Monday 7th September and what a beautiful day it is. Shorts and Polo shirt. Meet up with Graham, Jenette and Mick at Gunning. Wind has come up and it's feeling cold. In the morning it is 1.5 degrees...Bbbrrrr 

​

      We decide to check out some smaller towns on our way. Tumblong is a ghost town. I want to see Gumly Gumly as think there is a old pub there that the community bought. Decide to go "Back Road" Beautiful lush green pastures, rolling hills, sheep and cattle grazing. Then a fork in the road....To Junee is to the right, no not that way. Go short distance then gravel, about 10 km of it leading to highway just short of Wagga and Gumly Gumly. No pub. Later realize it was Grong Grong I was thinking about south of Narrandra. Another trip. Onto The Rock and set up in Recreation Ground for the night. The town has so many shops closed but the large park up the main street is beautifully maintained. 

​

       Next day Lockhart. Find Information Centre and very helpful lady. Lockhart has very wide verandah's and a fabulous walk with heaps sculptures to look at. A walk through the museum is fascinating. Doris Golder did AMAZING portraits and landscapes in wool - yes wool. All natural coloured fleece wool. Great display. Also had old and unusual displays. Exhibition of Tim Fischer and Jackson "Jacko" Strong  - extreme motocross sportsman who joined Crusty Demons at 13 years. He didn't have many bike accidents - BUT - one New Years Eve on the family property at Lockhart he wanted fireworks to celebrate. So he loaded a 44 gallon drum with dynamite and place's  it on a bonfire. I know what you are thinking and yes you are correct. The drum heated and expanded then went BOOM - fragments of metal flying everywhere. Jacko was severely injured. He was raced to the hospital and told would live but not walk again. Jacko didn't like that and he worked hard and is now back on his feet. He is now flying small planes and doing acrobatics around Lockhart plus Air Shows. We stayed at Lockhart Showground that night and there was power boxes but unfortunately no power. Inside the race track Canola was growing. Magical. In the morning we will go to Galore Hill as been told is beautiful view.

​​

       * Now every trip we seem to go "Just Exploring" and this trip no different. In the morning I unhitch and Mick puts Galore Hill Scenic Reserve in his phone. Needless to say we end up on a dirt road, again. This doesn't seem right so after few miles we turn around and back into Lockhart and fingers crossed on the right road. Well I'm glad we persisted as the view is Impressive. Rising over 200 metres above the surrounding plains. Greens and yellows just breathtaking. We start the walk to Morgan's Cave Loop trail. It is very narrow, steep and rocky. I do mean rocky. After a short distance we decide it's not worth a twisted ankle or worse. We see another trail which is part of the loop but grassy and safer. Definitely Impressive, Spectacular view.

 

      Then onto Urana and a caravan park for the night. Great power for the heater. Good park - Camp Kitchen, near the lake, laundry and hot showers. The town is deserted and a couple of sculptures around which are good. Was fabulous night in the van - cosy and warm.

​

       Drove through Darlington Point which is a neat town with plenty of sports fields. We arrive at Toganmain Woolshed and set up the vans then Graham gives us a tour of the Woolsheds. So big and very interesting. It is 73 metres long and has 110 sheering stands. Hard to imagine so many workers all doing there jobs. It is the largest remaining shed in the Riverina region. Also in September 1876 they set the Australian record of 202,292 sheep shorn by 92 blade shearers and this record still stands. Who bought the flies!!!! 

​

      Saturday is the Open Day with tours through out the sheds and stalls, music and Lions Club Colenamby selling sausage sandwiches. Was a beautiful warm day and heaps of people. That night was......  

                                                    "Cocktails in the Yard"

      After a magnificent set up by all the volunteers the crowd of 180 began to arrive with everyone gathering in the yards for cocktails or two. We all enjoyed the friendly chatting and a beautiful sunset before being herded into the woolshed. There we could select a lovely decorated table or very comfy hay bale to sit at. Plenty of finger food was on offer and music playing from the band "Stickie Fingers". The bar was busy and the dance floor pumping. When it came to auction time the auctioneer did well, he even managed to get $140 for a bag of sheep poo. In all a wonderful night was had by all.

​

      For the drive home we decided to go long way and as may "Back Roads" as possible. Drove Murrumbidgee Road to Griffith and stopped for fuel and supplies. Rankin Springs for lunch and was deserted. Once again the parks were maintained. Lake Cargelligo for the night and walk around town in the morning. Was nice place. Back Roads to Condobolin and "Utes In The Paddock". Has large Information Centre there now and pathways with grass. The town is large then onto Gum Bend Lake for the night. Heaps of vans there and large group residents with support "One Step At A Time" They are walking around the lake which is 3 kms but 3 times to boost their confidence and learn to be able to talk your problems out. We did 1 lap but we had been walking a lot through the day sightseeing. While having Happy Hour that night we watched a magnificent sunset. It changed so many times. Brilliant.

​​

      We start the day off with Bacon and Eggs overlooking the lake. The road from Condobolin to Forbes has "Sculpturer Down The Lachlan" - 13 in all over 100 kms. Best was the Goanna, Bird in the Hand, Brumbies Run and Sonata. Arrive Forbes and have a walk plus once again great parks. Onto Eugowra for the night. Not much is opened but they have great Murals. 

​​

      Next day Molong for a look and then Back Road to Wellington via Euchareena - bit run down, Stuart Town - couple shops open and Mumbil - small school. Road narrow and bumpy in parts but scenery of Yellow and Green  is magnificent. Peaceful. We end up at Gulgong Showground and power for the night. In the morning had a look at the town and it always has so much character. Naturally we went to Stacks. Stopped at Merriwa Bakery for lunch. Mick's loves the Lamb and Mint pie. Jerrys' Plains free camp is closed for 4 months as is getting a site upgrade. So our last stop is Broke. 

​

      We say bye in the morning and agree was a fabulous trip. Loved travelling along the "Back Roads" and the Toganmaim Woolshed was well worth the visit.

​

Report By Bev

Report "Cocktails in the Yard" by Graham