Wednesday 4th July. We finally left Cattai at around 2.00 pm and headed for Mudgee. We arrived in time for dinner and the State of Origin - game 3 still lost 21-20 but we're getting closer. Next year!!

Mudgee is very cold in the winter but we were very spoilt staying in the house with Melissa, Charles and family - under floor heating, fire, air conditioning and heated towel rails ....... don't think this is going to condition me! Had a great couple of days there.

On Friday 6th July we headed to the Warrumbungle National Park together with Alison and Craig in their motorhome (Sheffie). Had a lovely morning tea at Dunnydoo (this cream bun binge MUST stop!) hosted by the Bishops in Sheffie. It was 231 km from Mudgee to Warrumbungles. We decided to camp at Blackman's where we had stayed previously. The other camp, Wambelong, was nice and flat but cold in the afternoons. We paid our $5.00 per person per night for two nights and the $7 per car per day for the National Parks pass. At Blackman's there were lovely hot showers and clean toilets. The showers run for 5 minutes after swiping your hand on the sensor. Great idea - no coins required. Poor Craig had a knee operation two days prior so he was a little limited with his activities. After a freezing night Alison, David and Kerry did the Goulds Circuit walk (approximately 7km - half of that uphill). The weather was perfect for bushwalking. Clear blue skies. Back in time for late lunch and a lazy afternoon. Saturday night was FREEZING - minus 3 - I don't remember ever being that cold. We slept in beanies, thermals, jumpers and socks. Brrrr. Decided that our main goal would be to ditch the itinerary and head north!!!!

Sunday 8th July. Alison and Craig headed back to Mudgee and we headed to Lightning Ridge. We had planned originally to stay another night at Warrumbungles and then head to Kaputar National Park just out of Narrabri but the Ranger told us that was even colder. No thank you!! We were packed up ready to go at 9.30 am and drove via Coonamble to Lightning Ridge. We had lunch by a billalong just north of Walgett and arrived at Lightning Ridge at around 3.30 pm. Had time for a visit to the Artesian Baths - lovely hot pools consistantly around 40 degrees celsius. Stayed overnight at Lightning Ridge Caravan Park where the temperature was still cool but certainly not as cold as the Warrumbungles.