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| Macquarie River at Wellington |
We started the day with a walk across the Macquarie River, still in Wellington, a very noisy road bride which incorporates a foot traffic on either side which is inexplicable separated only by a change in surface height but no guard rail between road and passenger traffic. Although it was wide, it was unnerving when big trucks roared across the bridge only a metre away. The views of the river were sumptuous. Even the rusty old rail bridge which had contributed to our sleepy distress, looked attractive in the morning sunshine.
In search of a parking spot and a coffee, we found joy only in the old buildings off the main street and the iconic Fong Lee's Lane, which looks just like a ramshackled laneway behind the facade of the main street. It was, in fact, for more than 80 years spanning two centuries, the lane which connected Fong Lee and Co, general merchants, with their warehouse. Fong Lee and his store, represent an influence of Chinese culture not often remembered. The focus on Chinese heritage in Australia tends to be on the goldfields or in the second half of the 1900's, food. Fong Lee's is a reminder that the Chinese were great traders and merchants where they were able to get established. The Wellington Arts Community celebrates Fong Lee's with an annual festival in the lane.
Off the main street, large complexes occupied by the Catholic and Anglican churches, placed on diagonally opposing corners, speaks to the influence those organisations could have. In still small towns, with limited resources, they could build huge churches, school and magnificent manses for their clergy. Neighbours in small cottages fared not so well.
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| Wildflowers at Molong |
More potholes and pock marks made driving challenging. At Molong with its big U shaped diversion in the highway, we found a hilly park and walked a block to the Wildflower Cafe, chosen because of the collection of touring road bikes parked outside. Anyone who can afford one of these deeply expensive machine knows a thing or two about the best place to find a coffee. We sat out the back away from the comfortable interior. The bikers were right. Good char.
A few more stops on a day that was becoming tiring and lengthened when our chosen destination unaccountably had no room at the inn. First was Morris Park in Canowindra for lunch - just a break for tucker but a large park with a mix of exotic and original species of trees and newish toilets. Because of recent rain, much of it off the cement parks was muddy but we weren't stopping to play. At Boowora, we parked near the Information Centre with its colourful sheep sculptures created by local artists and its collection of wool related products. Two sweet old ladies offered us tea but we moved on, needing a walk to freshen us up after discovering Yass was unavailable for digs. Boorowa is a very tidy town which appears to have a high level of civic pride if its short main street is a guide. Smartly paved in brick patterns, every window clean and clear of postings and every shop occupied. Old commercial buildings have been retained and maintained and it makes for a good look.
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The colourful sheep sculptures
at Boowora |
As we left the home of the Superb Parrot, a couple showed up roadside to bid us farewell.
The afternoon was well past its best when we arrived at the
Country Capital Holiday Park, just outside Canberra but in NSW on the Federal Highway. A park we had stayed in before when visiting family in Canberra, they provided us with a faceless late check. We were in twilight before we had the set up completed
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