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.