We busted a move this morning in an effort to get out of the caravan park and on the road by 10:00AM. We were looking good until a couple of neighbors moved onto the next site and we stopped to chat with them for a while. You can now mark us down for another 5 lost minutes. Guess we’ll be seeing you about 7:25PM on October 11. At this rate we might not even be getting home on the 11^th of October after all, although any later than that and we will need to be asking for more time off of work. I am told however, that we ought to be able to make up some time on the west coast of Australia, because it’s all down hill!

Fantastic weather at least greeted us for this move and is forecast to continue for the foreseeable future, so we were able to casually pack up our camp, without requiring the donning of waders or succumbing to the effects of frost bite. That was a novel experience after our last effort. We then left Cessnock in the rear view mirror, continuing on our journey north. It’s another short hop on the road today, with our only plan being to make it to a well reviewed free camp ground about 50Km south of Tamworth. Only about 180Km on the road all up, but what a contrast of scenery we saw. From the lush forest greenery of the Hunter Valley, which slowly gave way to the wide open, undulating plains of some prime horse stud country. I think we both really began settling into the holiday mode today. We had finally left the big smoke well behind, and were now in our element in the country. Not quite outback yet, but country nonetheless.

Being that we are going to be undertaking our first free camping experience tonight and will in all likely hood have to do without power (and consequently without TV or any other form of powered amusement), we were in no rush to arrive too early. I mean, what is one to do with no entertainment?

Therefore we took a relaxing break at Muswellbrook where we called in to the tourist information center to pick up reams of information on Tamworth and the surrounding area. After a wrong turn or two (thanks Shazza), we eventually located Hunter Belle Cheese, right there on the main highway out of town. Who would have thought it?

Being that it was getting on lunch time, we figured we might be able to pick up something to satiate us until dinner time. Mind you, despite advertising their caravan friendliness, they don’t really have the parking space to fit a rig of our size in comfortably. It took a 10 point turn, twice as any minutes and a whole lot of luck just to park. In fact the information center hadn’t been too much different parking wise, so maybe Muswellbrooks claim to be RV friendly is a touch of false advertising. Well, we will teach them a lesson and just roll on over anything that won’t get out of our way.

Inside, we were greeted with an array of cheeses, fudges and gelatos to taste, all made fresh, on-site. Surprisingly we came to an easy compromise on another washed rind cheese, spending the equivalent of our daily food budget (actually, not quite, but very close to) on a small 100g block. To that we added a couple of small tubs of yoghurt for lunch, and some of the delicious looking gelato. We had been on the verge of getting a small cup each at $6.00 a pop, but then realized that for the same price we could just share a comparatively huge ½ litre tub. Hmm, bargain. Straight into the freezer that went, for a welcome supper this evening.

Moving on from Muswellbrook, we encountered a number of dot on the map towns, buzzing through them without seeing a need to stop, until a giant antiques barn caught out attention in Wingen. It was thankful that there was no one tail gating us, as we came to a screeching halt in a cloud of dust. The store was separated into half a dozen or so rooms, filled with all manner of antiques and associated junk. There was one particular item that stood out to both of us, but we really don’t have any room in the van to store an antique wardrobe. Not to mention stretching the budget to the tune of $7000. So, sans closet, we continued on our merry way, arriving in Wallabadah at just a bit after 2:00PM.

I think I’ll stick with my Akubra.

Even at this early time, the camp ground is crowded with like minded cheap skates. As we drove in, I actually feared that we were too late and were going to have to continue on into Tamworth where we would have had to pay for the nights accommodation. So much for John Williamsons claim of old farts in caravan parks, they’re actually all here in Wallabadah, saving a penny or two, Bec and I included. As it turned out, the camping area is actually huge, with still plenty of space still available.

We selected a reasonably level area to pull up, which enabled us to drive in, whilst staying hitched up. So, not only did we not have to put on our by now regular reversing escapades show to the other congregated campers, but come morning, we can jump from the van, into ‘The Beast’ and be on our way with the minimum of fuss.

With the sun still shining, and nothing else to do, we took the dogs for a bit of an exploratory walk around the grounds, then broke out the cheese, crackers and the remainder of last nights wine for a relaxed afternoon tea.

As I write this, it’s about 4:45PM, and Bec is having an afternoon nap, no doubt in an effort to work off that cheese, and I am not far from joining her. Hmm, now while I think about it, maybe there is some entertainment you can have without power after all, but I think we might wait until after dinner to break out the cards.

Until next time, stay safe, have fun and don’t forget to write.