Mendooran to Texas

What a day. After spending yesterday inside watching tv, due to it being so cold, I made osso bucco ( if that is how you spell it) in the camp oven. It was good and I got to use the camp oven for the first time.

I was going to get up early this morning but ended sleeping in until 8. Amazing, to be able to sleep so long. Anyhow, got going by 9.45 and decided to head all the way to Texas. It was freezing cold and the wind blowing a gale. Not much fun. So heavy driving all day and finally made it to Texas at about 4.45. I am going to stay here for a few days and organise when I should go to Brisbane. Haven't set much up tonight and will organise everything tomorrow. will post a few pics of the place also.

Here is todays travel.

Bringing it home #2

Woke up early in the morning at Texas and it was a beautiful day.

Sunrise at  Texas from the van

My new best friend John wanted me to come over to his van and have a chat, seeing he was also up early. John is in his seventies and from South Gerringong. While we were talking a guy came over and looked like a REAL swaggie. Well actually he is, he owns a swag and a bag and that is his worldly goods. John had been talking to him last night. His real is Mark but goes by the name Bushie. Very interesting guy, has done a lot of things and is , of course, a bush poet. He gave me a folder he carries with all his cuttings from papers he has appeared in. The photo below is John on the left and Bushie on the right ( as if you couldn't tell). Then there is a second photo I took of a cutting from a paper. Explains Bushie a bit.

So finally got going about 9am Qld time, a bit later than I thought. Started heading to Lake Keepit, and eventually found myself in Bingara again. You will know from previous posts how much I like this town and it was busy today. Had a pie from the pie shop for lunch and continued on to Lake Keepit. Well I had checked out Lake Keepit on Camps Australia and wikicamps but when I got there all the side roads were closed and the road open was to the caravan park. as you know I bought this van so I didn't have to go to caravan parks. Therefore, off I headed and here I am 25k's west of Gunnedah in a rest area. All by myself, hope there is no axe murderers tonight or this will be my last post.

Will try and head to Forbes tomorrow, but as today shows, anything can happen

Bringing it home #1

Well left the Gold Coast at 10.00am to travel to Texas, approximately a 5 hour drive. Boy you sweat packing up the van. Anyhow, I didn't forget anything. Had a good drive to Cunninghams Gap and stopped as Fassifern (first photo) for a quick look at how the van was going, all good. Went up Cunninghams Gap like nothing. It was really good - me and the trucks. On the way to Inglewood I went through a hell of a storm, there was times I couldn't see in front of me even though I had really slowed down. There is some photos of Inglewood. From Inglewood I headed to Texas and set up here at about 3.00pm. It is a nice level place and we will see how the van goes overnight just on 12v.  the last photos are me set up at Texas.
Let's see how tomorrow goes, heading to Lake Keepit.

Plaque at Fassifern

Main Street of Inglewood

Texas

The next photo is me following the trucks up Cunninghams Gap

Gold Coast to Bingara

9th May 2013

I left the Gold Coast today and had worked out that I would take 2 days to get back to the motel. As I have been To the Gold Coast from the motel every normal way I decided to take the roads less traveled  The route I planned was to go from the Gold Coast to Warwick, then onto Inglewood and turn off there for Texas and then stop the Night at Bingara. I had heard about Bingara from a ABC documentary about  how the town restored the Roxy theatre and the milk bar next door. You know it was one of those things you put in the back of your mind and think one day I will go there.Well now was the time.

The trip was easy and entertaining as it was country I had not been through before, well, I went to Texas an a school excursion when I was about 15. Do not remember too much about it.

Here is some photos.

Main Street of Texas

So after Texas I headed into NSW,

It was interesting driving along the road but the country is fairly dry at the moment. 

I finally made it to Bingara and I was really surprised with the town . It was clean, welcoming and it had that "Vibe". Really would like to stay there for a longer period to get the real feel of the place. Here is some photos of the town, however the photos of the Roxy and milk bar are blurred. Pity but my eyes must be going.

After a walk around town I went to the free camp on the Gywder River - about 6k's east of town.

At around dusk, there was a couple of fish making a noise in the river, even though the river looked about 1 metre deep.Thinking I was going to be cold, I had read on the internet about making a cheap cooking and heating device. It consists of a colendar with another dish in the middle which holds heat beads. It worked great, cooked my steak and then it heated me for the next couple of hours. Cheap and effective.

Will go back to Bingara one day - Beautiful place

Some info on Bingara

Bingara website