Emu Alley

Today seems to have been the day of the emu. It was almost like an outback version of the Teddy Bears' Picnic, there were so many family groups. I know the dad looks after the chicks and some of them looked quite hassled with a big brood to keep watch over. Perhaps it has been a good season. Most groups I've seen previously consist of three or four young ones. Today six to eight was common.

On Thursday night I stayed at a campsite just west of Broken Hill. Faith, whom I met at the Solos', was overnighting there as well. We talked from when I arrived until dark. I have so much enjoyed meeting up with friends along the way.

I spent a couple of hours in Broken Hill, then pushed on to Spring Hill rest area, only three other vans there but we still managed a happy hour. By the time I got moving this morning, those people had gone and the next campers were arriving. I hope someone finds and takes my step stool. It would have to be the good solid one I left, not the cheap plastic stool.

About an hour along the way, I stopped at Wilcannia. What a beautiful little town! The buildings are show pieces, many of them well over a century old. The police station, court house, post office are all lovely sandstone buildings with elegant proportions. Even some of the houses are the same stone. with wide verandahs. I stopped at Miss Bennett's for coffee. It is an older style cottage transformed into a comfortable coffee shop, with several rooms and outside areas all set up for hungry and thirsty visitors. The woman who owns it has one of the stone cottages - not really a cottage, a large rambling house.

These two trucks parked near me (you can see my van)
and I didn't hear either of them arrive.

Tonight I am at a truck stop at Cobar. I've just had a long hot shower and am sitting in the restaurant part of the roadhouse, checking mail and updating this blog.There are a few trucks coming and going but I've parked myself in a quiet spot. Once I get to sleep, I rarely hear the traffic.

Somewhere along the way, when I stopped for a snooze, I was talking to a couple of caravanners who say they never free camp because they have heard so many horror stories. I can't believe that. Free camping is a very convivial experience. There are almost always others around. The worst I have been aware of is the juvenile behaviour of some of the truckies who keep themselves entertained by blasting their horns as they go by camping areas. It doesn't work with me because it doesn't worry me if I am awake and I don't hear it if I am asleep. (And it serves them right if they come across sleep deprived drivers as a result of their fun.)