Mon, 9th Oct, 2023 Mt Panorama Volunteer Campground, Bathurst to Bilpin Reserve Rest Area, Bilpin, NSW

Lovely sleep in this morning. Some people left last night but most are having a slow start too. Clear sky, cool breeze and warm in the sun when we went outside.

Last night they gave us a copy each of the program which has our names in the back as volunteers.

Forgot to take a photo of us in our shirts so got them out now for a photo. Also our coats, caps and bag.

A lady gave our gate volunteers a lovely poem she wrote on a magnet. She has a small business doing this. Very nice of her.

Steve worked on putting in the other double fan beside the inter-cooler while I worked on my blog. I heard him chatting with a chap, then Steve called to me to come say hello. It was Malcolm’s brother, Stuart, who loves coming to Bathurst too. He had come by the other day but we were on shift. Nice of him to pop in though to say hi as he was heading out. 

I heard Steve chatting with someone else and it was Maddie the organiser coming by handing out left over items. She gave Steve a big flag so we will put it up at Woodgate.

He had it all set up by lunch so we packed up after lunch. Peeled our camp ground sticker off the windscreen.

The camp ground is emptying out now - looks like when we first arrived.

Unfortunately we can’t do a lap of the track as it is still closed off so will have to come back and time it to compare with David’s lap with his camper trailer on behind!

Through Bathurst then headed towards Lithgow and of course there is road works. Long sections of 80kph,

Past Lake Wallace and its big power station cooling tower. Called in for a cuppa near the Lithgow Information Centre. Asked if the Bells Line of Road was ok for us to go down as there was a sign saying expect delays. They said it was all clear now from a truck crash or something.

I googled up why it is called Bells Line of Road. It was mared out in 1823 by Explorer Archibald Bell Jnr when he was 19 years old. He with the help of Aboriginal guides, forged this track as an alternate route to the one made famous by Blaxland, Lawson & Wentworth (now the Great Western Highway) through the Blue Mountains.

As we have done the Blue Mountain drive and it is very congested getting through Blackheath etc we decided to try this way. We had done this first bit when we came across to see the Zig Zag Railway. Also there is a free camp on the way too.

Through town then a steep climb up so that will test the new fan’s cooling ability. All good if he keeps the revs down. Nice view back over Lithgow from the top. Wouldn’t want to be here when a bushfire was going through.

Alongside the Zig Zag Railway.

Up the top where we pass a few houses near the Railway Station at Clarence.

Through the little township of Bell (1070m) - a town within a National Park. Beautiful red waratah flowers by the road.

Great views here and through the trees but the pull off areas are on the other side of the road.

Narrow road like the Gillies Range but no as many corners.

Around the edge of Mt Bell (998m).

Then Mt Tomah with a high walled cutting.

An overpass for animals not humans.

More greenery this section as we head through sloping farming areas nearing Bilpin.

Pulled into the free camp are by a little Reserve and parked up for the night.

A map of the Bells Line of Road from Lithgow to Richmond.

Not as cold here so no need for the heater tonight.