BATHURST

Wednesday, 29 May 2019

Ben Chifley's house

The name says it all!

Raining at the starting line in pit straight...

first turn and time to Conquer the Mountain.

Across the top of the mountain...

down through the esses...

speed along Conrod Straight (60km/h)...

to the final turn.

Bathurst Gaol entrance

Lovely old lamp posts

With only just over 100 kms to travel today, it was a more relaxed start to the day (someone was able to have a sleep in!) and a quick walk to the supermarket was possible.  The weather was overcast, windy and cold for the uphill haul to Bathurst, with quite a few roadworks encountered today.

A chilly seven degrees felt like two degrees when we arrived at the NRMA Panorama Bathurst Caravan Park – down jackets and scarves are standard gear by now!  The young lady at reception was very cheerful and helpful as she allocated us a site.  All good, Himself did a lovely job of reversing onto site, only to find that when the caravan was in position, the tap was under the middle of the caravan.  Asked to be moved, not a problem, tap further back but after reversing on once more, discovered the tap was preventing us from getting onto the site fully.  Himself decided to walk to reception was called for and we were able to select a suitable site.  The sites opposite had been recently upgraded with new slabs, power and water connections, so it was third time lucky!  The caravan park was taken over by the NRMA sixteen months ago and it is possible to see the amount of upgrading work that has been undertaken, with a lot more still to be done.  The amenities block has been completely gutted and refitted, sites and cabins are being upgraded as well as activity areas.

This afternoon it was time for another spin around the Mount Panorama circuit before the tourist circuit of the town, stopping at Ben Chifley’s semi-detached house and the magnificent sandstone entrance to the Bathurst Gaol before driving through the older part of the town, with its beautiful buildings and iron lacework.