Casino - Kyogle

Stopped in Casino at the CMCA village resort for a bit. Peter and Francis, last seen at Crooked Creek, turned up next day. Met Mike and Di as well. Di was telling me about a town called Tingha about 25km south east of Inverell NSW. She loved it and the CP there. I've been through Inverell lots of times, might detour next time.

Not much to see or do at Casino but used the time walking into and around town via the river or riding the bike.

Moved on to Kyogle at the recommendation of power company linesman I met back at Mallanganee. Nice town, interesting. I had intended staying at the showgrounds but its showtime here in Kyogle. Let me tell you if you've been to one country show you've been to them all. Had a look all the same and yes it was, all the same.

When there's nothing interesting to photograph I can always revert to pub shots.

Commercial Hotel - Casino

Cecil Hotel - Casino (that name rings a faint bell?)

Showtime - Kyogle (love the building!)

Exchange Hotel - Kyogle

Crooked Creek and Mallanganee Lookout

Headed off from Texas along the Bruxner Hwy and overran the turn off to my first choice camp site the other side of Tenterfield. Couldn't turn around so 'On On' to Crooked Creek which turned out to be a good choice anyway. A steep decent into the area, as described, but when I saw a caravan and a motor home down there my concern evaporated. Had a walk about and met the fellow campers, neighbours for tonight. Shared a campfire and some travel stories before some light rain put an end to being outside.

Next day on to Mallanganee Lookout. Not a designated camp spot as such but works for me, nice view. I can see for miles and miles. No problem with Telstra reception when you are parked under the tower.                                  click on an image to enlarge

Crooked Creek rest area

Mallanganee Lookout - dawn.

Mallanganee looking west at the fog - dawn.

Mallanganee looking north west - dawn.

Dumaresq River and Texas

Stopped in Goondiwindi to provision before pulling into Lee Reserve on the Dumaresq River 25km east of Goondi. I had a good night in a large camping area with just one caravan then early next morning was contemplating staying another night or two when camper trailers arrived in large pools of dust and started to set up right next to me. Around me in fact. All this space and they want my spot? School holidays don't you know! There goes the P&Q.

Turned out to be for the best as I enjoyed a picturesque drive along the river looking at the cotton and large center pivot irrigators in action. And that reminded me of the lyrics of a song: Old Black Joe's still pickin' cotton. A quick photo, find the track on the stereo and turn it up loud and continue on to Texas. I probably got one of the best and private sites here at Les Myers reserve with a view of the near empty river and better still TV tonight, NRL finals, yo!                     click on an image to enlarge

Lee Reserve - Sunrise before the camper trailers 

Lee Res. Dumaresq River - NSW over there

Cotton

Dumaresq River - Texas

Boomi and where to from here?

Been at Boomi, the artesian bore baths, for the last 2 days and working on the dilemma, which way next, till the light bulb came on just now. Sorry no photos from me. But click the link to find out more about the Boomi pools as I was reluctant to be seen with a camera pool side. The local pub, the Pioneer Hotel, just a block or two down the main I found to be cheerful and the locals are a real hoot. This couldn't happen every night could it?

The plan: Goondiwindi for provisions then the Bruxner Hwy to Casino and either inland via the Summerland Way, north to Kyogle or south toward Grafton or of course there is Lismore and the coast. Options are good. I remember talking with Chook and Deb about the Casino area and the fact that to date I haven't done east of Texas, or more correctly Bonshaw, on the Bruxner.

Its always good to be going somewhere, especially somewhere new. Is this excitement... nah, I don't think so.

Nindigully

Arrived at The Nindigully Pub and set up camp by the Moonie River a nice spot for a stopover. Had a few beers in the bar and watched the Storm go down to the Bulldogs. 

Decided to stop a couple of nights. Its a nice place to camp. Really popular with the caravan crowd? Only two houses in town so the tourists probably keep the pub open. They serve the biggest hamburger I've ever seen. The leftover after 4 big Aussies attacked one was a meal in its self. No pub dog or chooks about I wonder where the scraps go?

The Pub est. 1864

The bar

Cobb & Co was probably last over this bridge

The camp site on the Moonie River