The Oxley is a benign road with a good to excellent surface, flat or relatively flat and with very little traffic. Although we did not come across any overtaking lanes, there are plenty of long, straight sections that allow safe overtaking. The Newell Highway down to Gilgandra is in very good condition and for some unknown reason, there was very little traffic going our way, although we came across heaps of B double heavy vehicles heading north.
There is still something that I don't understand about the Newell. Along the section that has a 100 kph speed limit, there are overtaking lanes every 5 kms or so. However, in the 110 kph section, the overtaking lanes disappear. Why would you dso without an overtaking lane when the speed limit is 110 but use them when the limit is 100? Its not as if every vehicle on the road is doing 110. Caravanners are still going to travel at between 90 and 95 and heavy transport vehicles are still limited to 100 (assuming they obey their limit). Cars, on the other hand, can drive at 110. If anything, there is going to a greater need for overtaking lanes on these sections. Anyway, that's my grizzle for today.
We travelled through a variety of scenery today. Close to Tamworth we crossed wide, flat grazing land. As we got closer the Coonabarabran we entered the outliers to the Warumbungles with its hilly terrain and national park bushland. On the way down to Gilgandra we passed huge paddocks of yellow Canola which contrasted beautifully with the equally large fields of cereal crops.
We got to Gilgandra in very good time and had set up by 1.30. So, I took myself across the mighty Castlereah into the main street of the village. With a name like "Castlereagh" you have to put a "mighty" in front of it, don't you. The lady in the caravan park office had told me that "there's not much in Gilgrandra". And she wasn't wrong. The street is not very long but it does have a good variety of shops. Unfortunately, more than a few of them were empty and there was hardly a soul in the street. Paradoxically, the street was lined with parked cars. Where were their occupants?
Lastly, the caravan park. This is a beaut little caravan park for a one night stop over. All the sites are spacious and drive-through. You can have your choice of concrete slab or grass and you don't have to uncouple of you don't want to. However, if you don't, you might find yourself in a decidedly sloping van.
There are two sets of amenities blocks and they are clean and in good condition with plenty of hot water. The park is situated on the banks of the Castlereagh (let's not get carried away with the "Mighty") and is a short walk to the shops.
Well, that's about it for tonight. Just two more sleeps and we will be home.
No comments:
Post a Comment