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.