Where are the fish???

Day 13 - Moree to Narrabri to Yarrie Lake

After another quick dip in the thermal pools we headed off from Moree via a quick stop at the 'Rocket Park'.  Impossible not to stop at a park like this when you've got kids.

From Moree the destination was Narrabri and there was quite a change in the scenery.  The land became much flatter and the road became long and straight.  Narrabri was a little disappointing as we had hoped to visit The Australian Cotton Centre, but it closed down last September.  Instead we stopped in a park by the river and had some lunch on fresh bread rolls.

We also stocked up on supplies, including a new pair of thongs for me.  Stewie had stepped on the back of my favourite Rivers thongs this morning and they snapped.  I just couldn't be without a pair of thongs (it seems there are prickles and mud outside the caravan wherever we go), so went in search of a new pair.

Unfortunately it seems Narrabri isn't big on thongs - none in any of the local supermarkets - so I had to got to a shoe shop that only stocked 'designer' thongs (a phenomenon I still don't quite understand) and coughed up $29.95 for a new pair.  Here they are, resplendent with 'jewels' and 'gold plated' branding - I'm a cut above as I stroll around the campsite now!

After this important purchase, it was time to head out of Narrabri via The Australian Telescope.  This series of telescopes is called the Compact Array and consists of 6 radio telescopes - 5 mobile and 1 fixed.  They make our caravan look small.

Apart from the telescopes, there was lots of interesting information at the centre about the solar system and sun - plenty to keep our budding scientists interested.  

Last stop for the day was Yarrie Lake, a 2km wide lake they think was formed by a meoterite (glad I wasn't around that night).  It's particularly popular for water sports and had been dry for 4 years until Christmas last year.

It's a gorgeous spot and it was a chance to try our new yabby trap out...take a good look because it only lasted a day before it 'disappeared'.

Someone (Maggie) threw it out and when we went to find it, it was gone.  Not sure if it was operator error or a really big yabbie that dragged it away.  In the short time we had the trap, we didn't get any yabbies but managed to get quite a few small fish, that Maggie instantly tried to turn into 'pets'.

We liked it so much we decided to make Yarrie Lake our home for the next two nights.  It was also a great spot for playing trains (of course)...

Day 14

Leaving the van at Yarrie Lake, we headed off for a day of exploring.  First stop was Sawn Rocks, the best example of 'organ piping' rocks in Australia.

After the walk up Bald Rock, this was easy and we got to see some fossils, big tadpoles and lots of other interesting plants and bugs.

We then headed back into Narrabri to visit the Gaol Museum.  This was used as a real gaol until 28 years ago.  Although they've now filled a lot of it with historical pieces from the area, the original layout including steel bar doors, cells, exercise yards and kitchen are still in place.

All the old memorabilia was fascinating including an old poker machine...

old fire engine (Stewie's highlight)...

...old guns (Mitch's highlight)...

and old kitchen utensils, ingredients and machines (my highlight)...

After another big day, everyone was happy to relax around the campfire (Maggie was still looking for the yabbie trap)...

Day 15 - Yarrie Lake to Gunnedah to Lake Keepit

After setting out early from Yarrie Lake we headed to Gunnedah, a town that makes the claim of being Australia's Koala Capital.  However on this particular Sunday, they were all sleeping in.  We tried hard to spot them, but to no avail.  We headed up to the local lookout for a last attempt before heading towards Tamworth.

On the way we made a detour to Lake Keepit and decided to stay the night as we'd been told there were fish there.  It was hot, dry and there was no shade...

We tried our hardest despite the weed and saw plenty of fish activity in the water.  They just didn't find their way onto the end of our rods.  Here's the kids waiting to be attended on with their fishing rods etc...

...finally the rods arrived...

...and if there's no fish, there's always trains!

Day 16 - Lake Keepit to Tamworth to Sheba Dam (Hanging Rock)

Up and off again today into Tamworth.  After stopping for a few supplies, including better fishing tackle (and hopefully tangle free) for children, we did a quick look around the town.  Including a stop at the lookout...

...and a mandatory stop at the Golden Guitar...

To be honest, we couldn't get out of Tamworth quick enough.  It was just another town which we felt was over commercialised around the whole country music attraction.  Not a lot grabbed our interest so we headed slightly south, passing through a quaint old mining township called Nundle, towards Sheba Dam.  The dam is near a place called Hanging Rock (not the same one as the movie) and we were told it had trout and other fish in it.  Yeah right!

The dam was a lovely little spot and we had another night 'bush camping'.

The generator got it's first work out tonight as the battery had died - we'd been pressing (or rather not pressing) a few wrong buttons.