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Abercrombie River National Park
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Trip Leader: Gary &Wendy
Toyota Prado Convoy: Rod and Julie
80 Series Daryl and Sandra
Landrover Defender Dave and Sandy
Toyota Prado Ray and Angie
Jeep Cherokee Col and Stella
Toyota Prado John and Marilyn
Landrover Discovery
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Our group met at Hawkesbury River at 6.30am minus us (the Middleton’s- as we were meeting at Oberon). 1st stop, Maccas on the M4 then a good run thru to Oberon, where we all met up at the service stn for a fuel top up then on to morning tea and toilet stop in a pretty park in town and admired the tulips. A few were asking if it wasn't too early to break open the bottles of red! On the road again past the picturesque Oberon Dam although that too could do with a top up & just when we thought we couldn't fit anything more in the vehicles we stopped for firewood! Out came the trusty chainsaws and in a few minutes we had several tonne -well it seemed like it when we unloaded it at camp.
A short way out of Oberon & we were
off the black stuff & onto the dirt & dust stuff & with just a few
small driving challenges on the way we arrived at Silent Creek Camping Area -our
home for the next two nights. Only two other groups there, so we still had
plenty of room to spread out, being careful of large wombat holes (beside
Middo's tent) and a large patch of thistles (back door of Middo’s) -we can
pick good tent spots! After a quick set up we took off for a short explore and
were surprised to see when we got back how fast the camping area was filling up,
even one group camping about 2 feet from the pit toilet -hmmm the aroma! We all
settle-d down to happy hour which drifted-d into dinner time with camp ovens
cooking an assortment of meals, and then a few more drinks around the fire &
lots of laughter.
Up & breakfast early for a full day
of driving. Sandy chose to stay in camp for a quiet day of reading so Dave was
passenger with Gary and Wendy. First stop was to be The Sink & John and I
had visions of a natural depression in the ground but were amaze-d to see a
giant kitchen sink up on 4 tall legs at a rather pretty but small camping area
beside the flowing river. Ray (lanky legs) decided to give us some entertainment
by doing his stretching exercises here, Daryl was asking for the usual ice-cream
stop and Col was perfecting the quantity of air needed in his tyres. Back on to
the Retreat Road & stopped to look at a house that seemed very self
sufficient with animals, veggie patch, solar panels and 2 satellite dishes, a
water-wheel that could be lowered into the river (when it flows) to generate
power & a very dodgy foot bridge for going over the river -it looked like
you needed your life insurance up to date before you proceeded. Onto the Licking
Hole maybe named as there were cattle yards there but the question was never
solved. Morning tea there while we had a look at a very old shack that un-
fortunately is being wrecked by visitors. Dave played traffic cop to get us all
on the road again & a little further on, we came across a group
coming the other way & had to wait while one of the vehicles
Changed a holed tyre in the middle of
the road- photo opportunity so Dave & Col played mountain goats to get the
best shots. We proceeded past and found " the mongrel hill " that he
did his tyre on, everyone got up with varying degrees of difficulty but all made
it to the top & as the saying goes -what goes up, must come down -and that
was the slight incline I christened the Hooley-Dooley Hill. This hill has to be
the longest and steepest in the world. We stopped for a look first, which was a
big mistake for some of us. We started down one at a time and I initially closed
my eyes but, when I realised, we, weren’t free- falling to the bottom opened
up to actua1ly enjoy the rest of the drive, Col's handicap was Stella's grip
tightening on his arm and stopping the blood flowing. Another photo opportunity
taken up by Dave, who must have walked, slithered and slipped Ills way down to
photograph all of us. Late lunch stop & firewood top-up then back to camp
for Happy hour, dinner, shared showers no! not together -,we all
Leisurely pack up in the morning then
onto the dusty road for our drive out thru the forest seeing more beautiful
views and spectacular country & then on to Oberon for morning tea in the
park, Daryl was planning his ice-cream stop and all of us were watching the grey
clouds building up.
We said goodbye to everyone as we ,were
going onto Bathurst races and it appears that tile group had a safe trip home.
Thanks to Gary and Wendy for a very
full and interesting long weekend, a lot of planning had obviously gone into it
and ti1anks also to our professional Tail-end-Charlies. Col and Stella.