LEODESTRAVELOZZ

20130106 After a good night's sleep we continued on our journey stopping for a walk through Mudgee, known for its fine wine Mudgee has 40 wineries.    Mudgee: In the 19th century the area was a major gold mining area which also produced marble, pottery clay, shale and dolomite. The Regent Theatre in Mudgee was built in 1935 under the instructions of the architect Douglas Smith. The building was up for action but failed to sell. Merriwa: In 1939 a village was laid out and given the Aboriginal name of Merriwa - meaning grass seeds. The town slowly grew and in 1945 a post office was constructed followed by a school, churches and a courthouse.  Merriwa is really a town that road on the sheep's back, Bullock-drawn wagons with huge wool bales had been a common sight in the early days.   Glenn Innes:   The first settler was a Scotsman, who was lead to the area by two stockmen known as 'the Bea

20130104 Bathurst, Desie's old stomping ground and the stories came flooding out, he's such a storyteller.  Des on a bad hair day, he's going to kill me so no telling. Driving into Bathurst and the first think I spotted was a tall fence followed by a large entrance, I wonder what that is Des, but before we can stop to check it out we need to get fuel or we will end up walking. Arr it's a jail, I knew that-Built in 1888, the sandstone gateway, complete with Lions head and key typifies the architecture so prevalent of the 1800's.  Damage from riots forced the closure in 1974 however it reopened in 1982 & is now used to accommodate medium & minimum security prisoners, hence why the prisoners are all walking on the outside gardening.                      The town center of Bathurst and yes, more old buildings and churches, boring. 20130105 Time to check out the old bike racing track at Mount Panorama where Des and all the

20130104 Heading to  Sofala a village located about 46 km from Bathurst and is located beside the Turon River.  With a population of only 280 the town survives on its history and the main street still has many original two-Storey wooden gold rush buildings. On the way to Sofala we passed the quaint little store where we stopped for a drink. Arriving at Sofala and out comes the camera for the start of our walk through this amazing little old mining town the old train bridge is the start of our adventure. Sofala was once one of Bathurst most successful gold mining towns right up to the 1940s. The old stocks make up the classic tour of the town which are now welcoming signs. The Royal Hotel Established in 1851 The old mural depicts the history of the miner's camp sites. The way of life in Sofala one of the oldest mining towns of the 1850s and the most successful discover of gold that lasted much longer than any other region.

20120101 We hit the road again heading north to Cowra to check out the Darbys Falls River Reserve, beside the Lachlan River. Driving into Boorowa for a few supplies when we saw the sign to Cowra, not realizing that was not our intended root, we missed the reserve, Ar well you get that. After the reserve we were going onto the Cowra Dam anyway, so it just means we get there sooner rather than later.  As it turned out it wasn't a bad spot overlooking the mountains, Wind Farm and the Dam with its many speed boats and water skiers, I'm so jealous.  As my foot is working once again, I decided it was time to start walking, I grab my iPod, hit the road and check out the dam wall in my travels.  Returning back after an hour now it's time to relax take a dip, a catch up with my book.  I placed my chair in the water, took in some vitamin D and read while Des tried his hand at catching some yabbies.  On his way back with his yabby pot (no yabbies) he stopped for a chat with one of t