Saturday 26th June 2021

Today starts with a morning cuppa with Jenny and Shane, and a brief visit from Annette, Jenny's sister, my cousin. They are going to do a concrete sculpture course, over the weekend. After they leave, we soon depart from Jenny and Shane, and head into town. 

Shane was telling us that there have a bit of a mouse problem out there at the moment, but not as bad as what is happening in NSW. In one night Shane trapped close to 400 mice. So after we leave, we know what he will be doing throughout the day, emptying and resetting mice traps. 

We are headed for a store in town called Ace Drapers. It is a tourist mecca for many, as it has so many items crammed inside it, and only the owner knows where everything is. It ranges from Fabrics to all manner of craft items and household items. This store was around when I was growing up in the town as a teenager, and it is a family owned business and has been for many years. I am chasing a particular colour of yarn for a blanket I am crocheting, but alas I could not find the colour I needed. 

My daughter and her children and my son and his family are out in Roma aswell, as it is their Pops 90th Birthday. I manage to briefly catch up with Angie and the kids as they are staying in town before we leave the area. We drive up past the new hospital that has  been built, and see no sign of the old one. Just a bit of rubble in heaps. 

Our destination for the day is Charleville, which is a couple of hours away, and after 30 mins of travelling  we make a stop at Muckadilla, to view the progress of the new pub that is being built. The old one was burnt down a couple of years ago, and we had a drink in it before we left to go overseas, when we were last out here. Muckadilla was the place where I went to primary school, so there are a few memories here. We get the dogs out of the ute, and let them have a bit of a stretch before heading of again. 

We travel onwards for another 30 mins, and stop at Mitchell, for a wander and a cuppa at the local bakery. The bakery is very busy, with people lined up outside wainting to get in. There are a lot of tourists about in caravans and campers and all manner of vehicles.  We decide to  both have pies and coffee, well one of us does, as someone has a mishap and manages to spill half my coffee which goes over half of my uneaten pie. Bob was amazed at how much mess a small about of liquid could make. The lovely girl that came to clean the mess up, offers us another coffee but I turn down the offer.

So we hit the road again, and pass through a small town called Amby, which in it day had a pub and a general store. But neither of these businesses were operating, and didn't seem to have for quite some time.  Then we pass through Mungallalla, and Morven. Morven seems to be prospering since the last time I passed through the area, which is a good sign. Mungallala is one of those towns that if you blink you would miss it. 

Just outside Charleville, we call in at a Rock pool, of which there are many self contained caravans camping there. We are on our way again and we stop at the Charleville showgrounds for the dogs to have a spell, before we get to the caravan park that we are staying at. 

We arrive at the Cobb and Co Caravan park, around 2pm and set up our camp at the designated site which takes us about an hour. The park is very full, and we have a good site. Once we have done, this we take a drive into the centre and find a discount price store that it massive, and has so much things in it. Bob finds a spirit level and purchases it, and then we go back to the camp. 

I eventually start to get the evening meal started, Sausages and Eggs, and enjoy a Port as I cook. 

We are watching a movie, and it is getting somewhat cold, and even though I have my warm gear on, it is not enough so I decide to change into my Jammies, and get into bed to warm up. Sleep is not far away.