As we drove north west out of Sydney, it still didn’t really feel like we were finally on our big adventure, but more like we were just heading on a little holiday to the Blue Mountains. Either way there was a massive sense of relief as the last month before we left was a real struggle, sorting out all the things we still needed, getting the car and trailer ready, packing up the house and dealing with the admin of renting it out…to finally be on the road meant that all of that was behind us (thank god!).
We were headed to Gulgong, a bit under 300km out of Sydney. We didn’t know much about it other than that Henry Lawson, the poet, had something to do with it (turned out he lived there for a few years in his childhood), but it was a nice half way point to Lightning Ridge, where we were planning to meet up with mates from West Pymble the next day, so Gulgong it was.
The trip was fairly uneventful – we stopped at the Hydro Majestic for a quick stretch of the legs and then continued to Gulgong. As we drove around the town looking for the showground where we were planning to camp that night, Em managed to groan out “I feel sick”. Kat, with her lightning fast reflexes, pulled out the collapsible bucket, unzipped it and thrust it under Em’s head just in time to catch her partially digested lunch. With the search for the showground temporarily on hold, we sorted Em out, then a few minutes later (and a somewhat slow 3 or maybe 6 point turn to get the car and trailer facing back the way we came from) we headed off and found the showground a couple of minutes later.
We were treated to a spectacular sunset that night, and enjoyed a bit of cricket before bed. The next morning we got to watch the locals practice for a horse showjumping competition which Em, who had thankfully recovered from whatever she was suffering from the night before, loved.
With the first night of our adventure successfully navigated, we felt a sense of excitement and anticipation for what lay ahead as we headed to Lightning Ridge.
Wide open spaces 