Week 1: Sydney to Canberra


The start of our trip is heading "southish" and today, for the first time, we are actually a bit further south than Sydney.  It's not very far to Canberra / Queanbeyan but we took a very scenic route.


Highlights included: Sofala (much nicer than it used to be); Hill End (cool history); Gulgong (old gold town + interesting museum); Narromine; Parkes (dropping in on friends and visiting the The Dish); Cowra (POW camp + railway museum); loads of National Parks.  We've spent 4 nights camping in the bush, 2 nights in a friend's B&B and one night at Gulgong show-ground,  (We decided to stay there because they have showers - these are currently closed "because of Covid" but couldn't explain how getting clean could make you sick!  The local bowlo helped us out.)

Photos further down...

After a couple of days here we will head for the Snowys and the Victorian High Country before heading to my sister's place in Melbourne.  We're not sure how long that will take.

Interesting facts about Wiltipolls: When we stayed at the show-ground they were preparing for an auction of Wiltipoll sheep (mostly ewes but some very well-hung rams as well).  These are apparently becoming more popular because the wool price is depressed and Wiltipolls are naturally shed it each year.  They're very chunky animals that don't require much care and have a 150% lambing rate.  If you want one for your back yard, a commercial ewe can be yours for about $300 but you will also need access to a ram once a year.


The first morning on the road - just woken up at Perry's Lookdown.

Hill End from the top of Bald Hill


Ohh Ahh Glenn McGrath in beautiful downtown Narromine

The Abbey Bed & Breakfast in Narromine owned by our friends Greg & Jenine - highly recommended!

Peak Hill open cut gold mine (now closed).  I'm not sure what's in the water but it certainly doesn't look good!

Camping (by ourselves) in a national park somewhere.  

The Dish - tilted over so they could change the receiver module (you can just see it dangling in mid-air).

Bushwalking somewhere north of Cowra.

Location of Cowra POW camp.

Very quiet roads - we've zig-zagged so much that we haven't been on many main routes.


While passing I fixed a sign for a friend who gets annoyed at people misspelling her name.  (Apparently Edward got it wrong.)





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