We left home at 7am. It was a lovely morning and we enjoyed the quiet roads. The new Hunter expressway was very empty.....probably very different from a weekday morning. We have set up our new 'Hema (maps) Navigator' and programmed our route. We have a male voice this time, so we have nicknamed him
" heman" !!
Our drive took us through the Upper Hunter Valley past well-regarded horse studs such as Ellerslie and Coolmore and also several wineries. Between Jerry's Plains and Denman we hit some fog , but only in low-lying areas.
We stopped to drink our coffee in Private Jackson Park, named in honour of Private John William Alexander Jackson who, at the age of 18 in 1916, was awarded the VC for 'most conspicuous bravery'. He was the youngest Australian to win the VC.
We stopped for fuel and an early lunch in Dubbo. The winter weather was very pleasant. Then on through Narromine, where there is a recently erected statue of the very popular former Aussie Test cricketer, Glenn McGrath. Narromine and the next town of Nyngan are known for being cotton-growing areas.
We drove into Bourke in northern NSW around 3.45pm. We got fuel and then headed to a caravan park on the outskirts of town ( we have stayed here before), where we made camp for the night. There are plenty of other travellers here, but there is lots of space and we have a good spot. Tonight we have a phone signal and electricity! For the next week or so we are going to be 'bush' camping, so no 'mod cons' !!!