Chinchilla to Isla Gorge

Great sleep last night as the camp was very quiet & no road noise.   We left at what appears to be our normal time, 9.30am.   Dean lead the way out up the narrow track - our vans just fitted 🤦‍♀️

We followed Dean & they ended up in a dead end so we ducked right & also ended up in a dead end - after much manoeuvring up & down driveways we were finally able to get out just as a dog chased me back to our car 🤦‍♀️

First stop for a food shop in Myles - need meat & vegetables & other items - we can now buy what we like without having to worry about borders for awhile!     A coffee & on our way to Isla Gorge.   Interesting journey as Tom Tom (our GPS) decided to not work so I had to use my phone & Wiki camps to navigate.  Dean & Jude also kept us on track!

Roads were better than they have been & soon arrived at our next campground.   Not enough room for 2 vans together but we are still fairly close.    Lots of trees & narrow paths to navigate in to our camp   Soon set up camp & sat & had lunch overlooking the beautiful gorge. 

Decided on a walk along a path to the top of the Lookout.  Beautiful views everywhere you looked.   

Back to camp for a coffee & Dean had a surprise melting moment for us to enjoy.   After much deliberating about where our next camp would be we decided to continue the conversation around our fire. 

We used a fire pit which was supplied in the camp near Dean & Judes van & Dean did  a great job of keeping us warm tonight.   The boys also kept us entertained with the guitar & didgeridoo!

Before dinner we interrupted our fire to take a quick look at the sunset.

Dinner was left overs from our Chinese meal.    Jude’s leftover Massaman curry for entree & the rest all heated up in the wok over the open fire.    Was very nice & filling.     Washed down with a few wines & a Bailey’s before heading back to camp for a shower & bed. 

Goondiwindi to Chinchilla

Felt like it rained all last night but slept like a log.   9.30 am takeoff today - first stop fuel & coffee & on our way.    The Leichart Highway was dreadful.  Lots of flood damage, pot holes & very bumpy.  Took nearly an hour to drink our coffee 🤦‍♀️    Stopped at Chinaman’s Lagoon, Myles,  for lunch in a nice park.   Too cold to sit outside so sat in our vans!

Lunch finished we headed for Chinchilla & headed to Foodworks to get some fresh fruit & a few essential items but walked out (nothing looked fresh) & decided we could work with what we had in the van 🤦‍♀️

They are known for their big watermelon - will try & good a good photo tomorrow.

Had a look at Chincilla Weir camp ground - looked beautiful place to stay but all powered sites taken & it is quite cold here 🥶 

We decided to book into Charlie’s Creek Campground which looked a little bit like deliverance country but as we entered completely changed our minds - beautiful grassy sites on the creek & power for heaters & electric blankets - Jude & I were very happy.

As it was cold set up our camp fire early to enjoy our coffee (they delivered a bag of wood for $15) which we were very happy about 🔥

The camp kitchen was interesting & think there was going to be smoked beef cooked for dinner the next night but unfortunately we are moving on!

Decided to eat at the RSL Club tonight & a community bus picked us up from the camp kitchen & returned us to camp later.   The meal was great & we were dropped back to camp right at our vans!    

Coffee, blog & bed to read ready for our next adventure tomorrow!

Goondiwindi

It rained most of our last night at Yarrie Lake (luckily only started after our dinner around the fire) but stopped while we packed up.   Left around 9.30 & headed to Narrabri for fuel (Tony & I were very low but made it with some to spare 🤦‍♀️) & coffee.   

On to Bingara for a quick shop & bakery lunch in the van - too cold there to eat outside.   Another meeting was held & we were off again.

We had a few ranges to tackle which had some quite scary bends & steep in parts but the guys kept us safe by driving to the conditions although Jude & I were hanging on a fair bit.   Finally down on the plains to beautiful scenery & a little more relaxed!

After buying yummy bananas in Bingara we realised we were going to be in Queensland so couldn’t take them over the border.   A quick stop at North Star to eat a banana & then through the rest out 🤦‍♀️

Travelled over flood damaged roads everywhere but eventually set up camp in the Holiday Park CP at Goondiwindi.    A well deserved coffee sitting outside in 20 deg & back in the van till we met again at 6pm for another meeting & Chinese Takeaway delivered to our caravan door.   It was a great meal & have enough maybe for tomorrow nights dinner. 

We were so hungry we forgot to take a photo 🤣

Still drizzling outside, so quick shower & read in bed ready for another adventure tomorrow!

Yarrie Lake - Last Day

 Today started with a meeting with fellow campers, Jude & Dean.  Our plans have changed as there is a lot of rain coming north of us ☔️   This meeting took 2 cups of coffee & lots of different scenarios so remains to be seen where we will end up 🤣   Unfortunately no Lara wetlands which we were looking forward to.

Boys decided the Lake looked very welcoming & decided on their first paddle.   They paddled around half the lake & managed to stay on their boards.   Jude & I finally had a quiet read wrapped in our blankets as the sun disappeared 😢

Another great fire tonight & Tony returned with another bucket of yabbies for our entre!

Yabbies in garlic butter again for entree, Massaman curry & rice with damper for dinner followed by the rest of the damper with jam & cream for dessert. Yum!   Sat around the fire chatting till bed time.

Yarrie Lake - Day 2

Running out of wood so Tony & Dean took off hunting & gathering.   They had great success & came back with a boot load of wood. 

Jude & I had a nice Champagne down at the Lake sitting in the sun 🥂☀️ While the boys got the fire ready.

Another successful meal with Yabbies in Garlic butter, steak cooked over the fire & finished with “Joe’s Pudding” cream & custard.     

Tony & Dean entertained us with the didgeridoo & guitar & even the neighbours thought they were good.   Boys have a little practice playing their music during the afternoon.

Yarrie Lake

 9am start & heading for Yarrie Lake.  Had a great sleep at The Rabbit Trap Hotel much different from when we were last there!   Quick stop at Coonamble for stock up on food.   Fairly long drive today - some roads a little rough from the floods.   Lunch was eaten on the side of the road at Pelega (we did pass a great free camp at Pelega with an artesian bath which would be a great stop - maybe next time).  Arrived at Yarrie Lake & finally some sunshine - coffee in the sun ☀️ 

Camp fire set up ready for happy hour our to cook our chicken & vegetables on the camp fire - another success 😀. The wind dropped & turned into a perfect night  sitting around the camp fire waiting for our dinner to cook. 

Slept well - stayed in bed for awhile as 0 deg this morning- lucky we have power.   Woke to a beautiful morning so bacon & eggs on the Lake.   

Few loads of washing & off to walk around the Lake - quite a walk for me (5.3 km) but I made it 🤣  back to camp - just 😜

Tony is a happy man - we have an entree of garlic yabbies for the tonight.