AN AMAZING SUNSET AT GUM BEND LAKE NSW

 As I said in my previous Post Gum Bend Lake is a mere 4 kms from Condobolin. I learnt about it from the "Camps Australia Wide" book and I understand it is a popular Free camping spot. The Campsite is large with River Gum shade trees scattered throughout and patchy grass. I had been warned not to park under River Gums as they have a habit of dropping large branches without warning. A so-so Toilet block that did have free hot Showers was available. The only downside is that a high bank separates the Camping Area from the lake so it can't be overlooked. As soon as I had set up an old Bloke named Reg walked over and introduced himself and asked if I wanted to join him and his wife Sue for a chat at there (old and well used) Motorhome, how friendly was that? Of course I went over and we had a good mag about travels etc. They were much more experienced that I and had been on the road for most of the last 12 years. They seemed to have been everywhere and I eagerly asked many questions. An enjoyable hour or so for me. there are about 6 Vans here and over time an occupant of everyone of them stopped to say hello. Fellow travellers are usually all like that I have found.
 The lake is man-made and when full is only 1.75 metres deep. Another Bloke here told me that he had walked right around the edge with a GPS and it was 2.7 km in circumference, I'll take his word for it. Gum Bend lake was opened in 1988 and was a project to commemorate Australia's Bicentenary and was jointly funded by the Bicentennial Council, the People of Condobolin and the Lachlan Shire Council. The Gum Bend lake Extension was opened in 1990 to celebrate the centenary of Local Government in Condobolin. It is very popular with Waterskiers as I understand.

  It is near dusk and I am getting excited because it looks as though a nice sunset is brewing. A Lake or Dam with a Western Shore, a few clouds and some Ducks on the wing constitute a perfect formula for one. I was not mistaken, almost all the Campers  joined me as we merrily shot away until the Sun had disappeared completely.

A great way to spend 45 minutes!

 

 

 



CONDOBOLIN NSW

  Stopping here for a Pie for Lunch (rated 6 aout of 10), since it is just 4 km to my Overnight Camp, Gum Bend Lake. Condobolin is  small place I  would say with about 2500 residents. The Information Centre was closed (at 12.30pm!) so I had a guess (I latter found out the correct figure is 3500). It does house a major population of Aboriginal People from the Wiradjuri Nation. Condobolin is the home of the Kalarie people. of the Lower Lachlan Region and is considered by other Wiradjuri People to be the heartbeat of the Wiradjuri nation, rich in local history,art,music and dance.
  John Oxley in 1817 and Thomas Mitchell in 1836 were the first Europeans to visit the region. Squatters soon arrived and by 1844 the "Condoublin" run had been established. The Town was Gazetted in 1859 but for over 20 years it was essentially a stopover and river-crossing for drovers moving stock from the North and West of NSW. For this reason there were a few permanent residents in what was a pastoral area with large holdings. It is now a prime cropping, sheep and beef producing area. the Town also benefitted from the discovery of Copper at Melrose to the North in 1885. A Municipality was declared in 1890. At the end of 1894 Gold Fever broke out at the Overflow Station, immortalised in the Banjo Patterson's classic "Clancy of the Overflow". agricultural production was expanded when the Wyangala Dam was established on the Lachlan in1935. Condobolin now acts as a Service Town for the district.
 How's that for an insight into the Town with the Information Centre closed?

Some sights in Condobolin

 

FORBES,PARKES and TRUNDLE NSW

  It is becoming harder to prepare these Posts as Internet connection, about 10 days behind and I am finding it a bit difficult to remember that far back. I try to write up what I have seen each night but even that is getting harder as I tend to use up too much battery power when Free Camping. Consequently, I may have to come back and add some info at a later date, so keep an eye out for updates.
  So to Forbes, situated on Lake Forbes, a natural lagoon on the Lachlan River in the Central Tablelands district.  As I drive into the Town proper I am presented with a beautiful big Victoria Park that is circled with National Trust listed, majestic old buildings. These include the Courthouse and Police Station, a School of Arts, two fine old Churches, a magnificent Town Hall and a lovely Old Pub, all facing the Park which also is home to the War Memorial and Cenotaph. I sat in the Park for a while taking in what I thought to be a very Mediterranean City like atmosphere. A stroll through the Major Streets revealed many more treasures that were of course recorded for you the enjoy also.
  A trip to the Railway Station come Inter City Bus Depot and Tourist Information Centre was again frustrating. Absolutely no informative material was available, there was once a Heritage Building, descriptive, pamphlet, apparently now out of print and the Attendant could not answer any of my questions either. If you want to know where to spend money there is heaps of stuff. There I am complaining again, I just want to learn something of the Town and it's History and consistently leave place no wiser.

The Gateway to Forbes

 

 

A walk around Victoria Park

 

 

 

Forbes has many delights

 

 

  I drove straight through Parkes, the Home of Elvis and the Radio Telescope and nothing much else. Parkes is forgettable.

  The last part of today's trip is to Trundle. via the hamlet of Bogon Gate, at the junction of the Hwy and the Bogon Way that leads to my destination. Bogon Gate is notable for a War Memorial sitting in the middle of the road next a Soldier's Hall. The strange thing about this was that there were only a couple of other Buildings and no real Town to speak of, it taking about 10 seconds to enter and leave the settlement. I thought it was worth a Photo.

   I had been to Trundle before, many years ago for a lunch with friends who owned a large Property between here and Parkes. We dined at one of the two Pubs. Although it is 60 odd km away from my intended route this trip, I came to Trundle for only one reason, I have old friends who once lived here and still have family in residence and they will be chuffed to know that I was here. You may have heard of Trundle as it was the subject of a TV documentary (on the ABC I think) about a year ago when the Town advertised farmhouses for rent at the rate of $1 per week. The idea was to attract new blood to the Town. I don't think it worked. Trundle is a Town on it's last breath I think. The few shops are either empty or very run down. One attraction it does have is the Biggest Pub I have ever seen, the veranda must be 40 metres long!. Trouble is although it is still open it looks like it will fall down around it's patrons at any minute. The small Supermarket was next to useless as most of the shelves and all of the freezers were near to empty. I picked up a key from here for the Showground Camping area where I will stay for the night with power supplied for $15.

 

The HUGE Pub at Trundle

 



    I'm here in the Showgrounds come Racetrack, on my own, a huge expanse of grass struggling to survive, that crackles underfoot. A few old dilapidated buildings; a Poultry shed, some small yards for showing Livestock and a couple of rickety lean- twos for shade and two or three Demountables for use as Toilets and Showers. It is still over 30 degrees and there are only four small trees in a group  and with a bit of manoeuvring I manage to get the Hiace under some shade. Problem was, the Power Box was quite a distance away, A bit more moving around and I managed to get Power connected but only with the cord at full stretch. Anyone who may have seen me would have thought me to be crazy. It turned into one of those nights in the middle of nowhere in the pitch black with a kilometre to the nearest soul. At least I think I can trust the Townsfolk here.
  Poor sad little Trundle!