Warialda - 7 unplanned nights

On Monday the last day of March heading to Yetman when the noise from the A/C pump was really worrying me.  I sprayed it with CRC and then realized just how hot it was.  The clutch bearing was all but shot.  I turned around just north of Warialda and had the NRMA workshop have a look at it.  Not serviceable so they tried to source a new one with no luck.  So I took over and eventually brought one from Suburban Imports in Sydney.  Apost took till the following Monday to get it to Warialda and I fitted it and off we went again.  A lot less noise coming from the engine bay, nice.

Not much to see or do in Warialda

Stopped at Texas Monday night and Fassifern rest stop Tuesday then dumped at Ipswich and delivered Dora to Caravan Services early Wednesday morning.  Picked up a rental car and got home to Eight2 just after lunch.  Nice to be home.

Bugger me school holidays again, busy, people everywhere, now I know why I prefer to travel via minor roads and small towns in regional areas of Australia.

Flood in at Pilliga then on to and Bingara

On Wednesday arrived at Pilliga after driving in the rain all the way.  I set up camp right by the bore pool in the day car park on the hard top, the highest point.  There were about 5 other campers there who all moved to the day park as the creek flooded the main camping area and the started on the all weather back one.
Fortunately the water stopped rising with a couple of feet to spare.  The road was closed north to Barren Junction and east to Wee Waa until Saturday morning but that was OK as I had all I needed and the bore was hot.  Met Fred Kern from Brisbane and had some interesting discussion as we whiled away the time.
Provisioned at Woolies Narrabri and was intending to stop at Sawn Rocks rest area but it was closed for construction?  Drove on to Bingara and set up on the Gwydir river for 2 nights.  Walked 5km in the morning then SUPed on the river in the afternoon.  Interesting thing was there was no current, the river was lower and there were gravel runs up and down stream.

Click on an image to enlarge

Pilliga Bore Baths from the road

Looking to the campground - 2013 April

Looking from the back car park

Escape from the Solo Rally

I filled my water tanks at Hay and also the fridge with veggies and whatnot and stopped for the night at Goolgowi rest stop after a schooner in the local.  Tullibigeal on Sunday night after a quiet day then on to Albert and The Rabbit Trap Hotel car park.  I had a beer or two and talked to the locals, nice.  Tuesday saw me camped up at Warren just out of town near the boat ramp, acceptable for one night.

Albert - The Rabbit Trap Hotel

Barooga to Balranald

So I did.  I went west down stream stopping at Tocumwal for two nights then on to Wakool on the Wakool river and Moulimein on the Edwards river.  A night at Kyalite before fronting to the Solo Rally at Balranald.

At Kyalite I camped at the caravan park next to the pub linking up with some Roadrunners on their way to Robinvale, a funny bunch.  At the Solo Rally I did the normal Tim thing and didn't get involved with the activities rather did my own thing riding around town on the bike or walking or swimming laps in the local pool next door.  All a bit boring and although paying for 7 nights left after 5.  I did join the Solo Network for the next 12 months, but I think it confirms one thing: I'm not a rally person!

Thinking back on it I would've been far better off at Bonnie Doon as was the originally plan. Live and learn but not so much learning going on lately.

Camp spot at Moulimein on the Edwards river

The rally site in Balranald early Day 2.

Gundagai to Barooga

Headed south from Gundagai looking for a place to stop off the Hume Highway chanced the old highway bypassed two plus years ago and the town of Woomargama.  A one pub town with several highway businesses closed.  But has a new RTA rest stop not in any books or websites.  Had a beer or two and a chat with the publican at the pub before settling for the night, quiet nice.
Changed over a gas bottle in Albury and did some provisioning at Woolies before heading on to Howlong where I camped by the river just out of town, good enough spot for just the night.
Saturday to Cottadiddi Res expecting it to be a bit busy because of the nice weather and the weekend but surprisingly quiet, just three overnighters and a boat or two in the day.  Ended up staying 10 days that also included a long weekend for Victoria. That saw the numbers swell but not too bad.  Riding into Cobram for provisions a 20km return trip, SUPing up and down the river and walking around the reserve, nice.

Thought about going to Boonie Doon for the music festival but will probably go to the solo rally at Balranald instead?

Mist on the Murray at Cottadiddi Res Barooga