Sat, 18th May, 2024 Discovery Park, Byron Bay to Girard State Forest Rest Area, east of Tenterfield, NSW (Dan’s birthday & exploring)

Daniel turned 35 today at 1am this morning. Wow the years have flown and now he is a husband and father. Gave him a call but no answer so left a message. Hope he has a lovely day as he has had a lot on his plate lately with work and the joys of parenthood.

Jon, Annalise & Beau are safely back in Brisbane ready to fly back to Cairns at 10.30am.

Text back from Daniel - going out to lunch with his darling girls.

Packed up camp and headed back towards the motorway. We went over it though and took the Hinterland Way back to Bangalow. Beautiful day to meander through the hills.

Into Lismore for a cuppa and to grab a few groceries. Took the road through the town centre - interesting mural.

The clock tower stood out at the top of the Post Office and Telegraph building.

Over the Wilsons River then the 111 year old Colemans Bridge over Leycester Creek as the creek meets the river right here so there are two bridges close together.

Down the railway side - we fitted under it.

The map showing the river and creek.

Onto the Bruxner Highway and on to Casino. Clouds are coming over our lovely blue sky.

Lunch on the high bank of the Richmond River with trees full of flying foxes!!

Continued on the Bruxner Highway heading westward to Tenterfield. Climbed back up the range road and through Mallanganee National Park (where the lookout was hidden) then we rolled back down the other side - nice view.

The road works before Mallanganee have finished - just need the white lines. Back to where we stopped at West of Range Rest Area and continued on. Another road to mark on the map.

Into more roadworks - can’t complain, at least they are fixing up the roads. Up and down hills to Tabulam where we turned off to check out a Lighthorse Memorial. Fabulous.

The school looks quite big for the little township - sign says established 1879.

Back out and continued on. Across the Clarence River.

Up the hill to overlook the Clarence Overflow area.

Climbing again through drier scrubby trees and grass. Through small village of Drake with a unusual name for its hotel - Lunatic Hotel and Quakka Oval. We didn’t stop.

Into Girard State Forest, climbing up a range road to Newmans Pinch to 670m elevation. Continued winding around the edge of the hills and slowly climbing to 760m.

Turned off into Crooked Creek Rest Area - down a gravel track to nice picnic area. A group were already set up below it, complete with motorbikes. No phone reception here.

We parked then went for a walk. Followed the track around to find the creek. Small but clear.

We also found a nice clearing for us to park up for the night. Steve walked back to get the camper and pick up a few logs we saw near the fireplace. I started picking up small sticks.

Set up camp and Steve got out the fire pit Daniel made.

Steve put the panels in the wrong way so the words are facing the inwards.

Unfortunately the logs are quite wet but with perseverance he got the fire going and we stacked the timber around it to dry it out.

It was lovely to sit by the fire while we had our drinks. The fire pit radiates good heat too as it is cooling off very quickly outside. Steve is very happy with it.

I went inside to boil up some potatoes so we could then bake them in alfoil in the coals but just when I was getting them ready for the fire I heard drops on the roof. Next minute Steve was rushing to get the chairs back into the truck as a flash of lightning then thunder hit and then down came the rain. The lightning and thunder went on for a while as the rain fell. Oh well - plan B for dinner.

The storm passed but the fire was out and it was now too cold to go outside. Put the heater on and enjoyed our dinner inside.