Wed, 29th May, 2024 Wheogo Park Rest Area, Forbes to Gum Bend Lake RV Stop, Condobolin, NSW (Lachlan River sculptures & Utes in the Paddock)

Warmer morning, 7 degrees. Lovely sunrise over the lake.

Kirsten, Rachel and a friend walked passed on the path so I ducked out to say hello. Rachel was wearing the beanie and gloves I bought her - she looks so cute.

Packed up and went up to the dump point near where Jodie and Steve were parked. Chatted for another half hour with them. Hopefully catch up with them somewhere. Lovely couple.

Puffy clouds are coming over as we cross the Lachlan River and head out of town on the Newell Highway.

We turned off into the Lachlan Swamp to check out the first of a collection of sculptures along the Lachlan River to Condobolin. Great place for bird watchers too.

Impressive to say the least. Sent a photo off to Dan as he would appreciate the work involved.

We walked back the other way to find the other sculpture. A few kangaroos came bouncing along through the bush and we stopped to chat with another couple. Then a chap came along on his beautiful horse and he stopped for a chat (he had a lovely Scottish accent) when I asked where the other sculpture was. We had passed it when we were watching the kangaroos! Wasn’t very impressive.

Went continued on to the bird hide. Nothing much to see here other than a pile of pigeons on a log.

Back to the highway then right onto the Lachlan Valley Way. Didn’t go far then another track off to the next sculpture, ‘Road Kill’. Great concept of the kangaroo getting revenge by wrecking the road.

We had a cuppa then walked down the track to a camp spot by the river. Will mark this one for a return visit.

Another two motorhomes pulled in. Two single ladies travelling together. They had seen us at the lake and said they will be following us now as we meander along the river. The Lachlan River travels 1,440 km from the Great Dividing Range near Yass to the Murrumbidgee River at Oxley - part of the Murray Darling Basin.

Travelling through flat farming/grazing land - sheep and cotton (there bits are on the roadside).

The next sculpture - Amazing! The story about it is an interesting idea.

Continued on and found where the cotton was coming from. Spotted a few dead foxes on the roadside.

Found a hill! It was part of a long ridge of hills.

Through the hills and we found Jemalong Weir. Nice camp area here too.

They need a rubbish scooper to clean up the top of the water - there is a dead sheep in there.

Nothing being let out for irrigation at the moment.

The information was on the other side of the fence.

Back on the road and passed the houses of the irrigation facility. Across the irrigation channel which then runs along beside the road. Passed a big fruit orchard.

Turned off across the dry channel to the ‘Tower’ - tribute to the old water towers.

Continued along the road to ‘Bird in the Hand’ which is by the river and an old bridge.

Two other couples were there - heading to Forbes, so we chatted about the sculpture way. They said the next one had two sculptures spots but one is still under construction. The lady said to check out the girl’s face. They suggested a few other things for us to check out too at other towns. Everyone was very impressed with the work involved in making this one. Amazing to see how the artist even got the dent where the finger nails goes etc.

On the map it shows this area as Warroo and we spotted an old tennis courts, hall and on the other side of some trees, an old church. Looks like someone is living in it now.

Across from that is ‘Sonata’ - and yes the detail in the girl’s face is very good, (photo didn’t show it well as I was shooting into the sun). Steve walked around tapping it to work out how it was made.

The one to come will be called ‘Brumby Run’.

The river meanders along beside us here then turns away for a while. We can follow it on the map. Turned off onto a station track to find ‘Within Without’ - different! You have to read all the plaques to understand the sculptors motivation for each piece. It did change as I walked around it. The birds like sitting on it by the looks of the poop.

Continued along to ‘Heart of Country’ which is set below a hill. We had lunch here and the two ladies caught up with us then headed off before us this time.

Walked up the track to check it out. Very impressive how he got the expression on the face etc. Even the pathway looks like a heart.

The wind has picked up today and it is a lot warmer so no need for a jumper.

Along to the next one - ‘Between the Silence & the Heartbeat’ - bit too political for us.

On to the next one which is the last one, ‘Wandering’ - different but I can understand the concept.

Continued on to a T intersection and left to the Information Centre and the Utes in the Paddock display. Right goes into Condobolin. It is a new centre. We parked and walked to the other end to check out a big log near the rodeo ground. Very well done.

Back to the utes which are spread along a pathway with information for each one. The utes used to be on a station property, Burrawang Station. It was a concept of the owners Graham & Jana Pickles and is a fabulous display though as Steve says, ‘they are all Holdens - where’s the Fords’ but of course, Holdens are the Aussie icon. Fabulous display.

This one didn't have a plaque

At the end of the path is the Fallen Jockey Memorial. Lovely rose garden with roses carved into the walls too.

Amazing to see how many jockey’s have lost their lives on the race track somewhere in Australia. This list is made up of some amazing research too going back to 1847 and up to 2019. There are 18 panels with 40 names on each so that is over 700 people, with details of the accidents. Sad to see a few recent ones (1984 & 85), two in Gympie only a year apart. The last one listed in 2019 was in the NT. I suppose the only consolation is that they died doing something they loved.

Inside the Information Centre was another ute, painted by John Murray and Beverley Coe.

Great information on the display boards.

Outside we found another fabulous carving by the same chap as before.

Back to the truck then into Condobolin. Across the Lachlan River.

Around to the Memorial Park for a cuppa. I wandered around reading the plaques.

Across the road was another park that used to be the brewery site. Fabulous tree trunk.

Wandered into the town centre to check out the buildings and read the history plaques. This first one doesn’t have a plaque.

Nice garden but the gates are blocking the view of the history plaques on the brick columns. Part of the Cobb & Co trail.

Continued along.

The Shire Hall is now the Museum. Great photos on the fence.

Next was the Post Office.

On an empty corner block was this plaque and diagonally across more information about the Hall that had stood there.

Back to the truck then we followed the road around the river’s edge admiring the homes built there with the water frontage. Along to the main road then out to Gum Bend Lake to park up for the night - free camp area. It is a man made lake, made in 1988. The lady at the Info Centre said they are draining it to do repairs around the edge and to clean out the weed.

Lots of other travellers are here so we chose a spot and set up. 

Jon rang to say we are all good to stay at his work’s yard in Two Wells and we have access to space in the big sheds to work on the truck. That is a relief, now to just get to Adelaide. Steve checks it all the time and only wipes of a drip now and then but it needs sorting out before we head to NT and WA.

As the sun was still up we went for a walk around the lake’s edge. There is an island in the middle.

Even some black swans and ducks. There is another small island in close.

Walked down to the end car park. It is starting to get chilly so we turned around instead of doing the whole lake walk. There are tracks going off into the bush to the Lachlan River so we wandered along them. Found a couple of other good camping spots when the ground is dry.

Looking to the pump station then back along the river.

Along to the pump station on the Bend, where I presume the lake gets it’s name from. A big rope is hanging in the tree so a popular place for the kids too.

Back to camp. A couple came over to talk about the camper. Got our drinks and headed up onto the dam wall picnic area to watch the sun set over the lake. Another couple joined us and we had a lovely time chatting and watching the changing sky and reflections on the water. Culled all the photos down to these few. Only one pelican gliding about.

The galahs and corellas are making a racket as they settle down for the night - hopefully not near us! Steve made sure we didn’t park under a tree as we got a few droppings from the last camp spot. Put the heater on and enjoyed our dinner in some warmth.