Cobdogla Station Caravan Park

Cobdogla Station Caravan Park,
The park is home this week, we met up with sister Sylvia on the 25th , my birthday, it was a great afternoon, many champagnes and a nice dinner, more champagnes , and bugger it why not another champagne!!! Hell!!** The wind started, gusting around 30-40 knots came out of nowhere, trees blowing over etc . Just as well Sylvia only lives a couple of clicks from the park. Quick trip home to roll in awning and put chairs in etc. Back to sis’s place and did I mention the champagne!!! Mmmmmm!!
Got into bed and I must say the park is very noisy, kids everywhere on bikes at 10:30 at night, no lights or parents etc. Bloody noise!! People rolling up at this time to pitch tents etc. One thing that really stood out was the amount of kids; I mean 5yr to 7yr old type kids riding in the back of boats whilst being towed to and from the ramp, very dangerous practise, especially when kids are sitting on the edge of the boat. Still not my kids.
We have been into Berri and Renmark to have a walk round and see the river. It was good to see the mighty Murray flowing at last, not for the last two decades have the barrages at Goolwa been opened. In a couple of locks the river was almost the same level on both sides. In both cities the areas surrounding the river banks is very green and well looked after gardens, flowers everywhere, a change to the foliage colours in Cairns. Well my birthday party is tomorrow (Saturday) so I will update the blog later.

Hay Plains

Well we made it across the Hay plains, very different county side, not many trees etc. We stopped at the fruit fly thing and unloaded our fruit, only a couple or oranges and an apple so Fae and I decided to eat it instead. Some people had just thrown their fruit at the bin or just in the bush. I can’t understand the attitude of some folks!!
We are staying at the Hay Caravan Park, virtually on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River; you can see where the flood was last week. About 10-12ft up the trees, it was very close to some houses. The park is not bad; amenities are very clean but no drier in the laundry. Sites are big and drive through, plenty of trees etc. The surrounding areas are very dry and although we are staying a week there is not much you can’t cover in a couple of days. The info centre is great and very friendly, even able to fill your tanks, free BBQ etc. We are moving on Monday to see my sister and celebrate my birthday, Yehhhh!!. So see you later and please don’t forget to sign our guest book.
Rgds Dreamcaster & Fae

Forbes

Arrived at Forbes and checked out a couple of parks. We decided on the Country Club caravan Park. It is situated in a small industrial area but is very friendly and was recommended to us by Nigel & Lesley. What a nice place, only a few sites but they are very big around 9 X 9 meters of a fine grey stone and level. You then have lawn either side of the van site. There is a camp kitchen and BBQ in the middle, very convenient. The amenities are clean and there is even a dog bath in a separate room. There were even horses, a little pony and sulky to take the owners grand kids for a ride. Us too!! Forbes has some interesting history with Ben Hall leading the way. The info centre is run by volunteers and one of the ladies owns a Olive Plantation. I can vouch for the black ones with a wine or three for a very happy hour. The city centre was only five minutes walk away and there was an historic walk around town as well. You are only a short drive from Parkes if you want more selection of shops. There is a very pretty lake complete with fountains and park. I would recommend a stay just to relaxxx, I am sooo relaxed!!! :O)

Dubbo

We left Celtic country on the 31st and headed to a free camp at Gunnedah (305) Red bank rest area. They have got very clean toilets here but no water. There is a BBQ but totally unusable as all the old ash has been placed on the BBQ plate. Too much for idiots to have done, the park is run by Rotary but there is virtually no upkeep as far as the rest of the stop goes. The tables are very rundown and the grass was at around 2ft high with very deep ruts to negotiate with the van. No matter the night was very quiet and only one camper trailer kept us company. We welcomed the New Year at around 9am the next day, very civilised, what!!
We moved off around 11am on to Dubbo for a week in the Westview caravan park. Quite clean amenities but nowhere to dry your hands ???? Both BBQs are US, and a lot of very noisy kids. Still the park is central and we have met some lovely new friends who are also travelling, Nigel & Leslie have been on the road for 7.5yrs and have really been around. That doesn’t sound good at all!! We had a great happy hour yesterday that just went on & on, you know what I mean……. We are moving off on Monday to hit up Forbes for a couple of days, see you all later

Broard Water & Beyond

We left Broadwater Stop Over Caravan Park on the 29th ready to head west to Tenterfield via Casino. No way hojse!!! Road closed, bugger that was a waste of fifty kays. No mater, I have got to learn to relax and go with what life gives me.
We backtracked and went down to Grafton and west to Glen Innes, what a road!! Not. More pot holes than you can poke a stick at and a very steep climb to the top of the range too.**!!
On the top of the road is a beautiful look out over the valley and flats you have just come from, beautiful in deed. Another older couple stopped with their dog for a look see and a coffee break. We went on into Glen Innes and much to Fae’s delight we found the Australian Standing Stones ( the Ozy Stonehenge ) It was a beautiful park but it was right on closing time. We moved through town and free camped at (136) the Celtic rest area. Of course with our Wiccan beliefs we returned to town the next day and spent all day looking around and a treat of a Devon Shire tea at the stones. The whole town were a very friendly lot unable to do enough for you. We both decided we could settle there at a later date. We met many nice people who just wanted to have a chat. Back to the same camp tonight then onward