25 January 2000
Woke up this morning to steady rain, so decided to clear out
today rather than wait until tomorrow. However after checking out
of motel ("resort") decided to show Lorraine at least Parachilna
Gorge. While we were driving towards Blinman (where you enter the
gorge) found that roads were OK for driving, and then weather
cleared to "cloudy bright" overcast so decided to continue
sightseeing.
Drove through both Bunyeroo Gorge and Brachina Gorge; going very
rough but scenery spectacular as were views from lookouts. Also
visited Youngoona Waterhole where in the 1850's a shepherd was
murdered. Very pretty spot for a murder - but waterhole dry at
the moment. From there to Blinman for a lemon squash at the old
pub, then down Parachilna Gorge (still by far the most
magnificent for scenery) to the Hawker-Leigh Creek road. Was
going to get petrol at the old pub at Parachilna but decided not
to stop when I saw what an absolute dog's dinner they have made
of the place by modernising what used to be a charming old
outback pub and adding totally out-of-character motel-style units
to woo the tourist trade. Hope they go broke. Thence through
Hawker, Quorn (pronounced "CORN"), Wilmington, Ororoo and
Peterborough, where we are spending the night at the Peterborough
Motor Inn - very snug and cosy. I was talking to a chap at Quorn
where we stopped for a cup of coffee and he confirmed that the
Flinders had indeed missed out on their rains this year and that
the dry countryside we were seeing is usually much more green and
lush.
Weather for day finished up quite warm and humid (although still
overcast) with a very dry, very warm wind blowing up clouds of
dust.
More changes of plans: should reach Cobar via Broken Hill and
Wilcannia late tomorrow afternoon, stay overnight, then up to
Bourke and over the border to Cunnamulla the next day - but plans
subject to change without notice.