Thurs, 22nd Feb, 2024 Bush camp by Murrumbidgee River, near Gundagai to Lions Park, Bulahdelah, NSW

Minimum of 18.8 degrees - Steve happier with that sort of temperature. Clear sky and lots of birds about.

Packed up and back up the track and onto the Hume Highway.

Near Yass - No power being made by the wind turbines today - most aren’t moving at all.

Clear sky - different for our last visit when it was pouring with rain at Gunning.

Pulled off for a cuppa in a rest area. I rang Linkt (our etag provider) as we will being going on the M7 and M2 again and when I looked up our charges from when we drove down they were charging us as a commercial vehicle ($80 for the 2 tolls). The nice lady sorted it and gave us a refund of $35 so we are happy to take the toll roads again.

Into Goulburn for fuel - cheapest is the Metrol $1.849/L - the rest were over $2.00.

Lunch at the next rest stop.

The traffic is building up as we get closer to Campbelltown (NSW that is not Campbell Town, Tassie).

Onto the M7 and down to 80kph for roadworks for a very long time. No lights to deal with but a slow crawl. It continued all the way till we turned east then we continued onto the M2 and then exited onto the M11 Tunnel which was $14.34 for ‘other vehicles’ as per the sign. We didn’t come through the tunnel the last time. Pretty blue lights.

It went for ages till we popped out at North Wahroonga - that was much easier than going along the Pennant Hills Road with squished lanes and street lights.

Continued onto the Pacific Motorway (M1) heading to Newcastle. Crossed over the Hawkesbury River.

Turned off to the rest area (Deerubbun Reserve) below the bridge for a cuppa. It is a free camp area too as well as the boat ramp. Certainly warmer outside. Chatted with a couple then went for a wander to check out the history sign. Also known as Mooney Mooney Point.

Looking over to the bridges then up the river.

Mr Pelican was content with his paddling. A couple of bush turkeys were roaming around looking for a feed.

Back onto the motorway - Steve doesn’t mind the traffic as long as there are two lanes so people can pass him.

The motorway ended at a set of lights. Right turn onto the A1 Pacific Highway around to Hexham where the next section of the motorway is still being built. Across the Hunter River bridge on the concrete one this time - going south we were on the old steel one. We got stuck there coming down as there was a bottle-neck at the lights! Still a lot of traffic backed up so they haven’t solved the problem. Won’t be finished till mid 2026!

Continued on to Bulahdelah where we can camp by the South River in the Lions Park. As we drove in a couple were parking their van and we heard her say on channel 40 - ‘quick, back up so that other car doesn’t get our spot’. Note - you should always get off the Truckies channel 40 when using your UHF for setting up etc. We have heard lots of funny things said over the years.

Chatted with the couple beside us. There was a big storm yesterday which explains all the puddles etc about. He said they were camped up at Barrington Tops and got hammered so came down here to dry out!

Got out our chairs for drinks - a few flies, wandering geese, magpies and pelicans and cormorants sitting on logs by the river. We are beside a property and there are cattle wandering about too. The old houseboat has seen better days.

I went for a walk to the boat ramp then under the town bridge. Looking downstream to the houseboats then further down to the highway bridge.

Got to 30 degrees in the camper today. A few more campers came in after dinner. Played cards.