Far West- Day 11 Long Haul

Didn't pull the tarp out last night a slept on the stretcher in the open. A heavy fog meant I was up at 0400hrs and wet. I packed up and drove the 14klms to the roadhouse and slept in the car another 2 hours till they opened. On through the fog, which didn't clear till after 1000, and into Cobar for breakfast ans a break.

had a look at the viewing platform over the mine and continued on, not really knowing where I would end up.

Through Nyngan, Trangie, Narromine and in to Dubbo. Most of the roads closed due to the rain which limited my choices for where to go. At Dubbo I decided to push on through Wellington and head out to Mookerawa at the back of Burrendong Dam. As I came down into the dam at 1730 it was 24hrs and 1000klm since my schooner at maidens Hotel in Menindee.

A great campsite with good facilities and a view. What more could I ask for after a long day. 

Far West- Day 10 Menindee Lake

After raining strong until I went to bed, I woke to blue cloudless skies. Broken Hill is dominated by the Line of Lode the huge mullock heap that towers over the town.

After visiting a museum and the regional art gallery I drove back up to the closed down visitors centre for some photos over the town in the sun. 

Then as I still hadn't seen any water in Menindee lakes, I drove back to Menindee. I stopped at Sunset Strip, a settlement on the western shore of Menindee Lake. A nice walk along the lake shore with masses of birds out on the shallow lake. 

All the dirt roads were closed due to the rain and I couldn't get out to any other lakes or back into Kinchega National Park.  After a beer and a chat in the pub, and being told that roads would probably be closed for another 3 or 4 days, I left Menindee  and drove back through Broken Hill and on through Wilcannia, stopping at 2300hrs  at a rest area half way to Cobar to wait for the road house to open in the morning, so I could buy fuel  and continue on.

Far West- Day 9 Broken Hill

Thunderstorms and showers all through the night. Waited in camp till 1000 to see if it cleared and then decided that I better leave before roads became a problem. Went and talked to tourist bureau. Advised not to go on the dirt roads and stick to bitumen. This meant the only option was to go to Broken Hill. The rain set in and was constant for the 120 klm across the flat to Broken hill.

Broken Hill in the rain. Arrived mid afternoon and went up to the Line of Lode. This is the mullock heap for the mines and dominates the Broken Hill skyline. Wanted to visit the visitors centre and cafe that had been built on the top but of course this has closed down. Got drenched taking these photos.  

Booked into a cabin in the caravan park and had an afternoon nap. Not much else to do really.

Far West-Day 8 Kinchega

On from Pooncarie through Menindee and out to Kinchega National Park. 

The old Kinchega Woolshed is at the visitors centre for the  park.

 Weir  32 on the Darling River. 

The back end of Menindee Lake,dry, as you travel out to Morton Boulka picnic area. 

Morton Boulka is on the overflow from Menindee Lake to Lake Cawndilla and the end of the road at the moment. Access through to Lake Cawndilla is closed due to flood damage

On the way out from Morton Boulka a thunderstorm crossing over Lake Menindee. 

Camp for the night at the outflow from Menindee lake back into the Darling River. 

Far West- Day 8 Murray/Darling

An early morning paddle from the boat ramp behind the pub in Wentworth. 

Paddle Steamer "Ruby"

Down the Darling then crossing through a creek into the Murray. 

Then across to a creek on the Victorian side. 

And back down the Murray to the junction with the Darling. 

Beautiful gum blossom in the street trees. 

Then off north to Pooncarie, which was an old port on the Darling. 

A panorama of the river at Pooncarie. Not actually a curve in the river, just distortion from the panorama. 

Coffee break a little further on towards Menindee at Karoola Reach. This time there is a bend in th river but not as pronounced. 

Far West-Day 7 Wentworth

Wentworth, on the junction of the Murray and Darling Rivers.

Had planned to stay in a cabin at a caravan park here but as all the cabins were booked I got to spend 2 nights at the pub and have some lovely pub meals.

Looking east with the Darling left of photo and the Murray on the right.

Now looking west at the junction from the point seen centre of last photo.    

Lock 10 on the Murray just downstream from the Darling. 

In the late afternoon I went out to the Perry Sandhills about 4klm  from town.A quite large expanse of sand dunes rising abruptly from the salt bush plains surrounding.