Jetty Tour Day 3 - Cobar to Wilcannia

On the surface of it, 260km is a relatively short hop but we sill made four hours of it. Traveling at 90km/hr and with Sue needing lots of breaks at the moment as her back has been troublesome, we get nowhere in a hurry. The speed is purely to aid fuel consumption and as we like to take it all in around us, along we plod.

Sue had a sleep in this morning, not realising we are approaching the western edge of the eastern time zone and as such, there is considerably less daylight at 7:30am than there is in Tamworth so it was about half past nine before we left. We were escorted out of town by half a dozen policeman, although they may have been setting up a checking station for heavy transport drivers.

Meadow Glen Rest Area

I am constantly amazed at the jerks who travel our highways. For instance, Cobar Council have set up an overnight stop (no power or water but toilets and lit and covered picnic tables) at Meadow Glen Rest Area. There is a big, level asphalted pull in area on either side of the Barrier Highway, with facilities replicated on both sides of the road. Well, that's how it was when we came through here in June 2017. There is no lighting in the shelter sheds on ether side of the road anymore, as someone broke into the switch boxes and stole the solar batteries! You can't wash your hands because someone stole the tap handles!

The other thing of note at Meadow Glen was an abandoned pop-top van which broke down here when its chassis broke. The old bloke who owned it wrote his farewell on the table top and drove away and people have been gradually stripping it for parts.

I guess because of the drought, there is a distinct lack of road kill along the highway. Many roos have perished already and those left are clinging to water sources. We haven't even seen many. The goats are still ever present - in all shades of brown and black and white but they are wary of the road and its a very rare thing to see any goat carcasses on or beside the road. Its so dry. We haven't seen any stock in paddocks since before Warren.

We stopped at Baden Park rest area for lunch. I must admit, boiling the kettle and having sandwiches inside our little mobile cubby house is something I love about being away.

About 45km from Wilcannia, we crested a hill and the real outback was revealed for the first time. Low saltbush, the few trees were little more than over-sized shrubs and long, rolling red sandhills stretched away as far as we could see. Willy-willies started suddenly, threw twigs and dirt into the air and just as soon were gone.

Today's photos

We are spending tonight at Warrawong on the Darling, a camping area and motel just outside Wilcannia. Its camping area backs onto a billabong which was mostly water two years ago but now is mostly dust. Despite the lack of water, we've still seen Magpies, Willy Wagtails, Black Cockatoos, Ravens, Black Fronted Doterills and Welcome Swallows. I just heard a Whistling Kite. I don't think we'll be identifying the 63 species we did last time! Delightful spot, back off the highway by six hundred meters, a camp kitchen and the best amenities block anywhere in Australia.

Maybe a couple of nights here.