Saturday 26th and Sunday June 27th we camped on Pimpara Lake Station where Ruth Sandou and Jon live. What a beautiful sunset!
One the way here we called at Border Downs Station and met Chis Dempster who is a cousin to Wendy, Tony and Julia Evans who we knew so well as kids in the Hansonville area in NE Victoria.
Sue and Stuart left us to return home. We were sad to see them leave.
We continued north to Pine View Station Where Jen Lacey hosted us. Our camp was in the bush amongst Eucalypt/Box trees. The following morning we drove west out to the Dog fence then returned to the Station sheds and home where we were given a map and directions out to Yellow Waterhole which is on Flood Creek. Captain Charles Sturt and his men camped in this area while they searched for water which they eventually found after 6 weeks. I felt privileged to have lunch in this area. It was Barren with dry trees and now water while we were there.
A great visit to Silverton where we spent a long time enjoying the contents of an excellent museum. We enjoyed lunch at Umberumberka Reservoir and then headed north to the Eldee Station. The camping area was clean although showers and toilets left a little to be desired!! We stayed 2 nights. Steven, the owner/manager provided a meal each evening. the drive around the property was interesting but at times the roads were dangerously poor.
The weather was warm which made it most enjoyable for looking around Broken Hill doing washing and generally enjoying the day.
Sue’s friends came for nibbles by the fire but it was so very cold. Anne made a pasta and salmon dish and so we slept!
Sunday, June 20th has been warm and sunny with an enjoyable drive north on the Silver City Highway to Broken Hill. We found our 4 travelling companions already settled into the Broken Hill Tourist Park. It is fully booked so there are people, vans and vehicles everywhere. This afternoon we looked at the Broken Hill Gallery and found a number of Artist’s names and their paintings on show…including Ian Marr who had magnificent lettering on stone plinths.
This evening we are planning a Chinese meal which will be great change.
I plan to make a blog entry while at each camp. This should make for easier reading.
Our first night was spent at Wood Duck campsite between Taminick and Chesney Vale. The camp site was open forest and very peaceful. We did have a restless night which I put down to the ‘first night out’ and the fact that we got rather cold toward morning. Thankfully we have a wonderful heater in the van.
The laugh of
a kookaburra welcomed our day as well as magpies and mud larks.
We left camp at about 9.00am under a clear blue sky. Firstly we travelled north, then turned west at the Boweya school. It was surprising to see Nick Derrick attending a working Bee at the School.
We have had a long day of driving a total of 527 km, crossing the Murray River at Tocumwal and travelling along the Murray River in NSW through Finley, Deniliquin and Balranald
We are now camped near Monak at the Bottle Bend Turn-off. It is a flat and dry area and not far from the Murray River.
The trucks on the Sturt Highway did disturb us a little.
We are preparing the caravan and truck ready to leave late on June 18th. We are hopeful of finding the escape through the border of NSW and Victoria quite simple. Let us hope that Covid restrictions have settled a little by then because the rules have been quite changeable over the last few weeks.
Our plan is to head to Broken Hill where our friends, Sue and Stuart Read as well as Anne and Steve Kline will be meeting us. From there we plan to follow a new Tourist route which has been set up to follow some of the areas which Captain Charles 'Sturt' explored during the early 1840s. It is very interesting to read the book 'Sturt's Desert Drama' written by Ivan Rudolph. There are a number of properties along the way on which we are able to camp.
I plan to make a blog entry while at each camp. This should make for easier reading.
We are preparing the caravan and truck ready to leave late on June 18th. We are hopeful of escaping through the border of NSW and Victoria. Let us hope that Covid restrictions have settled a little by then.
