LEODESTRAVELOZZ

We were told about another country pub at Hebel, of cause we had to check it out.  Hebel Hotel was originally a Cobb & Co    stopover, which opened in 1894,  originally known as Kelly’s Point and  was changed to Hebel in the early 1880’s. The Hebel Hotel We pulled up and ordered a raspberry and lemonade, had a good chat to the publican who had been there for over 25 years, I took my picks then we left and camped over the road. We camped up on the weir, Des tried for some yabbies but gave up there nothing in this weir only lots of Carp.  A car pulled in with two rugged looking guy with four dogs and a cat.  They looked rugged but nice to talk to. Our next stop was Dirranbandi for a browse and hopefully find a Bakery, nop, not in this town. Northern N.S.W is a large cotton industry, many trucks pass through this town carrying large bales of cotton. We arrived in St George and walked the town ending up at the St George Bridge where I took photo's of t...

16-04-2012  Stopped at Walgett for supplies and a quick walk through the town, nop were not staying here, every window was barred shut.  A high steel fence surounds this Hotels plus all the windows are barred shut. This is an example of all the shops in this town. One of the many locals I managed to sneak a photo of. Stayed in Crocodile Caravan Park, so nice to have a long hot showers.  Walked around town and Des organised a tour for the next day. White settlers may have seen opal as early as the 1880’s but mining didn’t begin until 1901 or 1902.   The first settlement was called Wallangulla , Although the name ‘Lightning Ridge’ was in use in the late 19 th Century – after a lightning strike killed a shepherd, his dog and sheep on a ridge in the 1870s – the name wasn’t officially adopted until 1963. One of many Opal Caves, I've never been into opals but there was a pendent I really liked and Mr Scrooge wouldn't bye it for m...

20120410 Stopped at Trangie for lunch, called into Collie Hotel at Phil request to meet the publican Maryanne and Matt.  They told us of a large camping spot at Mendooran on a river and it's free.  This grassy stuff rolls all over the roads, I don't know what it's called but it similar to tumble weed in the American desert but smaller. Stopped at Gilgandra for supplier, I went into this shop who's food looked like crap and when I asked if there were any other stores in town he told me no, the lying prick their was an IGA just up the road, I was soo tempted to go back and have a go at him, but I didn't, lucky for him. Mendooran, arrived after 3pm, it was cold and windy, we set up, I blogged for a while,Des walk around chatting to who ever he could.  20120411 Established in 1834, it is believed the name came from an Aboriginal word meaning’ sand washes down from the hills in this place. As at 1886 there were 24 residents recorded in the area. The...