Day.45. & 46 Going home

This is the last entry for this trip. Coming up into Queensland was a little boring on the western route we took, so not many pics. Our final night was a pretty ordinary free camp about 50k South of Dalby, in the bush, but the night was pleasantly cool, but day temps are getting a little high, so we opted to come home today. One final comment about the Newel Highway. Don't take it !! It was wall to wall B double trucks all speeding, all trying to pass each other & most of them acting like pigs. Tried to run us off the road twice. The cops obviously turn a blind eye to this route.

Some long necked critters next to our camp in the morning, at Mendooran.

I kind of liked the look of these guys..

Crossing the Castlereagh, leaving Mendooran.

More of these good quality back roads in NSW. As soon as we got into QLD the roads turned to shit.

Our final bush camp 50k out of Dalby. Home tonight..............................................................................

Day.43. Caravan racing & unknown places.

We left our lovely camp at Black Springs after a cool night snuggled up under the doona. We were at 1210 metres on a crisp, cystal clear night, I would have been happy to stay another day. Anyway we continued North through Oberon & on to Bathurst where we raced the caravan around Mt Panorama.
We then again took the road less traveled for a lunch stop at Sofala via the wattle Flat road, many very steep climbs & decents. On to Mudgee, more diesel at Gulgong then we crossed our Southward path at Dunedoo & continued up the Castlereagh to Mendooran, our overnight free camp of about 10 acres on the banks of the Castlereagh river, shared with 4 other travelers. We walked into town & had dinner at the cafe.
Yvonne ordered chicken schnitzel (again) with salad & chips, when it came the schnitzel was as big as a dinner plate & the whole meal was served on a plate the size of a bin lid (& it was good too).
Mine was a home made pulled beef pie & chips, the pie just came out of the oven when we got there & was a lot larger than I expected. Needless to say we both couldn't finish all the food. The total cost for both meals was $19.50. They will be broke next time we come through. Lots of pics on todays blog & an academy award winning video.

On the start grid at Mt Panorama, Bathurst, ready for the start of the great caravan race.

We're off, up the main straight, a couple of walkers ahead of us, but we beat them.

Climbing up the mountain, still no caravans have passed us.

Past the spot where Dick Johnson found his big rock, we were too quick for rocks.

At the top of the mountain we stopped to brew a coffee, we were that far in front we still didn't get passed, except by those high speed walkers, which we again passed on conrod straight.

Caravan Racecam.

Tearing down conrod & whats this??? some loon coming the wrong way.

And on to the finish line for an incredible win. Not a single caravan got past us.......................

There was a car museum with lots of stuff in it. This is a really fast car, or it was once.

This looks fast too.

Lots of motorbikes with lots of Blah, Blah, Blah, written about them.

Peter Perfects' cars.

This is Dick Johnsons Falcon from the famous 1,,,2 win in 1977.

Wayne Gardeners bike that he won the world championship on.

Main street Bathurst.

An  historic foot bridge at Sofala, made in England & brought over the range by Bullock dray in the 1850s

The buckets off a gold dredge which I recognised straight away after being on a complete dredge in Alaska.

Heading down main street Sofala, it was really quaint. Just another place we had never heard of on the road less traveled.

Post Office at Sofala

The wild west look at Sofala.

Some minor repairs needed. This house was for sale.

The road into Windemere dam near Mudgee.

Pano of the low side of Windemere dam.

Pano of the wet side of Windemere dam.

Yvonne was too lazy to walk out to the centre of the dam wall.

The road went straight over the dam spillway.

Endless fields of grapes & wineries near Mudgee. All of SA, Vic & NSW seem to be covered with damn grapes the only thing more plentiful are bloody light houses.

Main street Gulgong.

Our spacious camp at Mendooran.

Day.41. & 42 Batemans Bay & popints North

A lovely cool rainy day in Batemans Bay, I don't think it got over 20*, while the rest of the state was sweltering in the 40s. A morning ride around the bay before the showers set in, an afternoon at the shops & then a nap listening to the falling rain. The day was topped off with dinner at the club with the whole gang including Wenys' parents. I couldn't think of a better way to spend a day.
This morning saw us part company with the Walkers & say goodbye to our wonderful hosts in Batemans Bay & point the rocket North toward home. We have taken the road less traveled & it has again paid off with great new locations.
I am finishing this blog entry at the top of Mt Panorama race circuit, which we took our van around the race track, more about that in tomorrows blog.......

On our morning ride.

Moving right along.

The centre lift bridge viewed from the cycle way.

One of the many moored fishing boats.

Pano of the inlet.

Crossing the centre lift bridge.

Passing the marina on the way home.

Camp Batemans Bay in front of Tinky & Robs' house on the footpath.

Saying goodbye to our friends & hosts at Batemans Bay.

Crosing the centre lift bridge 1 last time.

Another pretty crosing at Cullendulla just North West of Batemans Bay.

Once again climbing the Great Dividing Range, climbing toward Goulburn.

The highway near Goulburn.

The main street of Braidwood. very Olde Worlde.

Morning tea at Braidwood.

Braidwood street scene.

One of the many grand old buildings at Goulburn.

Lunchtime at Goulburn. Morning tea & lunch were packed for us by Tinky prior to us leaving Batemans Bay. All very fresh & delicious.

The small town of Tarago on one of the backroad alternate routes we took. We had another close call with fuel, but survived once more.

At the bottom of the 2.5km decent at Abercrombie crossing. There was a warning sign No caravans, trucks or cars with trailers up the other side because it was too steep. We went anyway first gear 4 wheel drive, no problems . Would never have made it in 2 wheel drive, because of wheel spin on the gravel. The car is proving its worth.

Begining the climb up the other side, it was much steeper than it looks in this picture.

Free camp at Black Springs, very pleasant. 

6pm drinks at Black Springs, selfie.