11 October

Have been pushing the Ks a bit over the last couple of days, not exactly intentionally, but for one reason or another.

I was going to do my first spot of free camping at a lovely place called Rocky River Fossicking Area just SW of Uralla but there was a bloke living in the bush there in an old wreck and he gave me the heebies so I continued on to Tamworth.

However, although I knew it was quite a long drive, I was nevertheless surprised to read a sign saying “Welcome to Bolivia”.  I’d no idea I’d gone that far.  However, I seriously blinked and that was the end of Bolivia and I was back on the New England H’way.

You know you’re really in the country when signs say ‘School bus stops next 39Kms’.

Am now camped in a delightful spot on the edge of Coonabarabran and am staying here today to put the feet up and read a book.  The manager of the park suggested I have a glass of wine, so I feel I’m among kindred spirits.

On the way here, I was busting to find a loo and along the highway is a little place (post office/cafe/petrol station) at Glencoe so I stopped and asked for the loo.  “No public loos here, love, you’ll find one at Guyra”.  So off I hurtle down the highway, crossing my legs as I went.  Got to Guyra and spent a good 10 minutes driving around to find the purported public convenience when, at last, there’s a grotty loo in the park.   Returning to the beautiful Betty, I realised that I had a perfectly pristine loo not 3 feet behind the driver’s seat.  Duh!!!

Off to Dubbo tomorrow and hopefully some free camping.  Am also going to check out Western Plains Zoo.