Cootamundra to Hay

6th September 2023

Distance: 332 Km

Fuel: 36.7 Litres

A Cold Morning!

Woke to a very cold morning in Cootamundra, the dew had frozen on everything. You can see it here on the table.

After a quick shower, a coffee to warm me up and some cereal, settled down in my warmest clothes soaking up the morning sun. Once the ice had melted took the opportunity to clean the bugs off the windscreen, make sandwiches and prepare to leave, there was no rush – it was 9.30 before we got away.

An easy journey the first part on country roads with little traffic before joining the Sturt highway where there was more traffic including B Doubles, Semis and the occasional road train but nothing you’d call heavy traffic. The wind is having an effect on fuel economy, am probably using just over 11 litres per 100 km.

Because it was a relatively short journey only stopped after midday for a chance to stretch the legs and have a bite to eat at a quite well appointed rest area, some local councils/shires create very nice facilities for motorists often in the middle of “nowhere”. Not a great fan of long drop (composting) toilets but what else can they do?

Arrived at the caravan park at about half past one and immediately after setting up drove a couple of km down the road for fuel. It wasn’t anything like as cold as yesterday.

The only complaint about this caravan park is that it is right next to the highway so there is a fair bit of traffic noise but personally I didn’t find that a problem and it is very well run.

Red Centre Trip – 2023

5th September 2023

Distance: 358 Km

Fuel: 39 litres

Why and Where?

Am setting out on a trip most of which I have done before. There is one notable exception, on a previous visit to Uluru (Ayres Rock), over a decade ago, I missed out on a trip to Kings Canyon due to time constraints. This trip is partly to rectify that omission BUT, more importantly, to share my kids’ first visit to the red centre of Australia. After the success of our trip together to Camerons Corner this trip is something I am looking forward to very much.

Setting out.

The car and camper were packed on the weekend so there was little to do on this first morning apart from load in the milk, lunch and other perishables.

Left home at about 9.40am to avoid the morning crawl on the F6 leaving the city via Mount Ousley and Picton Road before heading south on the Hume Highway.

Apart from being very windy it was an uneventful drive, only moderate traffic with no hold ups – stopped just after the Canberra turn off at the Mundanoon Rest Area for a cheese, tomato and pickle roll and a toilet break.

Came off the Hume Highway at Jugiong and meandered along the back roads to Cootamundra where we booked into the caravan park and set up for the night.

It took a while as I haven’t used the camper for over year but eventually got things reasonably well organised.

Went for a stroll to the Cricket Captains Walk in Jubilee Park, adjacent to the caravan park, a collection of bronze busts of Australian Cricket Captain’s set beside an oval walk. It celebrates the fact that Don Bradman, the most famous of all Australian cricketers, was born in Cootamundra.

Once the sun set it was a cold night in Coota with temperatures hovering about freezing just before dawn.

14th March 2018 – Cootamundra

Distance: 355km

Have decided to take a few days away from the dreary coast with its grey skies and humidity.

Driving along the Hume Hwy it was cloudy until I passed the Federal Hwy turn off then the sun came out and from then on it just got brighter and warmer until I arrived in Coota when it was about 30’C.

Along the way my satnav took me via Jugiong rather than the more normal route via Harden but I don’t mind these variations. Certainly there is little traffic and you get to see a lot of farmland or bush but, despite the satnavs ideas, they are not quicker routes because they are usually narrower and winding so you rarely can stay on the speed limit. However I enjoy the variety.

Set up the camper and went for a walk down the main street which was only a short walk from the caravan park. The Ex Services Club looked inviting so I called in for a beer.