Lake Wyangan NSW then home.

We should have taken a photo of Gumbend Lake yesterday as this morning it is too foggy. 

On our way to Lake Cargelligo we get glimpses of sunshine and the beautiful scenery especially the ploughed fields revealing the fertile red soil.

Coming in to town we spot lots of pelicans and other birds. 

The campsite by the lake looks ideal but it’s only a cuppa stop for us. It’s hard to believe that in 2010 the lake ran dry, the first time since 1902. 

We continue south to Lake Wyangan on the outskirts of Griffith and set up camp. Unfortunately it’s too cold outside to even enjoy the sunshine. 

After lunch we walk through the adjacent huge picnic area with bird and deer enclosures. 

There is extensive evidence that the water levels are higher than usual. 

In the morning we caught the glimmer of the sunrise over the lake.

We drove through Griffith and continued our southerly journey stopping in Darlington Point on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River that feeds water to this amazing growing area, making it the food bowl of NSW. We had thought about camping here the night and went out to have a look, but it’s wet and cold, so we make the decision to keep driving back home.

Along the way we stop in Jerliderie and have a walk around reading some history of Ned Kelly’s time here. 

Then in Broadford we use the dump point and buy a pie. We couldn’t bypass the cheapest diesel in Thomastown @ $1.67.

We manage to get home before peak hour but on the shortest day of the year we arrive to find issues with our power. We isolate the issue but it will need more investigation. Luckily we can turn on the essentials… heater, internet, tv… ahhh home sweet home!

Heading south NSW

It’s time to head home. We consult the maps and try to take a route we have not done before but inevitably we do crisscross towns previously visited. 

We leave Walgett and drive through some varied country. Some scrubby bush, some fields for growing crops and others just for cattle, sheep or goats. We stop in Coonamble and fill up with diesel ($1.83). 

In Warren we pause for lunch and a stroll. 

The area surrounding the town is primarily for cotton growing. As we leave we see the largest cotton gin so far.

We pass through Tottenham, the town in the middle of NSW

We continue south until late in the afternoon having driven 445km stopping at Gumbend Lake in Condobolin. We chat to our neighbours before retreating to Busters warmth for the night.

We have finally caught up with winter with temperatures falling to -3° overnight and a top of 13° predicted for the day. 

Pubs in the Scrub NSW

The Club in the Scrub in Garwin was a pumping last night but we had gone back to Buster for dinner as meals were only served between 12-2pm on Sundays. The club is found in a major opal field and was built by the miners in the mid 1970’s in protest after the pub up the road increased their prices.

There is also a 9 hole golf course but it was pretty rough but cheap at only $5. 

We chatted to some fellow campers and went for a walk.

Then set off around 10:30 am to explore the 2 other pubs. 

It was only 8km to the Glengarry Hilton which had some fun signs and sculptures. 

It was too early for a beer so we kept going to the 3rd pub, Sheepyard Inn that is surrounded by lots of old relics and more quirky and funny signs… We waited until 12 to have a fairly ordinary lunch but a good chat with other travellers.

What’s a pub without a bra tree? 

We stopped at the war memorial. 

Then we were off to Walgett where we stayed at the Apex park on the outskirts of town. 

We went for a walk but the town has lost its charm with the shops either empty or barricaded with mesh wire. We did spot one historical building.

We admired the water tower mural of local Aboriginal country music legend Jimmy Little.

We also liked  the John Murray emus murals.