Roma

 Today we are staying here in Roma to see what this town has.  Paul & dad had a walk to the hardware, camping shop in the morning and I took mum grocery shopping the place was crowded with all the locals I think in Woolies.  We ran into some of the people we saw in Roma and had a chat to them.  Now back to the Haberdashery shop for another look before heading back to camp. 

After lunch Paul & I had a walk up the road to find the biggest bottle tree in Roma and we did photos below.

 

 

Now in the car as we had to see some more of the sights like the church, mural, bell and a few others.  Now onto get fuel before we head out tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 4pm we had a black out and no lights came on for about 2hrs,  We were ok so we had dinner and went to the light show over at the Big Rig Visitors Centre across the road and it was very good. From tomorrow we will be up in Mt Moffatt we will be off the air for a few days.

Surat - Roma

Well today is going to be very different because all morning the hype was that the cattle were arriving at 9 then 10 and the last time was 11:00am.  At 9 they did not arrive so at 10:30 Paul & I walked over the bridge as the best place to take photos was on the other side.  While we were waiting I had a nurse of Mia the dachshund.

 

We waited over there for a good hr or so in the hot sun eventually we saw them and it to them sometime to get them organize to cross the bridge and once the lead horses came across the cattle followed and it was a marvellous site.  

 

 

 

We started heading back over the bridge and the second lot of cattle which were supposed to come across until 3pm were there and the men tried to get them across a couple of times but with no luck so they took them up steam to the weir and took them across there.

 

By this time it is 1pm and we wanted to head off to Roma so we decided to have a quick lunch before heading off.  It was only about 90ks to Roma and it was a good run we arrived before 3pm had a look in at the info centre found the caravan park before heading down the street to have a look in mum’s favourite shop (material).   A night watching football on TV and we have decided to stay here a couple of days to do some washing and see a few things around town.

Meandarra – Surat

Paul  & I went for a walk along the river before leaving this little town which now was 9:30am so another late start as we only had about 90ks to do.  The day was getting very hot by now I don’t know what has happened to winter up here.

 
 

We stopped at a little place called Glenmorgan which had some very only army cars and every day cars; we had morning tea there at a cute little station which is not in use anymore.

Once in Surat we had a look in the Cobb & Co Museum which was very interesting, they had a very nice art gallery there as well.  We had a look in the general store to see what goodies we could find. Now onto the Fishermans park to camp which is across the river luck we did as it is very full. 

 

It was a very hot afternoon and some of the other people that have been here a few days are telling us that a 1000 head of cattle are due to pass through the town tomorrow.

 

I found a little dachshund someone had in there caravan and her name was Mia she was so cute (mini short haired) and very spoilt as all dachshunds are.

Nindigully – Meandarra

 

We only have about 200ks to do today so it was not a very early start about 9:30 by the time we pulled out of camp taking photos up near the pub before leaving.

We drove north through St George and turned off on the Moonie Hwy for about 100ks to a little place called Westmar and then turned a right to head to Meandarra.  I had my first drive with the van on today and I did quite well a bit nervous at the start.

We are now in Meandarra to meet up with my mum & dad and we found them without too much trouble and in time for lunch.  In the afternoon we went for a walk to visited the Anzac museum which was very good on the way back to camp we had a look in the shops not much in this town a newsagency and a grocery shop, pub, club, school, library and of course post office and Telstra exchange.

Stayed in for dinner and we might go over to the neighbours to see the score of the state of origin on there tv.

Mungindi – Nindigully

Yesterday we did 120ks today it was 80ks so we had a walk to the weir took some photos talked to the geese then headed off.  We were at Nindigully by 9:30am and pulled into a spot that someone was leaving and it is a very windy day. 

Set up the caravan and thought we would go and have a look at St George 1hr up the road so off we went.  After walking down the main street we decided to have a pie at the bakery then take a 14k trip out to the dam to see what was there.

Back at Nindigully it was now time to go and have a drink at the pub, we found some people to talk to before heading back to camp to have a shower and head back to the pub for dinner where we met our new drinking buddies and we all had tea together.  We ended up being the last to leave and that was 9pm, now time for a quick cup of tea and off to bed as we have a 2hr drive tomorrow.

Mungindi - Nindigully

Moree – Mungindi

Cotton Truck

What a shock we were ready to leave by 8:30am Paul got fuel before hooking up the car so off we go not sure how far we will venture to today. Along the way we passed a lot of trucks with cotton as they were taking the cotton bails to the gin.

Welcoming Party

We arrived in Mungindi about 10am stopped to go to the bakery and have a walk down the main street before heading to the other side of town where there is a lovely spot to have morning tea.

Some noisy geese welcomed us as we pulled into this great spot and Paul decided we would stay here the night so he could have a fish which he did not have any luck and I watched the birds the feathered ones. So we have been here all day now at 3:15pm some more caravans have started pulling in I think it might be a popular spot.

Moree

Moree We have decided to stay here another night while I have the chance to do washing I did and the day was going to be nice so it will dry. After breaky we had a look donw the main street and to the info centre to find out what is around this country town.

We are going to take a drive out to Pallamallawa to see what this little place has it was a nice little place with the Gwydir River running through. On our way home we discovered Gum Flat Public Reserve so went in and had a look great camping spot and we had lunch on the bank of the river.

Paul went for a swim at the aquatic centre back in Moree and I went shopping for supplies. When I arrived back at the park Paul was waiting for me and I thought it was a time for a spa at the park. Had a quite night watching TV and the weather is still quite mild for this time of the year.

Bingara – Moree

We leave today in fog conditions; we make our way down to the main street to find a small market with fresh fruit, vegies, and other merchandise. We only purchased some fruit how boring are we, that is because Paul's tagging he hates shopping, IGA is the next stop before heading out of town. First stop which was brief is Rocky creek no spots to park the van so off we go again. About 11am we made it to Sawn Rock picnic ground so morning tea before walking 700m to see the rock formation not bad. (Photo underneath) Lunch in Narrabri near the footy oval where a big game was about to start, we walked over to the information centre. Now it is 2pm so we better head off to Moree after a drive down the main street of Narrabri. Rocked into Moree found the park one of the guys we talked to at Sawn Rock told us was good. Setting up is quick in the van so after a cup of tea we decided to have a walk down to the creek near the park. Later that afternoon we sat in the artesian spa the park has and very nice indeed could not stay too long as it is 41deg. Quite night not sure if we will spend the day here tomorrow or not as yet.

Tamworth – Bingara

Woke up to drizzling rain this morning, as the morning went on the sun came out and we were on the road by guess what 10:00am a late start for us. The first town was Manilla really cute but we could not find the info centre so through the main street we go; now it is raining again and quite heavy on and off. We called into Split Rock dam which was 9ks off fossickers Way so we decided to have morning tea there with the rain. Next stop was Barraba and there I found a lovely Shop which had a lot of home and dyed wool from all their own animals and of course I had to buy a little bit. Before heading out we walked around town to see what was there cute place. Time is getting on now and by the time we arrived at Bingara it was 2:00pm so just outside the caravan park we thought of pulling up to have some lunch as the caretaker was not in the office. We checked out the free camps down near the river but as it was raining at the time and not sure how much rain they were going to get decided it was not an option. Once set up in the park and down a sandwich it was back into town to have a look around everyone really friendly and we checked out the Roxy theatre missed the tour, drove to the Stamper Battery and then to the lookout. After cooking dinner in the van as it was raining off and on, we had a quite night catching up on things.

Tamworth

We are staying in Tamworth today as we had to take the van out to Moonbi at 8:30am for a service not sure how long it will take, Moonbi was 20min north of Tamworth. Back in town we visited the information centre before heading back to the tourist park to attend the biggest morning tea the park staff where putting on for anyone who turned up and it was really good. By 11:00am the van was ready to be collected so out we go again, by the time we got back into town it was time to have a walk along the river into the main street to have a browse of the shops and now it is 2:00pm so as we passed Red Rooster we had a chicken roll. The rest of the afternoon was just relaxing and looking at where we should go tomorrow. . We had dinner at one of the big clubs in town and it was very nice.

Sydney - Tamworth 19deg

What a beautiful day to head out of Sydney, Paul went and filled up with fuel before hooking up the van. 9:30am and we are ready to leave as we were only going to Tamworth tonight. 20min an we are on the freeway and nearly out of Sydney. We are now on the new freeway to Singleton what a great road, as we are having lunch with Andrew as he is working there today. Lunch was in a nice little cafe and we were on the road by 1pm and heading to Tamworth. Booked into a lovely big 4 park (Paradise tourist park), great facilities. Now for a walk before dinner and to watch a bit of TV before bed.