Christmas Road trip Dec 2024

I have joined up with Wendy Healy's Road trip Solos over 40's traveling group who are off to Carcoar for a Christmas lunch/camp

We met up on Sunday at Bulga just outside of Singleton and were to travel down the Putty Road stopping one night at Blue Gums before continuing on to Lake Wallace Wallarawang near Lithgow but... the weather was so hot we decided to stay put at Bulga for another night while Wendy waited for another member to join us. Wendy was also told Blue Gums would not be open. We had tree shade where we were and there was an undercover bbq area. It was a stinker 38 deg, that was a hot and shitty bad move as it would have been so much cooler at Lake Wallace. 

My new Kings Fridge bought at Raymond Terrace 4x4 centre.

Bulga camping area

Tuesday, we began our journey to Lake Wallace, deciding to split the group to go in different directions. I chose going back to Golden Highway with Robyn Harford in tow, it started to rain shortly after turning onto Bylong way to arrive at Rylstone for lunch. Most of the town was closed so headed to Kandos, a much lovelier town. Some of us seemed to gather at Vinnies Opp shop there, petrol was a good price

Lake Wallace, my kind of place to stay. Before Robyn and I found the rest of the group we had a lovely hot free shower at the entrance to the lake.

We arrived at Lake Wallace staying there for 2 nights. There was Robyn, Wendy, Jacquiline and I (Kerry Penman and Diane Shaw who I choose not to include) and another lady and 2 men whom I can't remember their names. 

A fisherman down by the lake was catching so many Trout he shared 4 with us. 

Many hands make light work.

Wendy is sitting with people I can't remember.  Diane Shaw is standing.

Robyn in the foreground and Jacki at the rear.

We were at Lake Wallace 2 nights. I took a road trip into Lithgow as I've not had a good look around there.

Blaney

This road trip group of people were heading to the Christmas party at Carcoar Pub to camp in the paddock out back, I was heading to Forbes instead, Jacki, Robyn, Wendy and I went directly to Carcoar Dam. Well, the rains set in didn't they, and Forbes was flooded so that put an end to that part of my trip. A place became available at the Christmas lunch so I asked Kim Rose Lee (Admin of Let's Get away) if I could be a late comer, and she said yes. There was more that 30 vans/caravans parked up out back, a bit of a squeeze, doubled up in 2's and 3 deep outback the pub and I didn't want to be one of them so chose leave the caravan at the dam and just drive the 15 minutes to Carcoar pub and drive back for a quiet night at the dam.

My first night's camp spot was beautiful until a young group decided to run a Genny all day and well into the night.

A wind farm is not too far away.

The next day I moved on to my next spot for 2 nights. It was a lot drier though still raining.

Robyn's caravan, she has one dog, Jacki has 2 dogs and Wendy is the dog walker.

Carcoar Town

There are lovely hot free showers at the tennis courts

Railway station in the background

The bank the Ben Hall gang held up.

 

The Royal Hotel

Kim Rose Lee hard at work setting out the Christmas tables.

Departed Carcoar dam to stop at Millthorpe, Orange, Molong, Wellington to Ponto Falls 

Before Wellington the grave of Yuranigh

Ponto Falls

A little bit dangerous to camp to close to the river. The locals were expecting the rain the fell at Forbes to arrive any day.

I met up with a couple of the ladies at Broke Park for the last camp night to say goodbye.

Gloucester in the rain April 2024

This camp was an WCCT Autumn camp organised by Karem Farquhar, who could not attend, it was then handed to Wendy Healy who eventually backed out due to the rain forecast. 

So... here we are, the toughest girls we know, camping the whole weekend in the rain. Well! this photo was taken before the next rain ban rolled in. 

It was a massive fail (a joke) for poor Griff in starting this fire, well! the firewood was a bit damp I must say. she came prepared for bad weather; she has her knee-high gumboots on.

Griff redeemed herself by winning the Trivea night for us all, free drinks all round on the club.

We always enjoy the Chinese meals at the bowling club.

So... what's to do when it's raining Griff?  paint the interior of the caravan of course.

 

I wish I could remember the name of this lovely lady; she was cooking the meat raffle that one of the girls had won the night before.  

And this is Griff's scones cooking in my gas oven.

Griff also made Pancakes 

And this is possibly Chantilly cream, a specialty of hers. we are so blessed to have her with us.

I set up the tarp to shelter the fire and us from the rain.

We are a sociable group; this time we invited a couple to join us by the fire for a chat. Rose is beside me and then Sally, then the couple, I need to find out the other ladies names.