Kate and Will's Rural Roaming 2024

Leg One of our Rural expedition

Highlights	Less of a highlight
Fair well catch ups with family and friends - both	First week settling back into traveling - Kate
Winter jumpers and doona are already away - both
Sunshine - both
New sights - both
Artesian Bore - Kate
Time to read good books - both

Once again, we’ve hit the road. Last year we headed up the coast but this year we headed up central New South Wales. We found last year’s housesits slightly isolating so this year we have chosen to help some farmers. This means we get to stay on their property and work alongside them in some way or other. We are looking forward to this giving us the opportunity to get to know people while seeing a new part of the countryside.

We’ve been in touch with a family via email for the last month or so, during which time I feel I’ve gotten to know the wife a little. Betty and her husband farm cattle and grow pumpkins. Due to years of floods and tough times Betty also pots up flowers, including clivia, to sell at an annual flower festival in September.

We will be staying just south of Gatton, Qld, so after spending a night with my mum and sister we headed north. Day One was pretty much spent in the car except for our horse trough expeditions. You see, just before arriving at Narrandera, we had a text from our great mates Susan and Peter who are touring the west coast. Susan is creating a journal of photographs of all the ‘Annis and George Bills Horse Troughs’. Upon finding out where we were heading for lunch, Susan asked if we could have a look for a horse trough in Narrandera as she had planned to visit it on her way home (Yes – WA to Fish Creek via Alice Springs and Narrandera) but her plans have changed. We were happy to help out!! After a quick silverside sandwich (thanks Mum!) off we went – the instructions were just head to the racetrack and look beside a shed! Then another text came in – 'There’s one at the pony club too – which every you find first will do'.

We came upon the racecourse first. Guess how many sheds are at a racetrack – heaps!!!! Will and I wandered in different directions. After a few turns around shed ends I spotted a trough. I know just how those contestants in The Great Race feel when they spot a clue! Then off to the pony club we went. We climbed the gate and found the trough quite quickly – mission accomplished. Photos of two troughs were sent through to Susan!

Lachlan River at Forbes with the
golden evening sunlight shining

We then toddled on to Forbes for the night, so we’d be in town at opening time to visit the first museum on our list – McFeeters Motor Museum. The museum was interesting and had some unusual vehicles. We also visited the Tourist Information Centre where we were told about a sculpture trail – kind of like the silo trails around Benalla but instead of paintings these are sculptures – it would only be a 200km detour. I wasn’t holding much hope until the lady mentioned the trip ended with the ‘Utes in the Paddock’ display at Condobolin – a row of holden utes all turned into artwork. Will said it was sacrilegious to use holden utes for that purpose, but we decided we’d check them out anyway. I think he honestly went that route more for my interest in the sculptures than his interest in seeing defaced holdens.

I enjoyed some of the artwork immensely, and the thought gone into the artwork on the holdens was very interesting – it’s the only sculpture display I’ve seen Will read every sign at!

The Bird in the Hand sculpture was one of my favourites - even the finger nails were shown

This was a wonderful back drop for our picnic - the longer I looked the more I appreciated this artwork.

Bill was gobsmacked - they've used beautiful Holden's for this display!

We made it back to the highway in time to spy ‘The Dish’ at Parkes before spending the night at Peak Hills, where we spent an enjoyable hour around the firepit with a couple of blokes staying there due to their work in the area.

Next morning we went for a walk around an old gold mine before heading further north to the location of the next museum on our list – the Gilgandra Rural Museum. I was gob smacked – there was such variety on display. Plenty of farm machinery, an old truck, too many tractors to count, indigenous artifacts and so much more. The best $10 we’ve spent all month!!

Just before heading into the museum we’d had a call from Betty. She had some sight seeing suggests, including Moree with a dip in the Artesian bore water being the feature. We had planned to turn east from Gilgandra but now I needed to make a choice. I’ve wanted to swim in Artesian waters for a long time but I have baulked at the cost down home. I’d also read that Moree has up to 300,000 people visit each year. I wanted to swim but didn’t like the idea of human body soup. It was time to decide. The Artesian Bore won out - we’d head to Narrabri before going on to Moree.

Narrabri was a lovely town. We camped close to town so we could wander to the pub for a meal as once we hit the farm stay I doubt we’ll be doing that. The next morning I wandered through town, hit the local coffee shop then wandered along the river. During the walk I decided that we could make one more diversion, go to a national park just out of town as I was feeling the need for nature after all those museums before taking a back road to Moree where we could spend the night. I had it all pictured - Will could sit in the caravan while I enjoyed the five different hot pools.

My plan went really well … until I explained it to Will. ‘Really, we’ve already done some pretty major detours, I’m getting a bit sick of all the driving,’ said Will. That is definitely the moment when I should have said, ‘Well, what if we just go straight to Moree and we could have 2 nights there? You can rest and I can explore the town and the hot springs.’ Did my mouth open? Did I clearly suggest plan B? No, I did not. So, off to Moree we directly went, giving the national park a miss, with my mood souring just a little.

We got to Moree, found out the local swimming pool has an artesian bore pool and went for a wander along the river with a cup of tea. We saw some more interesting artwork and then I brightly said ‘So, now, time for a dip.’ Will said very honestly ‘I’m trying to compromise – I know you really want to swim but it’s just not for me.’ So, Will played sudoku in the car while I went for a swim which I really enjoyed! 42 degrees out of the pipe from the bore but the pool was cooled to 38.2 degrees – which really isn’t very cool at all! The water was very warm and the pool quite empty – only 8 of us in there, when I was told there can be well over 30 on a weekend.

Upon returning to the car Will suggested we head slightly further north and have two nights at the same location. This would allow us to rest up before arriving for our farm stay. Logically it made sense and Will suggested that I might find things to do that I’d enjoy – a definite olive branch as he knew I was disappointed that he’d chosen not to swim. It also made me frustrated that I hadn’t opened my mouth and suggested Plan B a few hours earlier. But hey, being the half full kind of gal I am I thought it will be OK, there will be an unexpected joy pop up from this new idea.

So off to Goondiwindi we went. The further Moree got behind us the more we got back to our usual selves. I started researching Goondiwindi – there’s a small caravan park in town, on the river, close enough to walk to the shops, beside a bike path = perfect. Hmm, except the park is tiny, we’d have to unhitch and you’d be right on top of your neighbour. Those problems were outweighed by the locality for me, but not for Will. Off to park number 2 – a pool, a fair way out of town but well above our budget for just two nights. We both baulked at the price. So here we are, at the Goondiwindi Showgrounds! A bargain $28 a night, way out of town, no laundry, no pool, planes taking off and landing from the runway just across the fence and a slightly frustrated Kate!!

Having written this now, I’m starting to smile. Many years ago there was an infamous tractor mishap – I told Will then that in ten years we will be laughing about today, so we may as well start laughing now. That attitude has held me in good stead and thankfully it’s kicking in now. I’m sharing this story for a few reasons a) because it’s true and I don’t want to just tell the happy parts, b) because by reflecting on it honestly, I’ve got a chance to improve the way Will and I holiday together, c) the beginning of each trip is always the most unsettling as we get back into the swing of traveling together including when to give and when to take.

I’m now finishing this blog 24 hour later – my smile is genuine; I am feeling content. I spent the morning with a great book and a cup of tea. Actually, a cup of tea and a thermos; that way I don’t have to stop to boil the kettle when the book is good and the bed is comfy! I then progressed to sitting outside in sunshine and reading my book. After a shower we readied ourselves for a bike ride only to find out that my rear wheel had dropped all its ball bearings through the back of the ute – no ride for me today!! I did walk while Will rode. Back to the sunshine and some more reading and a phone call with Pauline confirming the route for tomorrow. After some lunch we headed into Goondiwindi, did the washing, grabbed a few items and some groceries before returning home to, would you believe it, read a bit more!! This sitting still actually feels pretty darn good!

So tonight we are both looking forward to tomorrow with a little apprehension – we both simply want to meet the family, feel the vibe and find out what our next three weeks might look like. Until then, I guess I'll keep reading that good book.