BACK IN DOWNTOWN LTP!

The native wildlife were out in force to welcome us home and we just had to relax by the open fire.
As usual we have learnt some obvious lessons: if travelling in Autumn or Winter leave the two 12 volt and two 240 volt fans, plus the swimming costume and zinc at home - never quite warm enough to use any of these items!
Thank you to all our blog followers - we do appreciate you taking the time to read up on our misadventures!  

BRANXTON

SUNDAY 21.6.2015: Three months ago our first stop was at Branxton to see Lyn Bowtell's show so we felt it only fitting to finish our trip here. Puddled into Branxton and came across their local markets and just had to stop! Lyn Bowtell and Karen O'Shea are performing at Drover's Camp tonight - the show is indoors and again we have arranged to stay in the car park. Thoroughly enjoyed the show and it was certainly a great way to relax before returning home.

JERRYS PLAINS

SATURDAY 20.6.2015: Drove through Merriwa and guess what - the markets were on, bonus! Picked up an enormous box of fresh vegetables for $10, and of course other odds and ends. Stayed at Jerrys Plains Rest Area.

JERRY'S PLAINS LOCAL

CASSILIS - POPULATION: 110

THUR 18 - FRI 19.6.2015: Driving along and we passed this unusual rock formation so just had to stop for a photograph. As one would appreciate the speed with which we have had to keep ahead of the rain has meant that the seasoned travellers need a rest! Returned to Cassilis and plugged into power for $10.00. Again, visited the local Bowling Club, enjoyed a meal, club raffles (did not win), and the company of locals who always make you feel welcome.

Shayden sleeps in his own bed covered in blankets - it is a regular occurrence to see a mobile blanket moving toward the water bowl. Most times Shayden's head is not visible and he has mastered the move to the point where he can return to his bed with blankets in place - clever dog!

 

MENDOORAN - POPULATION: 302

THE ROYAL HOTEL

WED 17.6.2015: Stopped at Gilgandra for supplies then hit the road in search of the driest area and best television reception for the upcoming state of origin match - priorities! Saw our first wild pigs on the roadside albeit road kill! Rather like the goats - technicolour coats which suggests a fair bit of interbreeding.

A MOMENT OF DRY WEATHER!

Spent the evening at Mendooran Rest Area, with television reception and a WIN TO THE BLUES! Visited the local hotel then found a dry spot to moor the boat.

GILGANDRA - POPULATION: 4,368

TUESDAY 16.6.2015: Okay, found the most expensive gas bottle Swap & Go at Nyngan - $40 for a 9kg bottle! We appear to be staying just ahead of the weather - having said that, there have been downfalls where we expected to sail rather than drive off! Travelled through Warren and Nevertire with most of the rest areas either under water or too wet to risk. We have found a shared truck stop at the Marthaguy Rest Area 23kms West of Gilgandra.

NYNGAN - POPULATION: 2,073

MONDAY 15.6.2015: The plan had been to spend the morning sightseeing in Cobar, but alas the rain had set in. When does it rain in Cobar - twice a year and today was one of those days! The road from Cobar to Nyngan floods so we fast tracked our exit. Arrived safely in Nyngan, visited the Nyngan RSL Civic Club for lunch, then spent the evening at Memorial Park, the designated free camp behind the Information Centre. Nyngan Showground used to be made available for free camping, but people were  cutting the locks off the power boxes to access electricity so the Council closed the site - again, the actions of an inconsiderate few impact on everyone. 

COBAR - POPULATION: 4,800

GREAT WESTERN MOTEL WHICH FEATURES
THE LONGEST WROUGHT IRON
BALCONY IN AUSTRALIA

SUNDAY 14.6.2015: "On the road again......", aim to reach Cobar today and we did! Nav had a driving session - Sybil had driven 50kms with not one car overtaking, no wildlife and long straight highways. Carole was buoyed with driving confidence which lasted some five minutes. In the 50kms driven some six road trains passed, we had to come to a standstill to let an oversize load pass and field upon fields of wild goats threatened to run onto the highway - the drive went well!

THE 'B-I-G' TOOHEYS CAN

The Cobar district was the traditional home of the Ngemba and Wongalbon aboriginal people. Prior to the discovery of copper in 1870, the Cobar district was made up of huge pastoral holdings which relied heavily on the Darling River Trade.

 

The Cobar Heritage Centre/Information Centre advised that there were two free camps - because of the impending rain we opted for the Cornish Rest Area at the back of the centre which was an overnight stay.

NYNGAN-SOUTH

BILL O'REILLY OVAL.

WHITE CLIFFS GOLF COURSE

SAT 13.6.2015: Left White Cliffs, but not before a scenic tour of Bill O'Reilly's field and the golf course - yes, yet another rustic golf course that we could have conquered! We have officially started on our journey back to Lemon Tree Passage - passed through Wilcannia and the streets were filled with locals on their way to Saturday football. We were entertained on the drive today by the unusual trees obviously native to the area - Bra Tree, Soft Toy Tree, Television Tree, Shoe Tree and a Cap Tree - just to name a few! Bonus, saw an echidna waddling along the side of the road - hopefully it is still waddling along. Stopped for the evening at Baden Park Rest Area 89km east of Wilcannia.

WHITE CLIFFS

FOSSICKER PEEL

THUR 11 - FRI 12.6.2015:  Carole ventured into the corner store for supplies, only $35.00 for 5 articles ($19.00 a kilo for chicken breast - saw the travellers coming)! Meanwhile back at the motorhome Sybil was speaking to Maxine, a local that had been drawn to "Poodle Palace" - Maxine owns Paris, an apricot poodle. On Carole's return Maxine invited us to look at her home which was also a dugout. Totally different décor to Cree and Lindsay's home, but again, an amazing experience to see what can be achieved with the dugouts.

PINEAPPLE - INTERNET
PHOTOGRAPH

Maxine also showed us a "pineapple" - White Cliffs is the only place where these marvellous (and very rare) pseudomorphic "pineapple" opals have been found. They were formed when a mineral crystal of glauberite (or ikalite) was first replaced by calcite and then opalised. Onward to a day of fossicking for our own pineapple - Carole that is!
Some situations are so incongruous - here you are sitting in the middle of a field contemplating the fact that it is so eerily quiet that you could literally hear the pin drop when the call comes and you answer the phone "Hello, have you heard of Real Insurance?" One of the local kangaroos assisted Carole, but there was not much wealth forthcoming - even sadder when the Caravan Park Manager offered Carole one of her 'stones' as an incentive! We had spoken to the owner of the Fossickers Den and decided that we would pay a visit - closed. Love the amenities at White Cliffs - drive on the designated route for fossicking and you will pass the following - Everybody's Toilet, Nobody's Toilet, Somebody's Toilet and Anybody's Toilet.

WHITE CLIFFS

LINDSAY & CREE

WED 10.6.2015: Yesterday afternoon we were sitting outside the motorhome relaxing and four fellow travellers stopped to tell of a tour they had just completed. Between them they had difficulty in expressing what they had just witnessed, except to say that they had visited a local 'dugout' and you just had to see it - they were right! 

The dugouts are fashioned from the existing tunnels that were created by the miners in the area and yes, it is difficult to relay the attention to detail, artistic attributes throughout and the amount of work and love that has gone into the creation of this beautiful home. Cree takes you on a guided tour of their home and explains the origin of the resources used, which in the main, are recycled and not necessarily for their originally intended purpose.

It has only taken 5 years of part time dedication to achieve what they have today and again it was uplifting to experience a couple's passion - it was a credit to them. As we learnt, dugouts being what they are, there are no written rules on how they should be furnished. We were fortunate enough to only have one other couple on the tour, so were able to ask LOTS of questions - as we do! 



EXISTING SHAFT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The existing mine shafts created by the miners are maintained as the sky lights and because the dugouts are underground, the main issue is ensuring air flow throughout.   

 

LINDSAY'S MINERAL COLLECTION

 

Final stop for the day was at the 'local' - think we must have picked 'Men's Day'! There were times in downtown White Cliffs when you felt as though the 'FIFO's' were only just tolerated.

WHITE CLIFFS - POPULATION: 103

Somewhat of a hiatus in blogging - surprise, surprise, the computer died. Of course it would have cost more to have it repaired so yet ANOTHER new computer has been purchased!
MONDAY 8 - TUESDAY 9.6.2015: A few updates before we begin - firstly, we have heard back from Victor Harbor Council regarding the parking notice and surprise, to cut a long email short "please be advised, that on this occasion, there are insufficient grounds for Council to withdraw the expiation notice".

Secondly, it has been some five days since our haircuts and in that time we have upgraded them to our WORST EVER haircuts - Sybil is still unable to do ANYTHING with her cut! We had sent a photograph of 'T-H-E haircut' to our friends Judy and John and they were under threat of death not to pass it on, but now that Sybil has actually ventured out of the motorhome she is not quite as precious about the look! Needless to say the new nickname is 'MO' (of Mohawk origin)!

"WE CAN RUN THE PANTS OF A KANGAROO!"

Had a wonderful day of wild animal spotting - many, many, emus and wild goats upon wild goats. Spent the evening at Spring Hill Rest Area 74km west of Wilcannia. 

NOT MUCH WATER IN THE DARLING RIVER

Drove through Wilcannia (population 604), before heading out to White Cliffs. The poodles had their annuals at the Broken Hill vet and whilst there a local had told us "not to believe everything you hear about Wilcannia". We went with an open mind, but unfortunately the town does not present well. It was difficult to determine what was open and what was closed, but there were some beautiful historic buildings that contrasted against many of the shops and houses that were vandalised.

WILCANNIA COURTHOUSE 1880

COUNCIL CHAMBERS

Onward to White Cliffs - as it turned out there were just as many GRIDS to White Cliffs as there were DIPS to Silverton! White Cliffs is a small town in the Central Darling Shire which is another 90 odd kms from Wilcannia. The town was established in the late 19th century when opal was discovered. Opal has been mined ever since. The primary school opened in 1895, and has operated continuously since then. White Cliffs was one of the many places visited by Bill Bryson in research for the book 'In a Sunburned Country'. 

Many of the residents live underground in what are known as 'dugouts', using mining equipment to dig extensive homes in the hillside to avoid the intense heat outside. Love White Cliffs already - it is very reminiscent of Lightning Ridge and obviously the miners operate on the same 'field car' policy whereby you run the car into the ground and then just dump it!

WHITE CLIFFS OPAL PIONEER TOURIST PARK

White Cliffs is the site of Australia's first solar power station. The White Cliffs Solar Power Station was built in 1981 producing 25 KWe and upgraded in 1996 to produce 45 KWe using the same collector dishes, but better technology. Cricketer Bill O'Reilly was born in White Cliffs, the son of the first school teacher. We are staying at the White Cliffs Opal Pioneer Tourist Park which may not have Jumping Castles, but it has everything else you need at only $20.00 per night for a powered site, plus the bonus of the Manager advising 'Noodler Peel' where to fossick for opals!