Emu Parade

These Emus were in parade formation until a photographer (not me) approached the fence. Then they all wanted to be in the photo.

We took the Kidman Way from Bourke to Cobar. A great road with little traffic. But there were lots of goats (feral?) grazing  at the roadside.

Cobar was a decent town and worth a longer stay but we just stayed for lunch. There was a pair of Mulga Parrots guarding a nest box near the information centre. Very pretty -red, green, yellow and blue.

Cobar to Broken Hill was much busier and the waterways became sandy rather than watery.

We saw emus.

This was a long drive in one day; we will try to make our future drives shorter.

Green & Wet

Driving from Moree to Bourke, the Gwydir Highway then Kamilaroi Highway, there was much less traffic than Toowoomba to Moree. Only passed three times doing 90 kph on 110 kph roads. It felt much more relaxing.

The country is green and lots of yellow flowers.

Light rain all the way with water laying on the road. All the billabongs and "watercourses" are full and overfull.

Collarenebri was sad place with most business closed. Only a food van and a public toilet.

Walgett was lively with a good IGA supermarket. 

Brewarrina has lots of public art -

Breakfast in Moree

Avocado on toast and a cup of tea.

It has rained overnight and is cool.

But the water out of the tap is 34 deg. -very nice on a cold morning. 

Weigh In

First stop on the trip is the weighbridge to check that the set up is within the design limits.

1) Gross Vehicle Mass for the car (including tow ball weight & passengers) from car specification.

2) Aggregate Trailer Mass for the caravan including water, food and clothes from caravan compliance plate.

3) Tow ball weight, ideally 10% of ATM and less than maximum from car specification.

4) Gross Combined Mass ( car and caravan) from car specification.

The Rig

A Mazda CX-5 towing an A'van Cruiser.

On the Gore Highway.

Big trip planning

When travelling remotely- beyond mobile phone reception- I carry a PLB.

A personal location beacon will bring help using satellite signals.  It helps if you have registered it properly and update the details for each trip - including car and caravan details and passenger details.

An elder writes

I have very much enjoyed David Suzuki's book The Legacy - ISBN 978 1 74237 355 3.

It describes the importance of the environment and how close we are to catastrophe. I calls on us to act.