We all meet just out of Yamba and headed to our first night at Hay where we camped on the river at Sandy point staying 3 nights with vans set up in a square. We explored Hay during the day, night 2 we had a roast meal and sweets and then sat around outside one van and watched a “Dad and Dave” movie, popcorn, and all.
We had poetry nights as well. We then drove onto Parkes with accommodation booked out, we made a phone call and acquired space at the Jockey club with a donation of $10.00 per van per night. Great location 3km out of town, all to ourselves until 1.00am when we heard a funny noise outside our van – the pop-up watering system came on. 2 nights latter our van got another floor wash at 1.15 am.
With Elvis shows everywhere, it was great to listen to the music the watch the parade of approximately 1,500 Elvis’s dressed up as adults, children, babies, and dogs – we saw them all.
Then onto Bathurst to set up camp on a property owned by a car club member, David White, who arranged a BBQ at his place with other club members and a display of cars. The next day morning tea was out of town at another shed full of cars, (an invitation to anyone passing through Bathurst 5 acres of grass to camp on free).
Finally, onto Tamworth where it was getting warmer. We camped 7km out of town but went in every day and had a great time. Country music was everywhere. Gospel shows were also great and we all enjoyed the days we were there. Time to move on, and Ron and Leta and their friends went onto Sydney and boarded a boat to see New Zealand.
The rest of us headed for home with a look around Coonabarabran, Cobar (the open cut mine is well worth the look), onto Broken Hill with hot head winds 44 degrees, sometimes 47 degrees. We learnt one lesson – don’t travel in the heat find a big tree, Daphine and Graham went onto Loxton whilst we went to Mildura to see family.
A good time away, with The Parkes Elvis Festival and the Tamworth Country Music Festival now off our Bucket list
Jeff & Chris
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