LAHEYS CREEK to YETMAN

We have spent Easter with the Ippa's and Bower's at Laheys Creek on Joe Ippa's properties and had a great time once again. Saw John, Michelle and Jeff also, we had b.b.q's and happy hours, always a good time with them. Joan and Stan called in for the Easter break and spent a few days with us, they are such good company to be with. All up we have had 2 weeks at Laheys Creek and it is now time to move on.
16/04/07. Today we drove to Premer and spent the night at the Lions Park rest area. We paid our donation fee of $5.00 at the local store, for that we had hot showers but the electricity had been blown up in the rest of the camp area and we had to rely on battery & gas power for our needs.
17/04/07. We are now in Gunnedah and staying at the Top Tourist Caravan Park, the park is small but well looked after by the owners who never seem to stop working, the pool is new and San and I are using it each day as the weather is still hot for this time of the year.
Gunnedah is the Koala capital of the World, a strange claim as Australia is the only country where the Koala is the native animal, if you take the time to look in the Gum Trees you are sure to see some, there was a small one in the tree 2 van sites down from ours.
21/04/07. We drove from Gunnedah to Manilla today and are camping at the River Gums Caravan Park on the Namoi River,there is water in the river and unlike most of others we have crossed over are empty due to the drought.
We have caught up with old friends, Vic and Carol Hannerman who live close to the van park, they have taken us on a sight seeing tour of their area, and a memorable 4wd up to Mount Borah which is a very steep climb to the summit. The view from the top is one of the best that we have seen so far in our travels and a bonus was to see about 6 Para Gliders take off on thermals and soar to great heights and 2 of them just went out of sight.
We have said our goodbyes to Vic and Carol and thanked them very much for the wonderful time that we have spent together.

The view from Mount Borah -- Manilla N.S.W.


25/04/07. Anzac day and we are on our way to Warialda. The drive here was nice and easy but the countryside is so bare with not much green grass for the cattle to survive on.

The Warialda caravan park is only small, there are hot showers and power and for only $9.85 a night, that's very good value for money. We have spent 2 days here and enjoyed our stay.

27/04/07. Today we have only travelled about 8km from Warialda to Cranky Rock Reserve, we have never come across a cheaper and cleaner place to camp, and at only $44.00 a week we will stay for the full week.
Situated east of Warialda on the Gwydir Highway, in a tranquil natural bushland setting Cranky Rock is a magnificent, extensive and fascinating jumble of giant granite boulders balanced at the edge of Reedy Creek. Past volcanic upheaval has heaped the boulders into fantastic balancing positions.



As well as Cranky Rock (above) and the fantastic scenery, there is also an animal sanctuary where you can help Kay the caretaker with her daily chores feeding the Kangaroo's and Emu's. Sandra really enjoyed helping out.


Feeding time at the Rock.
According to a Police Gazette report in 1875 a Warialda resident, Eliza Goldthorp, died from wounds inflicted on her by a Chinaman named "Charley Young ".
The following verdict was returned at an inquest held in Gragin, near Warialda before the district coroner, concerning the death of a Chinaman found dead in a creek at Cragin, he was identified as Charley Young. The legend has it that the Chinaman being cornered by the mob tracking him, leapt to his death from Cranky Rock to avoid capture.
03/05/07. Left warialda and we are now in Yetmen for three days and staying at the local Caravan Park, this is another good (cheepie) at only $5.00 a night with power and hot showers.
There are some good Murray Cod being caught in the river at the back of the park, a 19 pounder was caught only 2 days ago.