Saturday 9th.
We left for our trip just after 6.30am a little after our expected time of 6am, which wasn’t that bad after grabbing a fresh croissant each to have for breakfast. Deciding to travel along the M2, then taking the Road through Richmond, then finally making it along the Bells Line of Road, the traffic wasn’t bad at all and we had a very good run. Driving through Lithgow, we then took the road to Mudgee, driving past the the Lidsdale turnoff to Newnes, which the kids all recognised. We took a toilet stop at the rest area at Capertee. It appeared as though the Jeep Australia club was on a outing as there must of been 20 jeeps lined up, there was also quite a few other vehicles that looked as though they were travelling in convoy. We hoped that they were heading to the Turon or down into the valley and not to Hill End. We finally got to Hill End at 11.15am after a very pleasant and enjoyable drive, especially through the Bells Line as the trees were all turning their beautiful Autumn colours.
After parking the car out the front of the Hill End Police station, Jas got his bike ready and I drove the truck with the camper trailer and he drove his bike down the Bridle Track. Was rather slow going for us in the truck, using 4WD High, but in 1st gear, I think the track had eroded a bit more from when we came in October last year. Jason went ahead and had a look for a good camping spot, while we were still making our way down.
We got to the bottom in one piece, after having to pass three cars, each one scaring the kids as it is a fairly tight fit on the track for two and waiting for Jason to come back with news of where we were going to set up camp for 5 days. Finally settling on a spot that seemed to have a good water hole not to far from where we were waiting. On Jason’s reconnaissance he said that it appeared a lot drier than when we were last here and some of the water crossings that we went across flowing, were now dry as a bone. He said that the Turon was just a big series of waterholes, but the Macquarie was still in flow. Starting the task of setting up the trailer, while the kids grabbed as much firewood as they could, Kye managing to get a cactus in his hand, luckily he had gloves on though…it did pierce his skin though…cactus 1, Kye 0.
We eventually set it up, and settled in for the afternoon, the kids all having a swim, the water was very, very fresh, they had fun though, eventually coming out blue. We got a fire going, as it was getting a little cool, and we needed a fire for dinner, which was going to be toasted sandwiches, which we all love.
They all enjoyed marshmallows after their toasties then it wasn’t long before we were all in bed, after a fairly long day.
Sunday 10th.
Everyone seemed to have a good sleep as they were all still asleep until just after 8am. No one rose until before 9am and it wasn’t all that cold outside, We were just going to have a nothing day around the campsite and then go for a drive a bit later on to retrieve some more firewood. We all had breakfast and coffees then the kids all went for a swim, finding a rock on the other side of the river where the water was deep enough for them to jump from. They were having a lovely time, even though the water was fairly fresh.
Jason and I cleaned the tent canvas on the inside, still a bit of residue mould from the Pebbly Beach trip, it was now gleaming! Had lunch of toasties again, so got another small fire going for those. After lunch we headed out for a drive for firewood and a look around, showing the kids where we had stayed the last time we had come down here. There weren’t many people around at all, considering it was school holidays. We drove up to where the track ended because of the landslip at Monaghans Bluff, but didn’t walk all the way to it. Came back and stopped to get some firewood, Kye this time, stepping on a cactus that managed to make it’s way through his thong, there were tears, more tears than the cactus the day before…cactus 2, Kye 0!
Came back, everyone had a quick swim, then sat around the fire for chops and baked corn and potatoes with broccoli, all very yum. Finished the evening with some nutrition filled marshmallows again, the kids just love them, then off to bed, another early night, but when it gets a bit cool and it’s very dark, its nice to lay in bed, all warm and read!
Monday 11th.
Up earlier than the day before and it was a lot cooler at this time of morning, before the sun had yet broken through the trees to warm us up. Had breakfasts and coffees, before heading up the hill to have a coffee from the General Store while the kids had a play at the park. We were then onto visit History Hill Museum, which was excellent. Quite a large collection of artefacts, all gathered by Malcolm Drinkwater, who was also the author of a few books on Hill End. There was a lot to see and read, with original photo’s of Hill End in it’s heyday. He had also built a mine which you could walk through, and climb out to the top, using the 7 ladders. the kids had a great time in the mine.
We then headed to the pub for a healthy lunch of hot chips, soft drink and beer, before making our way back down the hill to the campsite, stopping once to collect fire wood for the evenings warmth and dinner. We all had a swim, or actually a very quick dip in my case as the water was fresh and there was now no sun on the river, before all getting dry and getting warm in front of the fire we got going.
Dinner was pre-made chicken and corn soup with noodles that we heated in the camp oven over the fire, with damper that the kids had made that afternoon, all very yum and warming for a cool evening. Had marshmallows again, before yet again having a fairly early night.
Tuesday 12th.
We were all awake before 7am, but not actually rising before 8am, the kids all reading, us trying to catch a few more minutes sleep! Had a lazy breakfast and coffees before heading off for our Gold Panning expedition. Drove up the hill again, meeting Jason at the General Store, before heading off in search of Johb (Malcom at History Hill has phone no.), our gold panning guide. Found his property, he was actually the son of the owner of History Hill, the great museum we had visited the day before, Malcolm (the owner of the museum) actually giving us his sons name for gold panning tours.
Johb had all the gear, and gave us a quick rundown on Hill End history and gold panning before getting shovel and filling his pan up to show us how it is all done. He had brought some dirt, rocks down from Red Hill so that he could teach people how to gold pan in his dam, as the creeks were so dry there weren’t many places to pan for gold around the Hill End area. He had even lit a small fire incase the kids had cold fingers from getting wet in the dam.
We all had a great time learning the art of fossicking for gold, the kids each getting little viels of tiny specks of gold, no large nuggets that they were all hoping for! We were there for an hour, before having a quick look at a new litter of puppies he had (husky’s), there were 7 of them and they were very, very sweet.
Headed back to camp with our hands full of gold, for lunch and a lazy afternoon, where there was enough sun on the river for them all to have a swim and not freeze, Jason heading out for another bike ride to explore the area a bit more. We lit the fire to settle in for the late afternoon, evening and our last dinner of carbonara pasta, which we all enjoy. The kids all played a game of something they enjoyed, we couldn’t understand what they were playing though!! In bed early again, all reading, which is a nice way to end a day.
Wednesday 13th.
Kye, Zarah and Keira were up first, with Megan following not long after. We had breakfasts, hot chocolates and coffees, before Jason went for another bike ride, the others all playing games or going for swims. It was turning into a lovely day, so they swam for a while, I packed up what I could, then Jason came back, we all had lunch then packed up the camper trailer. The kids were all excited about going into the mine that was just up on the road, so when the trailer was hooked on and we were ready to go, we walked up to the mine, headlamps on and went inside. It had been dug out by hand, and was rocky underfoot and went for a fair way in, not down, just through the mountain. We had gone in a fair way, as there was water underfoot, when a small bat flew past Jason’s head, the kids all screaming, then promptly turning around and walking back out. The exploration of that mine didn’t last long at all!!!
Back to the truck and bike, us leaving in the truck with the trailer first, Jason bringing up the rear on his bike. It was a long, steep, slow climb out on the Bridle Track, but it only took us 30mins, reaching the top, then loading the bike on the trailer for the journey back to Sydney, deciding to head the Bells Line of Road again. It had been a enjoyable dry and dusty few days, the kids are finally starting to learn how to amuse themselves and its always a winner if there is somewhere to swim. We were really surprised by the lack of other campers, to the point where we felt that we were the only ones on the Bridle track which gave that added sense of seclusion.
Stopped in at a servo in Bathurst to refill the tyres and grab ice-creams for the four children. Had a fairly smooth trip back, arriving back in Sydney by 7.30pm, a little later than we thought, but they desperately wanted to visit the mine and have that one last swim!