Day 1 – Sydney to Carrathool

The next three days, are really just driving days.  Hell the whole trip is driving, but the next three are just going to be a slog.

I had an early night, but I’m awake at 3:00 and while I try, I’m not getting a back to sleep.

At 6:15, I pack the last of the stuff, and meet up with Greg.   We pull out right on 6:30.   The M5 is busy but not horrible, at least not heading south.

George needs to pick up his brother from near Wollongong, so we’ve agreed to meet up at Sutton Forest at 8:30.   We both arrive around 8:15, so good timing all round (there might have been a small wager on if he’d turn up on time).

Fueled up, we continue heading south.  300 odd Km, till we reach the Wagga Wagga exit.

A quick stop in Wagga for lunch.   A short detour to ARB, as George had some electrical work done for his car fridge and one of the outlets, the one we want to use, does not appear to be working.   They have a look, but it’s not going to be a quick fix.  We’ll work with what we’ve got.

Another 200odd km and we turn off the Sturt Highway at Carrathool.   There is a campground, near the bridge, but I’ve read about one a little further on that is used by Drovers.   Bonus is there is a flushing toilet there.   There are a few campers at the bridge, but as we pull into the other drover site, there is no one around, given how hard the entrance is to find, I hope it stays that way.

The place is fantastic, a great view of the Murrumbidgee river.  We find a spot that’s dried out, and setup camp.  Speaking of river, it seems to be flowing at quite a rate today.

I’d allowed a little extra time today so we could practice our setups.  I’ve made a few changes our gear.

The guys get a great fire going and for once I’ve got competition in the fire stakes,

An absolute cracker of a sunset.  The colours where amazing.

A great night by the fire, and in the end, up not quite as early a night as I’d planned.