Back Of Bourke & Beyond

6.00am wake up because we are driving 480km today on outback tracks. They maybe called roads and even highways on the map but they certainly aren’t. We stopped for a lunch time beer at the Shindys Inn at Louth a nice little town on the Darling 100km from Bourke. They had some great photos like most towns of the droughts and floods and great pictures of Big Cod caught years gone by. Also a photo of the biggest Road train towing 29 trailers. I would have liked to see him drive over the one lane bridge with that. We stayed at Kidman Camp in Nth Bourke a beautiful place still on the Darling. This place covers paddock camping up to luxury 5 star villas but all in harmony with the surrounds. However for a place with no water this place is amazing the gardens are just magnificent buts its no wonder they never turn any of the sprinklers off. But they weren’t the only ones it was 33’c and every one was watering their lawns and washing their cars a bit strange seeing as how I thought everyone had water restrictions.
We went down the local pub which was packed full of Truckie’s and locals in the hope of a good feed and a Doggies upset. This is NRL country and so we were a little worried. Tea was made by the shop next door so we ordered some Steak sandwiches. Well a 50’c size piece of steak on a bit of toast is what we got. Anyway went pack to the pub and had some more Toohey’s New on tap. Beer is cheap on NSW on the bar (not in the Drive through) anyway all of a sudden the lady from the shop enters the pub with the best looking front bar meals we’ve seen for ages. Should have seen the look Tina & I gave each other. We must have both thought why didn’t you see that on the menu. They had the Geelong; Bulldogs match beamed in on the Big Screen and the NRL on the little TV in the main bar much the disgust of some of the locals. It was a great night and although the Doggies didn’t cause and upset the Kiwi guy was more than happy that the Warriors came through. As Usual great friendly locals who are all asking where ya from and where ya off to. Off back to camp a 2km walk in the dark with well lets say more than 4 pints of Toohey’s New under our belts with no street lights maybe an injury coming up here. We had a bit of sleep in after another 22+ night sleeping with the back doors open to keep us cool. We headed off to Bourke to do some tourist stuff and get some supplies. Although quite a few shops had closed in town it is still quite a big place. We went to the Super IGA and did some shopping but the Boozer outlet didn’t open till 11 so we left with only some food. Went to the local Butcher and picked up some replacement sunnies for Tina. Had a pretty cruisy day just tidying up. It doesn’t seem to have taken long to work out what gets used the most. Didn’t go to the pub for the St’s and Hawks match I can only how bad it looked on TV it was bad enough on the Radio. Had quite few of those Toohey’s, well over our allocated quota of Booze but have got to say we have done well in this so far. We have Big Pond coverage everywhere so far and this is great considering some of the off track roads we have driven down it is like a step back in time. Another 33 day and a warm night awaits.



A weir on the Barwon River (Darling)



We are off to Lightning Ridge once only a short drive today but still over 100km of bush tracks. If you pass a sign that says Rough road ahead that means bloody watch out because that sign should have been along the entire first 50km of this road. I laughed when I saw it, how much worse can it get. Silly thing to think really, lucky it was Tina’s day to drive what with jumps as cattle grids and two foot holes in the ground where the grader had ripped a boulder out of the road it was quite challenging. Good driving Tina. Lightning Ridge is Black Opal country but nothing like Coober Pedy well except for all the bloody Holes in the ground, shanty town style housing and rough roads. Apart from that it is completely different. We went for a dip in the Artesian bore just outside of town a pleasant 40°c dip. 33 outside 40 in the water hardly refreshing but certainly different. We did a bit of the local tour which is found by following different coloured number car doors. Not much really to see unless you like looking at holes in the ground. We were of to Lorne Station just out of town to camp for the night.
More bush Highways













Amigos Castle