Mon, 13th May, 2024 West of the Range Rest Area, west of Casino to Showgrounds Campground, Casino, NSW (sightseeing Casino area)

10.8 degrees this morning so on with the heater. Forecast is only for a top of 22 degrees! Clear blue sky - which is perfect.

Onto the Bruxner Highway and headed eastward. Turned off into Mallanganee (just before roadworks) to check out the free camp there near the sports oval. It would have been nice except with all the rain it was now a boggy mess though a couple of people were there in soggy tents! We decided to keep going. Stopped and checked out the info board at another park.

Drove back out to the road works and got in line. Long stretch of road works that finished just before we had to do a hairpin turn up a narrow road to find the lookout (400m elevation). Then another hairpin turn to get to the top. Someone spent the night up here but again it is very wet and the grass to very high. We parked and wandered around trying to enjoy the views but unfortunately the trees are blocking most of it! Got two viewing angles from each side of the park.

Further along were some info boards in the long grass.

Walked back to take a photo of Mt Warning, now I have seen what it looks like on the map.

It has big towers up here too.

We drove back down - glad we met no one else as there is nowhere to pull off and it is very muddy off the bitumen any case. Back onto the main road then along to a pull off which gave better views then the lookout.

Straight down the rain road to 200m. Dropped further down to 110m as we meandered through the hills. Travelled along the valley through grazing land.

Into Casino and stopped at a park for a cuppa. Drove down to the Showgrounds where the sign said the campground was closed but there was a chap in there with his van. We went along the dump point then I rang the showgrounds number and got the Information Centre. The lady said the campground had just opened last week so I gave our name and rego so we can stay the night. Chatted with Carl, the chap with the van, who had brake issues on his van. The sun is quite hot so we can take our jumpers off. I think it will be a hotter day than what they forecasted.

We drove back into town for a look around. First was the water tower murals. Parked in a side street and walked up and around the tower trying to get photos of the great art work.

Walked down to the main street and found a history board.

Continued on down to the Richmond River - very muddy after the recent rain, looking downstream. The Ibis have moved in here too.

Across to the other side - the bridge is older than Stephen.

Another history board.

Walked under the bridge then up the other side to walk back - looking upstream.

Back to the Information Centre - found the info board in the car park.

The river has flooded a few times - the most recent was in Dec 2021 to Mar 2022 when the northern rivers area of NSW suffered terribly with flooding. No date on this photo but I googled it up and looks like this might be from the 1954 flood.

Picked up a map and info about some other waterfalls and national parks that we might check out when we head back out.

Up the other side of the street - another history board.

Time for lunch so we headed back to the truck then went across the river and then down to McDonald Boat Ramp and Jabour Weir. Bit wet and boggy here but there is a lovely big tree to park under and picnic table to have lunch at.

There is a boat ramp - looks like the water has been up higher if the mud on the jetty is any indicator. The weir is further along apparently!

Back to the Showgrounds and chose our spot. The grass is very wet and there are a few boggy sections but we found a high dry bit.

I did my baking, should have done that on the cold rainy day as the camper has warmed up a lot in the lovely sunshine. Thermometer is reading 32 on the sunny side of the camper! Steve chatted with Carl and they checked the engine and truck over.

Rang Annalise for her shopping list and Beau was having a lovely ‘chat’ in the background.

The temperature dropped quickly when the sun started to set. We sat outside and chatted with Carl who came our from Nova Scotia, Canada in early 1970s. He picked up a job working with surveyors putting up the Trig Markers - it was a great way to see NSW he said.

Mackerel clouds started coming across so that might be the end of our lovely clear day.

Sun, 12th May, 2024 Beans Creek Falls, near Old Bonalbo to West of the Range Rest Area, west of Casino, NSW

Mother’s Day - sent a thought up to Mum and Erica and thought of how lucky I have been to have two wonderful sons and now two lovely daughter-in-laws and now two beautiful grandchildren.

It was warmer this morning, 17 degrees, probably because of the low fog over us. The rain pitter pattered on the roof through the night and we could hear the waterfall which was very soothing.

We packed up in the drizzle and headed back onto the main road. Down the hillside to Old Bonalbo which only had a few houses so we didn’t stop.

Lots of road works which the road needs - some areas there is more potholes and patches than original road!

The drizzle continued through rolling grassy hills and more bad road and more road works. Then we hit a new section - very nice but it didn’t last long and back into road works again as we went up and down the hills.

Into Bonalbo - old world charm township. I sent off texts to the new mothers, Fran and Annalise, wishing them lots of cuddles from their babies. They both replied wishing me a lovely day too.

We had a cuppa at the park and read the information. Nice mural on the toilets. Lovely trees too.

At least the drizzle has stopped. I saw a Facebook post that it is NSW Road Safety Week and to be safe on country roads - if they were in better condition they wouldn’t have accidents but at least they are doing something about this road.

We walked down to check out the Working Dog Statue. Found some information too.

Jon rang to wish me a lovely day which was lovely. It has been raining since he got home from work - they are all so over the rain. The drizzle started again so we headed back to the camper.

Continued along the road dodging potholes and broken shoulders on the narrow roads. Daniel rang too so my Mother’s Day is complete. Sadly Fran isn’t having a lovely day as she has picked up a bug from all the hospital visits but is doing ok and Sophia is growing beautifully. They sent me a beautiful photo of her having a big laugh.

Meandering through the hills and farm land till we reached the intersection with the Bruxner Highway. Pulled into the West of the Range Rest Area for the night. We are between Tenterfield and Casino. Set up our home and read the local info.

A photo of Tooloom Falls with less water going over it - you can see the road across the top of the falls.

There was a circle of wood carvings which were quite good - might have been a table in the centre at one stage. The grass needs a mow - obviously it has been raining through all this area just as much as it has been raining at home as everything is muddy and the grass needs mowing at most of the places we have explored.

I heated up my homemade pumpkin soup for lunch though it isn’t as cold here (20 degrees) even though the misty rain is still persisting but who cares - we both love pumpkin soup.

We played cards for a while - Steve is on a winning streak.

About 2pm the sky started to clear and then we had a beautiful blue sky to look at. Sadly the forecast for Byron Bay this week is for rain which will be a shame for Dylan and Bec’s wedding but I am sure it won’t damper their day.

I worked on my blog and Steve read. Not much traffic so it has been quiet.

5pm a nice pink glow to the sky as the sun set - big change from the dreary overcast days we have had. Put the heater on as the chill has set in now.

Steve cooked roast vegies and pork steaks for dinner for Mother’s Day - what a good boy, need to get him to do it a few more times!!