The McCoys didn’t want to visit a cave this morning, but we did have a wander through the Japanese garden. It would look at its best in springtime, but that didn’t stop the boys enjoying themselves. Jesse wanted to take pictures, so he used my camera as his battery was flat. Max wanted to make a video, so he took the iPhone and filmed himself walking and running along all the paths, doing commentary all the way. A path featured again at lunchtime: the “Min...

Pretty chilly morning today, a sure sign we’re back in the higher latitudes (on the basis that -30 is ‘higher’ than -15). At least it was sunny and calm, which means it felt warmer than our first stay at Barkly Homestead. Some dark looking clouds blew over about 9:45, but disappeared an hour later. We started by looking at the wharf in the centre of Bourke, which in the 1890s was a hive of activity, with three cranes loading up the paddle steamers with woo...

Today Jesse was sick, but he still wanted to keep going towards home, so after a slightly delayed start, we have (almost) arrived in Bourke. He slept most of the day, but he’s on the mend, so should be more himself again tomorrow. Highlights were few today, but included a sunny lunch stop in Cunnamulla, crossing the state border into NSW (yay!), seeing plenty of roos and emus, and beautiful afternoon light on the grasslands and scrub as we approached Bourke. ...

Tonight the skies are clear at Moree and we've had two soaks in the thermal pools. Nothing better than kicking back in a hot pool under the stars ... its just a bit tricky to stay warm as you're getting out. The sun came out just as we stopped for lunch by the river in Narrabri, and afterwards we skipped some stones across the Namoi. We even saw crocs in the river! Starting to relax now that the weather has fined up, and now that we're out in the wide open spac...

Well, today is the day! Off into the wild blue yonder. Feeling excited and a little apprehensive. I wonder if we'll get away before lunchtime ... and hopefully remember to put the cat out.