Day 2, Tuesday 28/6/2016, Meadowglen (near Cobar) to Olary Creek (near Peterborough)

Our alarms were set for 0630hrs. I woke at 0100hrs and didn't get back to sleep until 0500hrs. Night duty has ruined me. Thank goodness for my kindle! We made our planned pack up time of 0800hrs but Morgan /Davies crew still had tents up and breakfast underway. They asked that we head off and they'll catch us later in the day. We agreed this time as we had planned to go to Wilcania school for Jordan to look around, they drive faster than us, we're not yet in the desert and they were getting stressed and needed the pressure taken off them. We'll spend a bit of time at the school and hanging around the Darling River, so hopefully they will easily catch up.

Saw a fox, 3 emus, herds of goats, sheep, kangaroos, cows and crows. Before crossing the bridge over the Darling River into Wilcania we turned to the left to visit St Theresa Catholic Infant School. Jordan might be coming here in November for a 1 month prac. She got a private tour of the school. It's gorgeous and so are the kids. I said hello to Lisa's friend. Apparently I didn't need to let her know we're sisters.

Did our usual fuel top up at Wilcania 132L $168 at the BP that was recommended by locals. 12L/100 is our current fuel economy. We did a photo shoot by the Darling River. Jordan and Siân came for a walk with me to check out the art gallery in a little sandstone building. Very cute. The café near the park is doing a thriving business. Still no Davies/Morgans and not answering on the CB. They're probably ahead by now. There is no OPTUS reception in Wilcania. Jordan will struggle if she stays here!

Had lunch at the roadside before Broken Hill. Finished the avocado. No fruit to chuck out. The kids will need petrol at Broken Hill. Saw some more emus and a kite. The kid's fuel consumption is down to 15.2L/100km (down from 17) with the air conditioner now off. We finally heard from the others. Just as we were leaving Broken Hill they were arriving, so we pulled over to wait and everyone did lots of catching up on messenger.

There is a plethora of emus past Broken Hill and the South Australian border. It is flat, treeless and shrubless land all the way to the Flinders off in the distance to the west. Saw some cockatoos. I'm soooo tired. We'll get there 1615hrs NSW time (1545hrs SA time). 8hrs in total today.

Olary Creek is as pretty as ever. The kids and I always have fun exploring the creek bed and old railway pillars. We found a horse, then Jordan, Jack and Siân played 'Stand by Me' on the railway bridge! Col set the dunny up for the first time and we all enjoyed the creek, train track, pillars, trees and starry sky views from the throne. Siân is so desperate to not do the dishes that she and Jack plan to cook tea tonight. Sausages on the Biji BBQ with veggies and mashed potato (in which Siân added parmesan, yum).

Another couple joined us at our fire and contributed to the firewood, along with some that we brought from home, and we had a wonderful warm fire. The stars in the ink black sky were again amazing. So many!! With Col and I doing the dishes and me being so exhausted I skipped the night photography and just snuggled by the fire for a bit.

Morgans/Davies are a bit frazzled having taken 2.5hrs to pack up camp this morning. They're changing their tactics and putting up smaller, quicker tents tonight.

Everyone is relaxed and happy now, tummies full and having a drink by the fire.

Day 1, Monday 27/6/2016, Lake Macquarie to Cobar

Alarms set for 0400hrs, but I was awake at 0300hrs waiting. Breakfast, last bags in the car, coffees in the thermos and house locked up. We left at 0445hrs, drove in the dark and rain and arrived at Dunedoo at 0630hrs to a very dull sunrise.

Drove past the split rock and caught the Morgans at a cafe in Trangie at 1100hrs. There are very swampy paddocks and very full flowing rivers around Nyngan and Cobar. We'll have to just keep driving if it's a swamp at our designated spot.

The kids have given us codenames. Col is Shrek of course, I'm Donkey!?, Siân Dragon, Jack Puss, and Jordan Ginger Bread Man. Interesting! They topped up their fuel at Nyngan. 90L. They're getting 17L/100km.

Gary had been waiting on the corner for us back at Trangie. Eliza and Amara were going paparazzi crazy with their cameras. They got a charming photo of me stuffing my face with a sausage roll. Lucky Leah and Gary changed their original plan of going through Warren as it was flooded and the main road closed.

We've seen the usual suspects: cows, sheep, pigs, goats, rabbit, fox, alpacas, kangaroos, emus, crows, galahs, cockatoos, kites and eagles.

We had a lovely lunch stop together in a park at Cobar. Delicious sandwiches then a bit of soccer juggle to get the blood flowing.

Poor Peter is stressed about getting red dirt in the car already. Hehehehe, he's got Buckley's.
Heading west we cleared the black clouds and rain just past Cobar to arrive at Meadowglen in sunshine and blue skies at 1515hrs (10.5hrs).

There's more green than I've ever seen out here, but still patches of deep red dirt that contrast nicely with it. It was a pretty quick and uneventful setup while Eliza and Amara collected kindling. Then we explored the dry creek beds, climbed trees and played soccer before happy hour at a raging fire. Just had to warm up the pre-cooked dinner.

As our chairs kept creeping closer to the fire, we decided to call it a night and went to bed to read and sleep. It only got down to 1 degree C. Toasty warm in bed.