I am sitting at home in front of the fire as a big storm lashes all around us. It is hard to believe that only two weeks ago it was warm and sunny and we were setting off on a little adventure to try out our new car towing the caravan.
We do not have a new car out of choice, but because one of us (not me) had a slip up with the old one resulting in it being written off. Nobody was hurt, in fact nobody was in it, but it was a write off all the same.
So we decided to go to Bingara, about 5 hours north and inland from home and, after the usual stop off at Macca's for breakfast we set off along The Fossikers' Way towards Tamworth. We didn't want to drive for too long and there was no need so we stopped overnight at the First Fleet Memorial Park in Wallabadah.
This is a very popular spot for travellers with hot showers and decent toilets for only a $10 donation. It can actually end up being quite pricey to stay in free or cheap camps because it is the done thing to support the local pub or cafe. By the time a meal and a couple of wines and beers have been sunk, it ends up being way more expensive than a caravan park, mind you, we could always just have a coffee instead.
Bingara was only a couple of hours further on, the road took us through incredibly dry countryside with cows grazing by the roadside on the last available bits of grass. There were some beautiful painted silos on the route featuring a chap who looked remarkably similar to Prince Harry. We came through this area at the same time last year, at that point they had not seen rain since November 2017 and they have had very little since. The drought has really hit hard and shows no sign of letting up, I keep checking the radar to see how far inland the storm we are having today is reaching but unfortunately it is going nowhere near the drought affected towns.
The tourist information office in town advertised free riverside camping which was as special as they promised. Beautiful riverbanks beside the Gwydir River which comes from quite high up so was still flowing nicely unlike some other rivers around.
It was gorgeous, only a handful of other caravans there, horses roaming around freely (much to Monty's delight or disgust - hard to tell which) and much warmer than we were expecting in early winter.
There were no facilities but we are set up for free camping so perfect for us. The only downside was that 6 o'clock was midge o'clock with millions of the little stinkers launching their attack on any campers foolish enough to have a light on, so we finally put up our bug tent that has covered thousands of kilometres with us just waiting for such an event!
The town was very attractive with striking art deco buildings but sadly, most businesses seemed to be up for sale. While we were having a coffee we spotted a sign for the Bingara Show which was coming up on the Saturday, our wedding anniversary. Now I love a country show and this one had a rodeo in the evening which was a first for both of us and it was only a short walk from our camp.
Well, the day of the show came round and it was brilliant. It was the usual mix of small children handling huge show bulls, hundreds of chickens, sheep and cows competing for honours. Flower, vegetable and handicraft competitions, best fleece and of course, prizes for the best baking - my personal favourite categories being Beautiful Biscuits and Man's Cake!
There were sheepdog trials, stockman championships and the dressage and showjumping kept us entertained for hours.
After all that excitement, there was still the rodeo to come. Doak Bucking Bulls were a travelling rodeo who brought everything along so we lined up around the perimeter to the strains of Achey Breaky Heart etc and were looking forward to seeing brave men who did this for a living perform for our entertainment. The announcer came out and said, 'We will begin this competiotion with our newest riders THE 8 YEAR OLDS!' We couldn't believe it, parents allowing their 8 year olds on bucking bulls, they were only small bulls but mean little devils just the same.
By the time we got onto the full sized riders and enormous, angry bulls we had developed huge respect for the Protection Clowns, the men who draw the bull away from the fallen rider, one got a hoof right in his face but just rubbed his jaw a bit and carried on! We walked back after the show trying to decide whether we were appalled or thrilled by the spectacle but in agreement it was the best wedding anniversary ever.
Bingara had been unable to afford to stage the annual show this year because of the hardship suffered by the residents at the hands of the drought so a mental health charity stepped in to foot the bill, and gave everyone a thoroughly good day out to take their minds off their troubles, well done them.
