Port Macquarie to Lake Macquarie
11/11/2014
Driving from Port Macquarie to Lake Macquarie is basically
highway driving so not that interesting when you have travelled this road so
many times in the past. However, in saying this there is plenty to see as one
drives with the changing country and there are many turn-offs to more
interesting places along the coastline. The fact is that this trip is about
seeing family so diversions are not on the agenda this time around as the plan
is to see the grandchildren then off to the Alice for Christmas to spend that
with my dear 92 year old Mum.
After passing through Newcastle we close in on Lake
Macquarie and we plan to stop for a coffee at the roadside stop just short of
the Swansea Bridge. I guess we will continue to have an affiliation with the
sea for life, it is in the blood. We entered the parking spot and just had to
check the Swansea Bridge channel between the bridge and the Swansea Bar. Our
last few visits here were by sea in our sailing catamaran and the fact is that
our dear 'Alana Rose' is here on the lake as this is where the new owners live
and we delivered the boat here. The lake is a great spot it stretches from
north to south approximately 13 nautical miles and the width in places of
approximately 5 nautical miles in the widest areas.
(Swansea Passage, the bridge is to the right.)
Today we are going over the Swansea Bridge and not waiting
for the bridge to open to pass through it, driving over is a lot easier as you
can cross anytime unless there is a boat passing through and that is usually on
the hour if a boat is waiting to go through. Boats have to book the bridge
opening and it is usually on the hour and usually on a making tide near high
tide. However, the bridge does not open on peak hour traffic times.
(Passing over Swansea Bridge)
We are heading to Colleen and Brian's place, our Summerland
Point family, we left some of our gear there after delivering the boat and we
always like to visit them. It will only
be a quick visit as we need to keep on the move.
Arriving at Colleen and Brian's is always great and once
settled we had a coldie and a good chat. We spent a couple of days with them
before heading out to Dubbo.
(Before leaving Sumerland Point we had to go and see one of our favourite anchorages)
Lake Macquarie to Dubbo via Wellington
13/11/2014
Leaving the coast areas to go west and by all accounts it
has been quite hot early this year. We headed for the new Hunter Expressway and then onto the Golden Highway.
When we reached the Golden Highway we pulled into the roadside rest area at the
intersection and made a coffee, having a little break before continuing. Truth
is my shoulder and thumb are still feeling the effects of the fall back at Port
Macquarie and I need to give that a rest.
From this point on we pass through mining areas, small
villages, townships and wine growing country, there are also horse studs and
farming country which is very dry at the moment. The road is quite good but the
there is undulating country that provide a few hill climbs along the way.
Our plan is to call in at a friend's place in Wellington
before going on to Dubbo.
(Old and the new houses on a farm)
(Township of Merriwa)
(Ulan Mining)
(The Ten Dollar Town 'Gulgong)
(At Mary's house on a farm)
(Sheep on the move in the dry land)
(Loading cattle)
(The rain gauge has not seen rain for some time, dead flies and spider webs in the bottom tells the story)
Arriving at Mary's place near Wellington and we can see how
dry the country is, Mary's rain gauge has dead flies and dust inside, I found
out later in Dubbo from a farmer friend of mine John Knaggs that they had the
early rains to get the crops growing and which most now have been harvested,
but they did not get the September rain therefore the grain was a lot lesser
quality which is what they had the previous year.
It was good catching up with Mary and Carly we had a nice
dinner with them and caught up on what we have all been doing since we last saw
each other. Then it was onto Dubbo to see Nancy's daughters and the grandchildren.
We stayed at Manda and Clint's home just squeezing our motorhome through the
gate to the backyard.
The few days we had were spent having family time we bought
the children a small swimming pool with the heat it was quite welcomed and the
children had lots of fun.
Dubbo has many attractions with the most famous is the
Western Plains Zoo, if you really want to see the animals up front try
contacting the Zoo and check if you can do the early morning feeding tour and
it is early morning around 0600 hours. If this is not possible the tickets you
purchase are a two day permit, so go there as soon as it opens in the morning
and do two morning trips because as soon as the sun warms up in the warmer
times the animals go to shade and sleep. Winter times sometimes they look for
the sun in the mornings but as the day warms they go to shade.
Check out the websites.
http://dubbo.org/explore/western-plains-zoo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubbo
After a good time in Dubbo we moved on to even warmer
climate Cobar.
Cheers
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