Heading Home From Baradine

Continuing on with our recent trip north…

We didn’t leave Baradine until the Monday morning, as a few of us stayed over, to allow a full day of driving without having to find accommodation on the way home.

Rather than head back south, we headed north to Pilliga.  This goes right up through the Pilliga Scrub, through the tiny settlements of Kenebri and Gwabegar.  Some of this continues to follow the defunct railway track.  

From Gwabegar to Pilliga is a gravel road, going for 30kms.  Some was good, some was rather corrugated, which shook us around a bit.

Charley Bilby took it all in her stride, looking out the front window.

Pilliga is famous for its bore baths and there were quite a few people camped there.  It wasn’t on our agenda this trip, so we kept going.  There is very little else at Pilliga.

As we travelled east from Pilliga we were entering the area that had recently suffered some pretty serious flooding.  There wasn’t too much evidence of it, but there were a couple of causeways with water over them.

The next town we went through was Wee Waa, which advertises itself as the Cotton Capital.  Compared to some of the little towns we have visited, it is quite vibrant.  I’m pretty sure it is due to the large cotton industry in the area.  We noticed one large, very modern building and discovered it was the brand new high school.  We drove past a big demolition taking place on the way out of town and it was the old school.

There is a war memorial clock tower in the middle of one intersection.

We noticed the clock face had “LEST WE FORGET” on it.  The town of Boorowa had “ANZAC” on their clock.

Back on our way, our lunch stop was at Narrabri.  We had a wander up and down the street, but we had been here in May, so no need to explore too much.  There was a yarn bombed tree at the park where we stopped.  It was for dementia awareness.

We continued heading east after Narrabri, back onto nice quiet roads.  The scenery was stunning as we headed towards the hillier country. 

The crops were looking fabulous.

And loads more wattle.

Our plan was to stay at a National Park camp ground near some rocky water holes.  However, when we got there we decided that the ground was too uneven and it would be too awkward to park, so we just walked down for a look.  Apparently, this area was formed by an ancient glacier.

As we had decided not to camp at the waterholes, we continued on to Bingara to stay for the night.  The drive from Narrabri to Bingara, much of it through a rich, fertile valley is really enjoyable.

The following morning we had a good look around Bingara.  We have been through here a few times before and love the area down by the river.  A feature was always two ginormous river red gums with hollows that you could stand in.  Sadly, one of the floods this year was so bad that it took out one of them and the other was deemed too unsafe, so it was removed as well.  Very sad.

Let’s go for a walk.

There was even a rather nice little sewing/quilt shop.

We had visited the Roxy Theatre on a previous trip, but the adjoining “Peter’s” cafe was closed.  This time it was open.  However, as we had only recently had breakfast we didn’t dine in. It is a heritage building and rather stunning.

We had noticed a large building works going on near where we had parked.  When we got around the front  we saw the facade of the Soldiers Memorial Hall and assumed the hall was being expanded.  However, the new building is the new Council Administration Centre.  They are retaining the facade, due to the public outcry about it being lost.  A great win, win.

The next town was Barraba.  A quick walk up and down the street.  The yarn bombed bench was outside a craft shop.

Of course we had to stop at the painted silo for the obligatory photo with the van.  Last time we were here we still had the ute, rather than Frank Truck.

The third of the small towns in this area is Manilla.  We had heard that there is a good butcher’s here, so we bought some meat for our tea that night.

As we walked back to the truck, we noticed a nice bright mural and then noticed that it was still in the process of being painted.  It is rather lovely.

As the day was getting away on us, we drove straight through Tamworth and onto that night’s destination of Nundle, stopping briefly at Chaffey dam for a look.

It had been an enjoyable day and we were looking forward to visiting Nundle again.

More soon.

Our Recent Trip to Baradine

As we didn’t have any pressing commitments at home, we decided to extend our trip to Baradine a little.  The event started on Friday, so we left home on the Tuesday.

It was glorious weather for travelling, with the everything starting to wake up after its winter slumber.  The willows were getting their first green tinge.

And wattles, so many varieties as we travelled north.  Different colours, sizes and shapes.

The season around here and further to the north has been rather good, so everything was looking green and  fresh, and we had glorious sunny days.  You couldn’t ask for better.

We saw our first canola for the season and it is always so vibrant.

Our destination for the first day was the small town of Binnaway, as it has a good community free camp by the Castlereagh River.  I may have done a little crochet, before it got too hot.  Yes, you heard right - HOT!

The town was established when the railway came through.  The line ran from Mudgee, to Binnaway, Coonabarabran, Baradine and terminated at Gwabegar, on the way to Pilliga.  The line was closed in the 1980s and the town has been in decline since then.

Sadly, many of the buildings in the main street are empty.

If you would like to move there, the former Anglican Church and its adjoining hall are for sale for $200,000.  Not bad if you would like to live in a quiet town.  There is a kitchen and bathroom, so you could live quite comfortably while renovating.

The old pump house, complete with pump that used to pump water from the river to the tanks by the railway line still stands next to the free camp.

 We did enjoy a lovely sunset.

The next day we continued on to Coonabarabran.

And then on to Baradine, past the back of the Warrunbungles, which were looking rather dramatic with the dark sky. 

You travel beside the railway line that went through Binnaway.  You can tell that there have been no trains here for some time, with the Cypress pine growing in the tracks.

And then to our home away from home for the next few days.

We were greeted by our favourite friendly Apostle Birds and the beautiful wildflowers.

Then it was time to read a book I picked up at an op shop on the way up.  I’m enjoying a few of her books lately.  This one was a quick read of short stories.

We had a bit of time to kill on Thursday morning before helping to set up for the weekend, so went for a wander up the street and enjoyed a coffee at the new venue operating out of the Top Pub.  Rather pleasant.  We then visited the Piliga Discovery Centre, which is always interesting.

Then it was all about “An August Escape” for the next few days.

I forgot to share two important things on my previous post.  Firstly, the cute mugs we received.  They were rather appropriate.  I’m enjoying using mine every day.

Secondly, our swap this time was to be three fat quarters.  I forgot to take a photo of the ones I provided - they were Tilda.  I received these lovely French General ones.  Right up my alley.

Anyway, that’s all for now.  Our ongoing trip will have another post.