Nyngan

FRIDAY, 27^th MAY 2016

Helicopter which took part in flood evacuations

Old station, now the museum

Amenities block (urinal on the left)

A horse without any legs

With clear skies overnight, we had a very brisk start to a crisp morning as we packed up and headed to Nyngan.  We drove east as far as Bogan Gate, then due north.  The road surface left a little to be desired for the first 10 kms (very bouncy!) but improved after that.  As the map showed that part of the direct road to Nyngan was unsealed, we planned on returning to the Mitchell Highway for the latter stage of the journey.  However, after talking to a local at one of the towns we passed through and learning that the road was sealed for the entire length, we continued on the direct route and cut over 50 kms from the drive.

The country was mainly flat, with a few small rises, and very, very green and also very, very wet in places.  This regions obviously had more rain than we did at Condobolin.  We saw a number of emus this morning, as well as two brolgas.  Of course, there were lots of wheat paddocks and silos, as well as sheep.

We arrived at the Riverside Caravan Park at Nyngan shortly after noon (there was a camel in the paddock next to the gate!) and were checked in by a young lady who asked as where we had come from.  “Condobolin.”  “Where’s that?”  Have you had a lot of rain?”  “I think it rained sometime between Wednesday and Thursday.  I don’t start work until noon, so I didn’t see it.”  This is a lovely, large and modern park, all the cabins are made from corrugated iron and the amenities block is like a shearing shed, even to the slatted floor.  It is also an interesting building in that the showers are in an open area at each end (bit draughty around the knees perhaps), and the urinal is on the front of the building and doesn’t have a door!

This afternoon, we checked out the Visitors’ Information Centre and discovered that Devonshire teas are served on Saturday at the museum and the admission price is included.  After thinking hard for half a second, we decided to visit the museum tomorrow instead of today.  Nyngan is in the Bogan Shire and situated on the Bogan River and boasts the "Big Bogan."

We will have two nights here before heading to Bourke.