Fairly straight sort of run up north from Gulargambone, through Coonamble, and up to Walgett. The road isn't real good, very bumpy and uneven, You just get a bit of speed up and then crash! There's a pothole right across the road which you can't see until you're on top of them. We saw our first Emu for the trip, and then another and another. The mirages are pooling up all around the horizon, way out in the distance over the dead flat plains. I wasn't looking forward to Walgett based on what we had seen back in 2011, but we stopped at a rest area just south of town for a bite to eat as it looked safe enough, then as we headed north through town we were quite surprised to find it very mch alive and even a tinge of prosperity. All the broken bits seem to have been fixed up and there were plenty of people about. Good on them.
The road up to the Ridge is wavy, it's like riding along in a boat, except for the continuing unpredictable rough bits that were really giving us a clout.
The Ridge itself is packed, people everywhere, lots of new looking buildings in town, and the Opal Van Park, well I thought we had gone to the wrong place. When we were here last they had just opened, now 3 years on, it's doubled in size and is packed. They even have a very nice pool, solar heated to 26 and into which I plunged for a half hour swim, and despite the hoards in the park, I had it to myself.
We are parked in a large bay with an ensuite. In the next bay a sea of tents has sprung up, 7 at last count and 3 cars. I'm not too impresses but as long as they don't get too rowdy it'll be ok, just different.
We tried coffee down on the main road at the best looking cafe, only to be reminded at once why we swore off it last time: horrible bloke behind the counter and coffee that was undrinkable. Rats!
Went out to the local high point, all of 160m above sea level, and watched the sunset with about 10 other truckloads of gawkers. Even the beer bottle house is being renovated, and there appears to be a heap more mining going on.
Sunset, 'Ridge style:
G'day,
ReplyDeleteI am getting very frustrated trying to get this comment system to work. If this doesn't work I will resort to email.
Anyway, glad to see things are going well and that you are enjoying yourselves. Bev and I are getting very itchy feet and can't wait to get on the road. We made a start this afternoon by taking the cover off the caravan.
Hiya, glad you persevered with the blog thing, welcome aboard.
ReplyDeleteNow that the wraps are off, don't forget to chech he air in the tyres and the water in the tank!