Wentworth to Broken Hill

 

Tuesday 15 September

We didn’t have far to drive today so we took our time checking out. Away by 9, we went to find Perry Sandhills just out of town for a bit of fun. The area has been used in various movies over time. Then we headed back into town to the river so we could see where the Murray and Darling Rivers join. It was such bright sunlight it was hard to see the line which clearly defines the brown muddy waters of the Darling where it joins the clearer, deeper water of the Murray.






Paddy melons a desert scourge. An introduced weed.



Darling River to the left, Murray River to the right





A quick coffee in town before we headed north on the Silver City Highway to Broken Hill. This far western NSW town is ½ hour behind the rest of New South Wales. That is how isolated it is. It is closer to Adelaide and Melbourne than Sydney. Lots to see and do.

Random entertainment at a roadside stop



a dry lake


Emus are a common sight wandering through the scrub


After checking in to our accommodation for the next four nights, we went to visit the lookout on top of the main line of lode mullock heaps. It is on the other side of the railway line. We had been warned about the likelihood of trains late afternoon causing the rail crossing to close.

Sure enough we arrived just as the barrier came down. The freight train was probably about a kilometre long. We had been hoping to see the sun setting over the back of the city. All hope dissolved as the train kept coming and coming and coming. Then it stopped across the intersection.

Finally we were able to cross and just managed to see the last of the sun dipping into the horizon.





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lake Cargelligo to Wentworth

Image
  Monday 14 th September The drive from Lake Cargelligo to Rankins Springs was quite scenic. Lots of areas of bush which was great to see. The occasional field of wheat, some canola. As we got closer to Rankins Springs we had hills on either side. Lots of purple Patterson’s Curse, yellow gorse and daisies were interspersed with pale green tall grass heavy with seeds blowing in the breeze – very pretty. A short stop in Rankins Springs at The General Store, where we had coffee and as everywhere, a warm welcome. They received a delivery of ice cream – ½ dozen boxes. The truck left just ahead of us. As we caught him up, we pondered the very real challenges of running a business in a small community. The distances to be travelled for such a small delivery are vast. It’s as plain as the nose on your face State and Federal governments are failing in this regard. We are far too city-centric and big business focussed. We have arrived in Red Dirt Country! The Patterson’s Curse has all b...
Read more

Menindee Lakes

Image
  Wednesday 16 September Today we had booked a tour out to Menindee. The lakes system and Darling River have a chequered history due to drought and man-made restrictions to water flows. Menindee Lake is dry and is not likely to ever fill again. This is bad news for those people who have property at Sunset Strip – Broken Hill’s holiday location on the lake in days gone by – now almost a ghost town. Indigenous locals would also be feeling the loss of this massive billabong. Quick stop at a Burke & Wills camp site Map of lakes system The main weir across the Darling River  View out across the dry and empty Menindee Lake This thistle flower is now taking over in the area This drawn map shows a little more detail of the area Copi Hollow is a man-made body of water which was created by accident when workers on a channel built to siphon water from the Darling River, created a channel of their own and the lake was created. It is the only lake which allows water sports. Co...
Read more

Home to Canowindra

Image
  SATURDAY 12 OCTOBER We left early for the almost two hour drive to Lithgow, on the other side of the Blue Mountains. Stopped here for coffee at The Tin Shed café. What a great little spot. Very popular, we were lucky to get a table. Good coffee and a great slice of in house baked pear and raspberry bread. Yum! Next stop Bathurst only a short drive away but a decent place for an early lunch. And what a lunch it was! The Hub was a great find! Lovely people, good food, lovely atmosphere. Unfortunately, we were unable to sit outside in the gorgeous pergola covered area. As I suspected, it was good to be early. I did not know what time we would get there so did not book. Many had. Lots were turned away after we arrived. Onwards through a region showing signs of recovery after three years of drought. Rolling green hills, dams looking reasonably healthy after solid winter rains signs of hope for the farmers. We stopped at Blayney Wind Farm, built in 2000. We need more investment i...
Read more