Tamworth

One year since Tim finished work many kms traveled, places seen and cups of tea since then, it is hard to believe how quickly time has gone and where we have been. We set of to Tamworth stopping near the Hunter Valley vineyards and off loaded the ute to look at the many vineyards around this area. Trying to find a coffee in such a wine orientated area was very difficult after a few stops we ended up finding 2 Fat Men that was a caffe, delicatessen, art Gallery and vineyard all in one. This was a pretty area with vineyards spread for miles nestled at the base of the mountains we did not stay for long and quickly moved onto Tamworth where we were meeting Geoff and Sandra Kidd to stay at City Lights CVP. Here we did a clean up of behind and around the fridge as there was an awful smell, putting it down to a bit of bad water stuck at the back tray we we're glad to rid this smell.

Saturday we visited the Tamworth equine arrena the largest equestrian area a in the Southern Hemisphere also giving Tamworth the nick name not only of the country music town but the equine town of Australia. Here we learnt of an event the following day called "Suck it up Buttercup". Not sure if this was going to be a horse event or even a bull riding event we leant it was a mud run of 10km and 30 obstacles, 5km for children. This sounded like fun and we were all keen to have a go. So we thought we would show up tomorrow and see what happened, one problem being the age requirement was 7 years. Knowing Archie could do it we teaed Archie and Lotte up to say he was 7 and hopefully it would work.!' Ready for some booting scooting music and a country meal we headed to the Longyard for dinner where Geoff and Tim's meals were big enough for 2 men, after being offered a doggy bag by the waiter if they couldn't finish them the challenge was on to eat the lot. Great effort by both they finished them but surely an uncomfortable sleep they must have had and lucky for them no country music and boot scooting tonight.

Saturday arrived with great antisipation we enrolled for Tim and Fidge at 11am and Lotte and Archie at 1.30pm. Geoff and Sandra also dressed in their old clothes incase they ended up taking Lotte and Archie. How lovely of them and what fun we had with a support team, come photographer for the day.

Tim and Fidge changed from old clothes to their matching running clothes after seeing everyone else looking so much more sporty and dressed up. We learnt that there were up 2000 competitors, that included the children. The event started in the equine aerena then weeving in and out of the many horse stalls onto the paddock coved in obsticalls many being horse jumps (we might add horses have 4 powerful legs and most likey are much taller than us.) Tim's favourite obstical was the rope climbing up to ring a bell over a mud pit, Fidge opted for the swinging ladder climb. Some of the other favourites were the sea container full of ice cubes where we needed to duck our heads under the shade cloth making it up to our chin (not kids), the run up and through a stock crate, many mud pits some very deep others long and stinky, these being the kids favourite, and the least favourite was running 100m pulling a tyre then returning the 100m caring it (not kids). Overall a fantastic effort by all so proud of all four of us for completing the course. Heaps of fun and a real challenge, special note to Lotte who was pushed over on ashphalt in the first 50m and scun her knee but kept on going. Also a big thank you to our supporters Geoff and Sandra we would not have done it without you. Several washes the first wash at the horse hose down area. the of our clothes and shoes and they are almost clean!!!

Knowing the next day would be slow we booked an extra night. Sunday we said goodby to our beautiful friends Geoff and Sandra who headed back to Port Macquarie, we then went for a drive up to Oxter lookout giving great views of Tamworth, followed by a swim at the pool and a slow day.

Monday we drove to Dubbo and found a great free park at Terramungamine (Terra-mun-gah) Reserve only 10km from town on the very beautiful and picturesc Macquarie River that flows through Dubbo itself.

We swam in the river which surprising had a reasonable flow and was quite deep. Meeting Andrew ( Australian/African) and Adrian (French) who were great entertainment for the kids, setting yabby nets, playing football and joking. The following day we headed into Dubbo doing a fly by the zoo and a small tourist drive we had lunch at Butlers reserve before wanting to head back to our camp to boogie board down the river. Floating down this beautiful river was so relaxing we did it again before dinner. Perfect way to experience Dubbo we thoroughly enjoyed this site, making it our favourite free camp. This reserve also had an Aboriginal site with many grinding grooves and a free range egg delivery- how perfect!!! Next heading to Bathurst via Orange tomorrow.

Orange we were pleasently surprised a nice clean town with surrounding well kept lush green farms. the streets and houses around the centre of town were 1800 style well groomed. a walk up a lookout just out of town gave a great view of this. Tim being found to quote "I quite like Orange it remindes me of Launceston..."

Arriving at Bathurst ahead of a storm we parked up at the show grounds. heaps of parking area surrounded by high yellow painted sheds and race course. Another country show that would be well worth attending. The next day we spray painted some pine cones and other nuts for Christmas decorations in the bus, they looked really cool, well done Lotte and Archie. then to the Bathhurst 1000 race trac where we took the blue bullet for a test drive with Lotte and Archie having a short turn driving too. the atmosphere and feeling of driving on this track was fun, not realising the steepness being rare for formular 1 racing. a look at the Bathurst motor racing meseum lined with cars dating back to befor the begining of the first Bathurst race back in 1963. Peter Brock won this race 9 time what an amazing feet. All excited about the race course and Tim seeing the oportunity to take the bus around it we decided to do it prior to leaving for the Blue Mountains on Friday 5th Dec. Our blue home cruised the track and seemed to enjoy it as much as we all did.