queen Theatre - 'Legacy' - The Gift of Light". This is an absolute MUST DO. It is outback theatre, but much more - Gale and Roger Collins open up their hearts and home allowing you to have a once in a lifetime experience. This is an inspiring collection of stories told in a wonderfully mystifying way. You understand the true meaning of a legacy - photos do not tell the full story. Visited the Sunday Markets which are held at the Information Centre and as always managed to buy some goodies. Fossicker Peel spent time fossicking in the mullock heap outside the Information Centre.

SYBIL & GALE COLLINS

MARKETS



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is advertised that it only takes 8 hours from Sydney to Lightning Ridge - we took 8 days from Coffs Harbour! Nearly all the tourist attractions in Lightning Ridge are based on the owner's passion for their particular interest and a desire to share this which in turn makes your experience greater. Obviously they are also earning an income! Another great day was a trip out to the Chambers of the Black Hand. Over a 14 year period Ron Canlin carved 500 plus carvings in the sandstone 11 metres underground in a 100 year old mine - he also found time to work the mine! We were fortunate enough to have Ron actually take us on the tour - again, you were able to gain a sense of the passion he feels for the project. Carole then spent an afternoon fossicking in Ron's mullock heaps at the back of the mine.

RON CANLIN
& CAROLE

SYBIL CAUGHT THE OLD MINER'S
LIFT UP & CAROLE CLIMBED
THESE STAIRS - ONLY FAIR

B-I-G STANLEY -
JOHN MURRAY/TIM
PARSONS
FACES IN THE
DIRECTION OF HIS
SPIRITUAL BIRDSVLLE

 

 



1932 MINER'S COTTAGE
NOW THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY



'GODDESS OF 67' OLD CHURCH FILM SET

BEVAN'S BLACK OPAL AND
CACTUS NURSERY - 1,000S OF SPECIES THAT
TOOK 50 YEARS TO COLLECT
 



AMIGO'S CASTLE - PRIVATE DWELLING
STARTED IN 1983 AND SINGLE-
HANDEDLY BUILT BY AMIGO

ASTRONOMER'S MONUMENT BEGAN
IN 1983 BY ALEX SZPERLAK

WALGETT - POPULATION: 1,734

WED 12 - THURS 13.6.2013: Began the day organising for our departure from Narrabri then received the call from Anette (Carole's sister), to advise of a severe storm warning - thunder, lightening, threat of hail etc. etc.! Checked the weather reports and it was in our best interests to remain put. Went up and paid for another night and had to power walk back to the motorhome to miss the rain - took the afternoon to recover! Thursday dawned and we woke to the

"DON'T FIND RAINY DAYS
ALL THAT STIMULATING"!

B-I-G fog. Made the decision to exit the Showground and head for Lightning Ridge. Tye Davies suggested we stop at Burren Junction Baths Reserve - a  must do. We left Narrabri still debating on which of the "winter figures" would don their swimming costumes for a dip in the baths or alternatively, assume the role of photographer! Talk about the big wet - the red soil camp was flooded with only water sites available. Another motorhome that had stayed at Narrabri Showground pulled up and we all made the same decision - next stop Walgett! Stayed at the newly opened Alex Trevallion Park Freedom Camp 2klms south of Walgett.

ALEX TREVALLION PARK



AH - THE JOYS OF TRAVEL!

 

 

NARRABRI - POPULATION: 5.890

SUN 9 - TUES 11.06.2013: We are headed for downtown Narrabri, a country town that Carole lived in for 2 years when she was 15 - just a few years ago! On the way to Gunnedah we encountered our first "cattle drive through". Carole had a lovely time taking photos whilst Sybil manoeuvred Poodle Palace through the herd. Drove to Narrabri (proclaimed in 1860), which surprisingly in the time since Carole lived there has changed considerably. Spent three nights at the Narrabri Showground ($14.00 per night for power and water). Rained for the first two days, then when the skies cleared we went sight seeing.

BIG TOMATO AT
GUNNEDAH

Narrabri (Forked Water), is situated on the Namoi River and sits on the junction of the Kamilaroi and Newell Highway. Narrabri township is quite prone to flooding and is the centre of a major cotton growing industry. We set out to see Carole's family home and after a quick call to Anette (Carole's sister), to confirm the address we found it. As expected their had been changes, but the house was still able to be recognised. 

Next stop, Narrabri High School which had only

just been built when the Peel family came to Narrabri. We were escorted down to the hall where the Honour Boards are now housed - had to take a photo.



CLASSES OF 2013 & 1959



NARRABRI HIGH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Onward to the Namoi Creek. Carole would finish school and swim across the creek with school clothes held above her head to the Swimming Pool for training. Oh how times have changed!

 

 

Our final stop was at the CSIRO Australia Telescope - Astronomy and Space Science. Consisting of six 22m wide dish antennas which work together to simulate a much larger antenna that allows astronomers to observe very fine detail in space.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No shortage of the National Emblem at the site - masses of kangaroos.  

SOMERTON

SATURDAY 8.06.2013: On the road to Tamworth to stock up Poodle Palace. On the way we had to stop at Moonbi to snap the "big chook". Must say we feel like we are playing the mother of "I Spy Games"! Have to admit as we have been travelling we have noticed that the b-i-g working dog is the pet of choice. The poodles seem rather superfluous - even more so when we don their knitted jumpers! Drove to Somerton Hotel - Cathys Tavern for an overnight stay - very rustic!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BENDEMEER - POPULATION: SEVERAL HUNDRED

WAITING FOR BREAKFAST!

THURSDAY 6 - FRIDAY 7.06.2013: Stopped in Armidale to take care of the basics and then headed for Bendemeer, a small village that Patti McClenaghan suggested we visit. Bendemeer is on the Macdonald River between Tamworth and Armidale. The first European to travel from Tamworth across the Moonbi Ranges was Edward Gostwyck Cory who took up a run at what is now Uralla around 1832 or 1833. Others followed in his wake and a run was taken up in the Bendemeer area in 1834 by a stockman named McDonald on behalf of Richard Wiseman. Those who climbed the Moonbis began to rest at the riverside where they watered their stock before crossing the river that came to bare McDonald's name. A village developed around this crossing point. When the postal service was extended to Walcha in 1851 the local office was initially known as McDonald River though it was changed to Bendemeer in 1853. Bushranger 'Thunderbolt', alias Fred Ward, held up the northern mail at Bendemeer in 1864. In 1866 the population was recorded as being 150. Had lunch at the Bendemeer Hotel and met a chap that made a point of telling us that we could stay at the Showground, but to ignore the 24 hour signs. We did and spent two relaxing days by the river.  

BENDEMEER SHOWGROUND



 

GARA RIVER, ARMIDALE



WOLLOMOMBI FALLS

WED 5.06.2013: "Wollomombi" comes from the word "Wollumbi" which means "meeting of the waters" in the local Aboriginal dialect. Wollomombi Falls at 260 metres is one of Australia's highest waterfalls. Depending on rainfall, the catchment can vary from a torrent to a trickle. The final waterfall stop was Bakers Creek Falls which are located at the head of the Metz Gorge, between Wollomombi and Armidale. 

BAKERS CREEK FALLS

 
Drove to the Hillgrove Museum - closed! Stayed at the Gara River Freedom Camp some 13 klms out of Armidale. So pleased we brought the "guard dogs". Had just finished watching the Blues win (yeah team), and a car pulled into the rest area. Motorhomes and caravans do not concern you, but a car puts you on alert. 10.30pm doors were closing and voices heard - absolutely no reaction from the poodles. Madison and Shayden implemented the "watch them come and watch them go" guard dog program. In the morning as the car exited Poodle Patrol did not even raise an eyebrow. You feel so confident with them on board!

WOLLOMOMBI FALLS



EBOR - POPULATION: 160

TUESDAY 4.06.2013: Running between Coffs Harbour and Armidale the Waterfall Way is a 200 kilometre drive along one of the most scenic routes in NSW. Passing through the picturesque Bellinger Valley up onto the Dorrigo Plateau and the New England Tablelands. First stop was at the Newell Falls which fall directly beside the road.

NEWELL FALLS

Onward to the Skywalk and Dorrigo Rainforest (Gondwana Rainforest - World Heritage Area). The Skywalk is at the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre. As always when walking through rainforests you feel as though you are on another planet - so surreal.

 

THE SKYWALK

 

Dangar Falls are on the Bielsdown River, which drains a large part of the Dorrigo Plateau and feeds north into the Nymboida River and ultimately the Clarence River at Grafton. We pulled into Ebor Rest Area (Freedom Camp) - saw a slab of concrete and took it! Evenings are becoming much cooler so we are glad we brought along the "living poodle water bottles" - not sure who is extracting warmth from whom!