Liverpool Plains

Had a great time in Armidale. We did the free bus tour which took us all around the town and into some wonderful old buildings and Homes.  It is and always has been an educational town with renowned boarding schools, teachers colleges and universities.  Our tour guide was a retired teacher who had done her training and teaching in Armidale and had lots of stories and knowledge. The tour was almost three hours long but very good.  We came back to "Ellie" (I've decided to name our van that because she is a Coromal Element and we really are in our element)...anyhoo....we came back for lunch and were sitting outside the van when we heard some noises and then from nowhere horses and jockeys were flying past!!  We were parked next to a race track. There's never a dull moment!  We were staying at the Showgrounds so were also treated to quoir practice, band practice and boxing!
After two nights we left Armidale and continued along the New England Highway through Uralla where we visited the grave of Thunderbolt and then onto the Moonbi Lookout where we watched distant Thunderstorms all around us.  The Lookout and park was built in 1938 and is perched upon a huge rock overlooking the town of Moonbi and surrounding district.  We stayed the night and in the morning went to Moonbi to have a new element for the fridge fitted.  It had stopped working when on power but was still OK on gas.  After that we continued on to Tamworth where we had a look around and did some shopping and stayed at a roadside rest area just outside of town.
Travelling along the Oxley Highway we arrived at Gunnedah.  We liked the place as soon as we arrived.  There was much to see and do and the locals were very friendly.  We were having a roast beef lunch ($7.00 plus free drink) when a lady came up behind and gave me the warmest hug - until I turned around and she saw I wasn't who she thought I was!  She was a dear thing and we chatted about all the things to see and do in town.  We stayed at a free camp on the river which is looked after by locals, not the council.  One of the farmers came and introduced himself and after a good long chat he gave us some cherries!
We stayed in Gunnedah for two nights and set off late morning to Coonabarabran and up to the Pilliga Nature Reserve to stay at Pilliga Pottery.  We left the van (Ellie) and visited the sandstone caves - enchanting!
The next morning (Monday) we went through Naribri and Wee-Waa before stopping at Pilliga Artesian Bore.  It is a natural thermal spring and in 1902 they built a pool around it and a roof overhead so it is a beautiful place to swim. The weather was very hot and the next day clouds started rolling in and the sky became very orange.  The wind picked up so we scrambled to put the awning in which we had secured with guy ropes and had the anti flap bars on so it took a bit of dismantling and the wind was getting worse.  Finally the awning was away when we were hit by a massive dust storm. I rushed into the van to shut all the windows while Peter chased our chairs across the field.  The wind was so fierce and you couldn't open your eyes for the dust. We managed to shut the windows but not before half a ton of dust flew in.  We've never seen anything like it!  A few minutes later it all settled down and we just stood amongst the rubble inside the van and thought....What the.......?  Then we got a small sprinkle of rain which turned all the dust on the car and van into a very nasty sight.
We cleaned everything inside as best we could but are still finding grit in everything. Oh well, back to the pool for another swim...

I probably wont do another blog until after Christmas so we would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone  a Wonderful and safe Christmas.  We will be with Matt, Tracey and the kids and are really looking forward to seeing them all.  Love to you all.  Merry Christmas xx

Booloominbah, a former Gentlemens Residence, built in 1888

Inside St Mary and Joseph Catholic Cathedral

A stained glass window in Booloominbah, Armidale

A stained glass windows in an arcade, Armidale

Former headmasters at the Teachers College, Armidale

You never know when a horse race will break out!

Love thumping hooves, and the jockeys all swearing at each other!

Armidale Railway Station

plenty of fools gold here at Uralla

Thunderbolts grave at Uralla

Moonbi Lookout

The view from the lookout at Moonbi

A thunderstorm in the distance from Moonbi Lookout

A tree growing around a rock at Moonbi lookout

The Golden Guitar, Tamworth

Lake Keepit

We rolled over to 100,000 ks,  

We've done 16,719 kms so far this trip

Our camp site at Gunnedah

from another view

and another view

The view from Porcupine Lookout, Gunnedah

That's a train coming into town

and another view

climbing to the roof of the Tower Museum, Gunnedah

and the view from the top of the Museum

This was a working miniature railway until the mans house burnt down

sitting outside the toilet block where poems are recited in the loos, Gunnedah

Statue of Dorothea Mackellar  She wrote "My Country"

(I love a sunburnt Country....)

Peek-a-Boo  Sandstone Caves in Pilliga Nature Reserve

the photos don't show the amazing colours

just beautiful

                                       

this fallen tree branch makes for an interesting ride

peak hour traffic

doing some hand-washing at Pilliga Artesian Bore

  

Our car after the dust storm and a small drop of rain to set it all!

back to the pool