Exploring the Pilliga - Part 3 - Sandstone Caves and Pilliga Pottery

Finally, I am getting back to our recent trip to the Pilliga Scrub.

On our second day up there we drove back down to Coonabarabran and up the Newell Highway to find the Sandstone Caves.  You have to ask directions, as it isn't sign posted from the highway.  The reason is that it has aboriginal artifacts that need preserving.

It was relatively easy to find and once we drove in there were quite a few cars in the car park, but definitely not crowded.

We set off on the walk which was around a sandstone outcrop.  The weather was nice and warm, with a beautiful blue sky.  You couldn't ask for better.

Finally, some grass trees that had the typical trunk, rather than the short ones at Dandry Gorge.

We were blown away by the scale of the cliffs.  The rock looks really soft and very weather worn.

The first little cave we came across.  It would make a good home for some little critter.

There are several caves, but only two with visible aboriginal carvings.  The first mainly had tool grinding marks.

You can see them at the front of the rock.

You can also see where there has been modern day carving as well.  It is now behind a cage to protect it, which is a sad reflection on the mentality of some people.

Onwards and upwards.  The path was excellent and a lot of the stairs looked very new. 

The site is co-managed by National Parks and the local aboriginal people. They should all be very proud of what they are doing.

Once we were a bit higher we were treated to this view.  Wow!  Such a vast landscape, and this is just the very south east corner of  the Pilliga.

We continued to be awe struck by the way the weather had sculpted the soft sandstone.  

Then, we came across some holes right through the rock.

We started to play peek-a-boo through the holes.

Once again, just look at the scale of this place.

And me, in the same cave.

We came to the next site with carvings, this time emu and kangaroo feet as well as the grinding grooves.

You can just see them on the rocks.

Now for a reality check.  This is what you have to look through, to protect the artifacts.

I don't this this carving, on the rock just outside of the cage in the above photo is very ancient.

I was checking out little caves to see if there were any animal footprints.

These were the only ones I found.  I'm guessing they are from a tiny lizard.

 

There were lots of these footprints everywhere.

You can certainly understand why this place is of significance to the aboriginal people in the past and to the present day.  You also wonder how much of their art has been lost, simply from the weather wearing away the soft rock.

It was another highlight of our trip to the area.

Next, we headed back down the Newell Highway a bit, before turning off onto a dirt road and travelling for about 10kms.  

As we drove along we came across a sign "Grass Tree Ridge".  Look what was there.  Aren't they beautiful.  This was by far the best group we saw.

Our destination for lunch was the Pilliga Pottery.  We have seen the sign on many occasions as we drive past, but have never had the time to call in. 

Once you arrive, there is quite a complex. Not only is there the pottery, there is a cafe and quirky farmstay accommodation and camp sites.  One of my work colleagues has stayed there a couple of times and rated it very highly.  We had to go and see what all the fuss was about.

We walked through where the pottery is made and they appeared to be giving classes as well.  Then it was through to the main shop.  The pieces were beautiful, with many featuring blue wrens and other Australian flora and fauna.  There were both decorative and practical items.  I think my favourite were the water purifying fountains.  No, we didn't bring anything home.  I would have liked to have found a little something with a blue wren for my Mum, but they were all too large to suit her room.

Next stop was to the cafe for lunch.

Open sandwich with lettuce, tomato, grilled halloumi and zucchini and tomato relish.  It was delicious.  Of course, all table ware was made by Pilliga Pottery.

After lunch we had a wander around the garden, which also featured some of their pottery.

Even the pump shed was quirky.

And that completed our exploring of the Pilliga Scrub.

After lunch we drove back to Baradine, hooked up the caravan and started out for the next leg of our little trip.

More soon.

My October Goals

It is always fun to set my goals for the upcoming month, as it gives me something to look forward to, so let's start.

As usual, I will start with my stitching goals.

1.    ONE MONTHLY GOAL

My goal for October continues to be in relation to my Trail Mix quilt.  Since this photo was taken it has been to my friendly long arm quilter and come back to me.  My goal is to complete the quilt by adding the binding.

2.    MODA BLOCK HEADS 3

There will be five blocks for me to complete this month.  As usual, I want to stay up to date with the release of the blocks.

3.    RAINBOW SCRAP CHALLENGE

October's colour is yellow, and the final colour for the year.  Therefore, I wish to make my drunkard path blocks (thank goodness this is the last of them) and my pineapple block.  However, as I didn't make a pineapple block in a couple of months, as my 30s prints didn't have a suitable colour, I have a second block to make this month to make up the nine blocks that I need for my cushion.  I'm yet to finalise my colour choice for that block, but I have a bit of an idea in the back of my head.

4.    WOOFA UFO CHALLENGE

I intend to continue with progress on my clam shells.  I don't expect a finished project, but WILL finish adding all the clam shells.  There, now that I've said it, I will have to do it.  There are just another seven rows to add.  So, if I add a row a day, it will only take a week. Realistically, I expect it will take longer than that.

5.    CHRISTMAS PROJECT

Once again, I have absolutely no idea what I will work on, but there will be something to show at the end of the month.  Otherwise, I will have to answer to Lou, and we can't have that.  This is a nice little sideline we have going to keep us each motivated.

6.    ONE PROJECT A MONTH

If all goes well, I should have at least one, if not two finishes to share at the end of the month.

7.    FRIDAY NIGHT WITH FRIENDS

This has already taken place last Friday.  I did a tiny bit of stitching, but not much to report.  If you look at the above photo of my clam shells, I'm a little bit of a fraud.  The bottom row were just glued down at that stage.  On Friday night I stitched them down.  That's all I did.  But, as Cheryll would say, every stitch is progress.

Now to my non-stitching goals.  These can be a moving feast, as life dictates, but here is what I hope to do this coming month.

1.    READ A BOOK

I'm glad I'm setting this goal each month, as I'm reading at least twelve books a year that way.  I've no idea what I will read, so it will be a nice surprise for me.

2.    TRY A NEW RECIPE

I went through some free magazines from the supermarket that were sitting in the magazine rack and pulled a few recipes before tossing the magazines in the recycle bin.  I'll pick a recipe from those to try.

3.    GO FOR A MOTORCYCLE RIDE

We are hoping to go on a day long bike rally later in the month and have even put our hands up to help out, so I'm pretty confident that this will take place.

4.    GO FOR A WEEKEND AWAY

Notice I didn't say go for a weekend away "in the caravan".  There is a weekend motorcycle ride in the early stages of planning. If it comes off, we hope to take "Snubby" the silver sidecar and camper trailer.  That will be something we haven't done for a very long time.  If for some reason the organised ride does not come off, we may go for a weekend anyway, be it in the van or on the bike.

5.    HAVE A FRIDAY FUN DAY

I'd like to make this happen this month, particularly now that the weather is warming up.  No plans, but there is no shortage of things to do and places to go.  It doesn't have to be anything major, just to do "something".

6.    GO FOR WALKS

We have slackened off on this a bit lately, so hopefully we can do this more often.  The weather seemed to conspire against us a bit during the last month, so we hope we have better luck in October.

That little lot should keep us busy enough.  We just have to fit them in between the more mundane things that still have to happen, but it gives us the incentive we need.

My Other September Goal Results

In addition to my stitching goals I have been making some other fun goals for each month.  You can read about September's here.

Let's see how I went.

1.    READ A BOOK

Having headed off for a little holiday gave me the perfect opportunity to do some reading........at the expense of the stitching I had planned to do.

When we travel, we enjoy popping into op shops and craft shops and keep our eye out for street libraries and book exchanges.  All of these came from those sources.  They are a real lucky dip.  You get some great reads and some shockers.

The first book I read wasn't a novel, but the Historic Australia Quilts book that I bought at Coolah.  It was fascinating reading.  Some of it I already knew, but you always learn something.  Of course, the quilts were nice eye candy too.

Next I read "The Wrong Boy" which was about a Jewish girl in a concentration camp.  We both read this and enjoyed it.  The author is Australian.

Finally, Five Quarters of the Orange.  This has been out for some years, but I had never read it.  It was an enjoyable read too.

2.    TRY A NEW RECIPE

This only happened last week.   I found a recipe for "Blueberry Granola Breakfast Bars".  This was a slice with a base, a layer of jam and blueberries and then a crumble topping.  It was a failure, as the base was way too crumbly.  The recipe just didn't have nearly enough butter in it.  However, it wasn't wasted.  Served warm in a bowl with either ice cream or custard for dessert was delicious.

I have rewritten the recipe using the same base as for the raspberry coconut slice and it would be fine.  Also, the crumble was yummy, so would work well on an apple or rhubarb crumble. Therefore, it wasn't a complete loss.

3.    GO FOR WALKS

This happened while we were travelling, but not so much  at home.  I will blame the weather for some of it, but, really, there is no other excuse.

4.    GO FOR A MOTORCYCLE RIDE

No, this did not happen.  We were away for a couple of weeks and then on weekends the weather was mainly wet.  Hopefully, we will get out next month.

5.    GO AWAY IN OUR CARAVAN.

This earned a very big tick.  We were away for eleven days and had a wonderful time. We mainly free camped, which worked well.  Caravanning is a great way to travel.

6.    HAVE A FRIDAY FUN DAY

Well, we were away for two Fridays and they were fun, which doesn't really count.

We actually had a Sunday Fun Day last weekend.

Remember we rode the old motorcycle out to Chifley Dam in August to see the dam looking nearly full.

Well, the dam started flowing over the spill way a couple of weeks ago, so we had to go out again to have a look see.

We weren't the only ones with that idea.  Lots of people were walking out for a look.

It was wonderful to see the water cascading over the spillway.  The dam wall was raised in the early 1990s.  If you look carefully, you will see a line around the right hand wall and the end wall about half way up.  That is the height of the earlier spillway.  Thank goodness our local Council had the foresight to  raise the wall when they did.  There are now talks of raising it again to future proof our water supply as Bathurst continues to grow quickly.

The Campbells River was looking lovely, with everything looking so green.

The dam was looking lovely too.  At the other side of the dam there was an open day  for the rowing club.  It had gone into recess over the last couple of years and they are planning on reviving it.  There was apparently enough interest to get it going again, which was great news for those involved.

So, there you go.  Most goals achieved, but not fully.  That is fine, as we can't do everything every month.

Now I will have to put my thinking cap on to see what we will get up to next month.