Martin’s Bend, Berri - Last Night

 Left on time this morning, 9 am, Dean & Jude leading, us in the middle & Andy & Jenny following.    One stop for coffee & toilet & off to Berri.   Uneventful trip & finally found a great spot for the 3 of us to camp at Martin’s Bend🔥

Set up camp & lunch (no sun though), restful afternoon talking!

Andy was fire monitor tonight & lit a spectacular fire & kept us warm all night.

Deans idea with the chimney in the middle, worked a treat!  

Friends of ours, John & Elle, happened to be at Renmark & joined us around the fire for a wine for a few hours! It was unexpected but great to catch up.

When they left we decided to make 2 damper’s - one for our spaghetti Bolognese & one for our jam & cream for dessert 😆 Andy was wanting to learn how to cook it so he mixed our damper for us & it was a combined effort cooking it on the coals.

We all sat around the fire to eat dinner tonight & finished with jam & cream & a Baileys!

Having breakfast together at River Jacks at Berri in the morning & then home!  It’s going to be strange being home tomorrow night!    
 

Robinvale Rest Day

 I was glad we all decided to stop & rest for a day.  Tony needed to move around a bit & I needed to rest from the driving, as did the others. 

Cooked breakfast & then a read in the sun.  Spoke to Mum & Dad & all well there!    Our 3 vans together, Andy on the left, us in the middle & Dean & Jude to the right.  Lunch in the sun, reading & chatting!

We were all relaxing after lunch when we heard a sudden crash in the park, not sure what is was we headed up to have a look.   Tony was heading up to the amenities in the direction of the crash & a huge branch had cracked & fallen to the ground.   Andy & I were in the exact spot emptying our toilets the day before 🥴

I had been to the bin on the right of the picture about an hour before it cracked.  It didn’t take long for the Park Manager to come & start cutting the branch! 

 

Apart from that excitement it was quite a relaxing day.  Soon time for Andy to get our fire going tonight 🔥

A few wines, lots of talking & a yummy curry that we just had to heat up so was an easy meal.    Off to bed ready to head for Martins Bend near Berri for our last night 🥂🍷

Rankin Springs to Robinvale

 Up early this morning ready to head to Robinvale, only 377 km to drive today so a little better drive than yesterday!   Tony a little slow in the morning until his body warms up but with a little help we managed to leave with everyone else.

Roads were a little bumpy in parts, more trucks but had an uneventful trip.   Tony & I felt like we were being escorted home 😆 Andy was the leader today, Tony & I followed him & then Dean & Jude.   It is comforting to know they are with us for the journey home.   Tony is still sore but doing well as a passenger, although a little slow on the commands & things he has to do as a passenger 🤪

Fuel & coffee stop at Hay & then onto Balranald for a toilet stop!

We made Robinvale in time for lunch - left over pizza which was easy, sit in sun with a coffee, quick cleanup & time for a wine while Dean got our fire going 🔥 Tony had to sit back & watch 😆

We are right on the river which is lovely!

After a few wines & some great entertainment we cooked our sausage sizzle!

Tony couldn’t play the didgeridoo because of his broken rib so Andy took over 😆 Tony got to play the balls he has to blow into for his lungs while recuperating 🤪 Dean joined in on the guitar , Andy also played the harmonica & some of us sang.  It was great!

Sausage sizzle sitting around the fire was a great success 

Merriwa to Rankin Springs

 Our first cold night for awhile - 4 deg this morning 🥶

Tony had a reasonable night last night so up & ready to go by 8am!   I drove again, not sure Tony is quite ready to drive but he is feeling better.    We had a few challenges today, fog for the first part of our trip!

(didn’t end up having to drive through though), roadworks, goat tracks for highways, windy roads, narrow roads, hills, pot holes etc, you name it we had it today!

Had to follow the road escort through two lots of roadworks 

Few stops for toilet stops, fuel & coffee ☕️  

Coffee was interesting- lovely lady at the Banjo Patterson Coffee shop at Yeola.  

  Coffee was good too ☕️

 Lunch stop was in Forbes at tennis club.   Nice to get out & enjoy the sun ☀️ 

Headed on to Rankin Springs to meet up with Andy & Jenny!

We are parked across the road from the pub!   Needed a wine when we arrived after 8 1/2 hours driving 😵‍💫😩 lots of catching up & talking 😆

After happy hour we ventured over to the pub for pizza - nothing else on the menu tonight but they were very nice! 

Back to the van for a coffee & blog & hopefully early to bed for another big day tomorrow 😵‍💫

Scott’s Head to Merriwa

 Up early this morning as it was a team effort to pack up & leave.  Had to help Tony a little this morning as he can’t do a lot to help.

Dean & Jude helped up us pack up what was left from yesterday, Dean hitched both vans but I wanted to try & see if I could back the car up to the van & after a couple of attempts did ok 😊 

Underway by 8.30am so not too bad.  Roads were good for me to travel on as I haven’t driven with the van for a few years.  Had a few rests on the way, toilet stop & then looked for coffee.    Found a place where Dean could get fuel & a coffee (coffee very average) but decided to stop & rest & have lunch.

On our way again until we reached Jerry Plains where we had another rest before continuing on to Merriwa.    

We were intending to have a meal at the RSL where we are parked out the back for the night but it is closed Sundays so went to Bakery for a coffee & to check the local Hotel to see if they had meals.

Back to the van for a wine in the sun & get ready for a meal out at the pub. 

 Didn’t have to get too dressed up as the locals we saw looked very casual 😆

Of course, Tony ordered Spare Ribs 😆😵‍💫

We had a great meal & back to the van for a Baileys - I have been carrying a bottle for about 4 weeks with a small amount in so finished it off (bit of a joke in the van - I keep forgetting to drink it 😆)

Off to bed - another long day tomorrow 😊