Day 93 Wednesday 9/8/2023 Hebel to Bourke, clear sunny 6 – 24

We wake to a cool clear morning and Woody grabs a coffee from the general store to kick start the morning. And the coffee is as good as dinner was. We were anxious about the state of the back road to Bourke via Goodooga but as it’s busy with trucks it can’t be too bad. Mind you, we used that logic on the way north and found ourselves facing a washed-out bridge and a creek crossing. Luckily it appears to be a reasonably new road and one of the best we’ve used this trip. And obviously newer than our GPS software as it loses the road and begs us to turn back.

The only town on this road is Goodooga and by the amount of caravans parked here, the artesian pools must be good. We’re always wary of hot pools these days since Woody the Elder came back from a cruise and mentioned one word…seepage.

It’s flat country and dry to the horizon with mirages shimmering in the distance. We’re getting good fuel economy. The grass colour camouflages the kangaroos. The emus in their hundreds here look like walking shrubs and eye us curiously. The only evidence of homesteads out here are the letterboxes and creative signs declaring the station names.

About 40kms shy of Brewarrina the road deteriorates, becoming narrow and bumpy.

At Brewarrina we pick up the Kamilaroi Highway and cruise into Bourke. We want to get fuel before getting settled but 3 servo’s are shuttered, unmanned and credit card only. By the time we find a staffed one we are exasperated. When Google maps tells us that the caravan park is to our right, I assume I’ve been turned around with all the chasing around to find fuel. Still, it doesn’t feel right. When it drops us on a vacant corner and declares that we’ve arrived we know we’ve been led astray. Elle gets us back on track with Apple Maps.

Mitchell Caravan Park is still run by the delightful young couple who had just taken it over when we were last in this park in 2016. A sign in the office tells us that the rate for a powered site is $41.50 and for nice people $37.00.  It is still a little oasis and a haven for birds. There’s a large aviary on the central lawn area and as I admire the unusual parrots a chap walks over. “Cute birds” I say. “Yeah, I bet they taste good” he replies.

Woody walks into town and back but it’s nice just reading in the sun. Happy Hour is on the lawn behind our van and we’re surprised by the number of passing B Triple trucks carrying cotton and equipment.

Dinner is pork chops from Mick’s Meats in Yeppoon.

Accom: $37.00

Fuel: $117.73 (209.9c/L)

Towing Kms: 259kms