Monday, April 4, 2011

NSW

A real road trip. This is such a car country and an amazing chance to see the rural landscape as most people experience it. We were definitely off the tourist radar as we wandered into areas of mining. I had never experienced places where the major roads would shut to allow explosions and even as drivers passing we were expected to turn off our mobile 'phones.
We started heading South to Nowra then northwards via Golburn and the Big Merino. We stopped near Orange and followed that by a day trip to Parks to see the Dish- the telescope out there. (There was also a film starring Sam Neill of the same name). From there to Mudgee, a place with a gorgeous name from Wiradjuri language meaning either "Nest in the Hills" or "contented" both which suit the place. Then as we headed north we discovered the coal mines and the land was broken.
This is the sort of rural NSW I have lost my heart to. These are also the sort of landscapes that are proving so rich in natural resources. Fortunately this remains farmed.
the road near Dorrigo
 We drove for hours and kilometres. As the sun set and antracite dipped storm clouds hung stationary over our destination we headed to Bellingen via a mountain pass from Dorrigo. It looked so simple on the map... visibilty went down to less than 5 metres, there were oil spills on the road, rock slides and roadworks where earlier storms had washed half the road away. Ealier a car had spun out of control and fortunately come to rest at 90 degrees to the traffic rather than slipping towards the edge. We came across the police reassuring two dazed but healthy tourists.

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