SFT Tour - Day 8 - Cook Park & Mt Canobolas

With rain on the roster for the next few days and the temperature about to plummet, today's morning promise of clear skies and 19 seemed very attractive.

We started at Cook Park, mid morning. Now like me, you probably are wondering how Captain James managed to get this far inland and have a park named after him but that is the case. He never came to Orange but he clearly still had admirers with long memories, because 112 years after he "discovered" the east coast of Australia, the sea loving Yorkshireman was "parked".

We approached from the northern side and our first encounter was with Bastick Cottage, the caretakers residence back in the day and named after father and son who between them gave 90 years service to parks and gardens in Orange. Cookie gets back in the action in the cottage, where the Endeavour Room hosts either history of the park or changing exhibitions. Today it was profiles of famous Oranges who particpated in the First World War.

This park is amazing. Like Machattie Park in Bathurst, it has a hot house for begonias and a fernry but then it goes a lot further. There is a large sunken rose garden - looking untidy and in need of a winter prune but still a delight. There is even an aviary Sulphur Crested Cockatoos and Cockatiels and Budgies that are in need of smuggling. Personally, I would have been happy to throw the cages open. I know you can make a case that it may be the only chance young children get to see these birds but they are wild animlas - the birds, not the children - and should be let "free to the chains of the skyways" (Dylan).

There are plentiful benches but somehow you don't notice them until you need one. The park is big and full of big trees, most of them deciduous so as you can imagine, the changing colours and the falling leaves make this a spectacular place. There are just so many corners and spaces for one person to sit and read or think themselves a think, that the park takes on such an important role for an old fashioned form of leisure.

Best of all, everywhere there were small children - some with parents, some with grandparents - running and laughing and discovering remarkable things like a big leaf falling down and resting softly on their head ... or the crunch they could make if they stomped in the fallen leaves ... or a magpie gliding across their eyeline and landing lightly on the head of a dripping tap and inverting itself to take a drink.

A wonderful park. We used have more of them. Now, we don't even plan for them when we shove butterboxes together in new housing developments and if a developer chances upon the thought, they fill them with play equipment, telling kids how they are supposed to enjoy the park rather than providing the sparks for their imagination. Those Bastick boys had it right.

Driving out of town, we ventured to the south west, where volcanos used to do the wild thing. 

Our first stop - well, almost stop - was the Pinnacle Lookout, said to give outstanding views. Unfortunately, the steep walk to the summit from the carpark knocked Sue out of the game. Her knee continues to improve but she's not ready for the big time yet. She urged me to fly solo but as many of you will already know, I will not leave my wingman, so we drove on and up and up and up and finally very steeply up, to the summit of Mt Canobolas, where we were treated to a spectacular view of ... communication towers and trees and a few snippets of views across the surrounding plains. Don't get me wrong, I loved the drive but it truly was an occasion when the journey far exceeded the destination.

The trip off the mountain took a different and much easier route and after a few rights and lefts we
arrived at Lake Canobolas. Formerly Meadow Creek Reserve, the weir over Molong Creek was constructed in 1918 to supply water to Orange. The city outgrew the supply the creek and melting snow and rain runoff from the mountain provided and by the later 1950's it was no longer the primary source of water. In a twist of fate, these days, the Orange water supply sends potable water out to the lake. It now is a habitat for abundant birdlife and in the quieter winter months, platypus have been sighted sifting the silty bottom of the lake.

Its primary function is to provide water activities for the residents of Orange and surrounds. Swimming, fishing and even dragon boat racing, which has become a popular and regular event. It was quiet today, with mostly people sharing sandwiches on picnic tables ... as the cafe was closed.

Lunch was at The Agrestic Grocer, a rustic restaurant, cafe, bar and then some. They also host live music on the weekends and on Ruby Tuesdays, which book out well in advance. On RT, a local artist is invited to play but not just any music. They are asked to cover a classic album. Great for the musician as the audience is totally engaged. Tomorrow night, a local bloke is covering "Yourself or Someone Like You" (Matchbox Twenty). Great concept. Our food was fabulous and the coffee the best we've had on this trip. They also sell local produce and wine and have their own brewery. Interesting place with a lot of entrepreneurship.

Click to see today's photos

The second half of the afternoon was to be spent at the Botannic Gardens but the promised rain arrived and a dry seat in the caravan seemed a better option.

Loving this trip.