This is why we have a Global Xplorer

A slow start to the day, but finished with a twisty mostly single lane drive down the old Kempsey/Armadale Road.

This old road follows beside the Styx River and starts at some 1000m and finished at 160m in  the small town of Bellbrook.

At Bellbrook, the flooded river is just under the legal level to cross.

It’s farm tracks now with about 8 gates that Lyn kindly opens before we head up into State Forests and National parks

Camp is at Stockyard lookout.Just a pull off on a deserted forestry road.

It is very quite here with crickets, frogs and a couple of Black Cockatoos to keep us company

Wild Camp No: 7

Today: 100kms

Total : 954 Kms

Altitude : 585m

Monday 24th January

Today was ‘interesting’

Some great driving on up and down hill narrow tracks, some rocky some with wet clay and thus a bit of sliding...

We are in the Oxley Wild Rivers and the Wikki Wikki National Parks .

Spotted a couple of Lyre Birds out 3rd &4th this trip.

This track ended with a water crossing at the Mt Bushy camp Ground.

Then for us a 3km loop walk through the grass trees and Rainforest

This afternoon was not for the faint hearted.

The Cockerawonbeeda Trail.

Strated at 1200m and finished 9kms later at 200m

Steep and down down all the way.

1st and 2nd High 4x4

Then throw in a couple of landslides and

 fallen timber

Know your vehicle intimately.

With 25mm to spare each side

Finally at the bottom and then a bridge that has suffered fire damage.

Will it hold...have to check

I just do not wish to drive up that road.

So it has to be OK.

All good !

A good looking truck beside the road.

Wild Camp No: 8

South of the Oxley H’way in the Cottan Bimbang National Park

Today: 128kms

Total : 1082 Kms

Altitude : 746m

Tuesday 25th January

We are in the Tapin Tops National Park and at Dingo Tops Rear area remains of old logging operations.

In the mid 1990’s the area was the scenes of several passionate anti-logging protests by conservation groups.

With activists chained to trees etc, police were called in to calm the building storm.

The area is now closed to logging and the fortunately there still remains great stands of Red Cedar trees.

A very steep 3km walking loop allows one to explore there majestic trees and the epiphytes and orchards that abound.

This is still part of the Gondwana rainforest that we have been travelling through.

Forestry maintain there is still 44% of old growth forests remaining, or so it is printed on the information board ??

At the old Dingo Tops Logging Camp the Forestry planted in 1960 these Californian Redwoods, and other exotic trees.

Stopped into the town of Gloucester for water and

top up some food, wine supplies, and a laundromat visit

Paid Camp No: 9

Camp Cobark heading towards the Barring Tops $25

Today: 133kms

Total : 1215 Kms

Altitude : 257m

Wednesday 26th January

Welcome to Australia Day.

We start with a 4km walk in the old gold mining town of Copeland, just west of Gloucester.

Prior to the discovery of gold here the area was known as Back Creek, and that name reflects that in the 1800’s it was the ‘Back Country’ of the land grazed with sheep and cattle by the Australian Agricultural Company.

Significant Birds Nests epiphytes are in  the trees.

This ‘Back Country’ was largely settled by Scottish families who moved here following the devastating Hunter Valley Floods of 1857.

Eventually there was enough people to support a public school in 1864.

In addition to the farming, Timber getting was a significant industry harvesting the vast stands of Red Cedar.

In  fact it was a party of timbergetters, the Saxby Brothers and George Barlett who first discovered gold here in Copeland Creek in  1875.

Within weeks of their find the rush to the new field was on...

When the alluvial was quickly worked out the quartz/gold reef was mined using hand dug shafts.

When they reached the water table, horizontal shafts were then dug to let the water flow out.

There were two major  mines in  the area, The Mountain Maid Mine and the Hidden Treasure Mine

This is one of the horizontal shafts to the latter.

Free Camp No: 10

On the banks of the Hunter River just out of Singleton - Tomorrow the Putty Road

Today: 171kms

Total : 1386 Kms

Altitude : 40 m

Thursday 27th January

After driving 10 days on muddy tracks the GX

got a wash in Singleton.

Today the Putty Road.

Originally blazed by John Howe in 1820, and then continually upgraded to now a 2 lane bitumen road.

The many bends has claimed its fair share of Truck Drives lives and there is a  memorial at the start of the road.

This is a nice little poem to the guys

I did this road some time back - 30 years  - it’s not as I remember.

It was more remote and plenty of camping in pull of areas...not now!

Almost an obligatory stop at the Grey Gum cafe.

A very chatty owner, took and engine start to extract Lyn form an in depth COVID conversation.

At the Colo River we turned upstream and a dirt road that eventually lead up via some hairpin bends into the Wollemi National Park

Then Bells Line of Road

Free Camp No: 11

Cathedral Reserve Camp Ground - Mt Wilson

Today: 239 kms

Total : 1625Kms

Altitude : 983 m and cool

Friday 28th January

First walks through the Cathedral of Ferns 1.5Kms then a 3Kms waterfalls walk.

The intro sign said we would be unlikely to see the minuscule endangered fungi.

Yet we spotted two separate varieties both only 20mm tall

We also spotted an owl that watch us walk the steep steps.

More interesting fungi

We are in the Blue Mountains area so lots of sandstone escarpments.

At Bell we turn towards the Jenolan caves, Firstly the direct road is closed, then after trying to book unsuccessfully on line, we call ahead but there is no availability for 3 weeks.

A serious fire through the area followed by 2 floods and COVID has diminished the tours.

Thus next plan go see the Kanangra Walls.

Free Camp No: 12

Boyd River camping Area in the Kanangra Boyd National Park

Today: 367 kms

Total : 1992 Kms

Altitude : 1170 m and cool

Saturday 29th January.

We are excited to walk the cliff escarpment.

The track to the first lookout shows severe fire damage for the bush fires 2 years back.

We have seen much evidence of this during these travels.

But to early in the morning as low cloud obscures everything more than a few feet away.

Its called the Dance Floor Cave.

The old stock routes from Burragorang Valley passed by this cave and it became a local meeting spot for travellers, settlers and cattlemen.

This central meeting and social spot became so popular that in 1891 a dance floor was erected.

It has since rotted and burnt away.

Blue sky !!

And the Kanangra Walls appear

On the way to Martin and Kim’s Place GX6, we drive some very intense rain.

A wonderful evening with our friends Martin and Kim discussing everything  from  GX’s, travel, politics, education, family etc

Hay! and the tennis - watching Ash Barty win the Australian Open

The conversations continued next morning

Thank you again .....and that chocolate & beetroot cake was divine

GX20 and GX6

Tomorrow south into Victoria.