Day 56 Tues 5 Jul 16, Mildura to Parkes, 687km, 6 to 8deg, rain most of the day. We had a conference last night and after checking the weather forecast for the remainder of our Eastward journey, we decided it was time to go home more quickly than we'd planned. While we've seen lots of interesting places we had never been to before, caught up with some wonderful people we hadn't seen in ages, well and truly tested out the van and had a great time, the weather from here on isn't going to be conducive with cycling, sightseeing and caravaning. "Tending to snow" at West Wyalong today isn't our cup-of-tea weather wise. So our last few days will be spent driving home, but of course we won't be rushing! Got underway at 7:30am into a dull, cold and rainy morning; it is winter so it's understandable. First stop for a cuppa was at Balranald and then lunch was at a rest area at Goolgowie on the Hay Plain, which is like the Nullarbor but smaller. Saw plenty of wheat, sheep, cotton, emus and cattle during the day. The farmers would have been over the moon with the rain we experienced. Most of the roads we drove today were B-roads (B for b.......) and were quite lumpy in most places which slowed us down for a good part of the day. But, we arrived safely (which is the main thing) at Spicer Van Park at 5:05pm after a fairly long and steady day. Wanted to stay hitched but due to a rather large slope (on a van site!!) had to unhook. Temp at 7deg; a good day to be sitting in a nice warm truck, awful day to be outside. Lamb/steak and veg for dinner, warmed us nicely; and the heater set on high helped too, along with a glass of vino.