Nyora to Junee via Holbrook (Day 001 to Day 004)

Day 1—Tuesday, 25th June
Well, we finally "hit the road", getting away on Tuesday around midday and headed up the Hume to Holbrook. This would be about a seven hour drive with the van, the first two and a bit just getting through Melbourne.
There was a lot of wind at departure time so we decided to give the city and the Bolte Bridge a miss, taking the Eastern Freeway to Doncaster and then on up to Greensborough and the Eastern end of the Ring Road. Don't do it, pay the toll!
It did take two and a half hours to reach that Shell servo where we pulled in and had lunch in the van. Then it was non-stop to Holbrook, getting there in time for dinner with Sarah and Tristan and the children. We had a good couple of days stopover with them, Sarah at home for the start of three weeks holidays, which coincide with NSW school holidays.

Day 3—Thursday, 27th June
So, off again on Thursday morning, not too early as we were only headed for Junee, about 135kms. We stopped in Wagga Wagga to visit the Telstra dealer and buy one of those Wi-Fi modems so we can both get on the internet, me on the old Apple laptop, Helen on her new iPad.
At this point, it might be of interest to show our intended route to Katherine, where we'll meet up with Andrew, who'll be down from Darwin and spend a week with us.

Nyora to Holbrook (486kms)

Day 3—Thursday, 27th June
So, off again on Thursday morning, not too early as we were only headed for Junee, about 135kms. We stopped in Wagga Wagga to visit the Telstra dealer and buy one of those Wi-Fi modems so we can both get on the internet, me on the old Apple laptop, Helen on her new iPad.
At this point, it might be of interest to show our intended route to Katherine, where we'll meet up with Andrew, who'll be down from Darwin and spend a week with us.

Nyora to Katherine 4500kms

So we eventually arrived in Junee. At first, we had thought to budget camp or free camp just short of Junee but the weather was so cold in Holbrook, frost both nights, we decided on the Junee Caravan Park, a Top Tourist Park, of which we are members. Two nights at $27.00 per night. There will be plenty opportunities for budget camping as we move into warmer weather.
After setting up, we settled down to enjoy the setting, right next to a small lake and the weather very mild. Plenty of bird life around and on the lake. Good TV reception, so after dinner, we were able to watch Essendon sneak home against West Coast.

A peaceful setting at Junee Caravan Park

Day 4—Friday, 28th June
So it could be said that Friday is our first day. An overcast day and cooler than yesterday but much warmer than Holbrook. We started the day, after breakfast with a visit to the Junee Licorice and Chocolate factory. Yum. A conducted tour and presentation of how the stuff is made, also how it came to be made in an old flour mill! Clue: wheat is a major ingredient in licorice, is this instance Spelt Wheat.
Next a wander into town and a walkabout, including the Railway Station where we checked out the Railway Cafe, a beautiful building with the cafe conjuring up pictures of railway travel in the hey day of rail. Another wander around the town on the west side of the tracks, them back to base for lunch.

Junee Railway Station c1883

After lunch, off to the Roundhouse Railway Museum. The old Roundhouse here in which I counted about 45 bays, was at the time of construction, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere! Only half of the Roundhouse is part of the Museum, the other half is leased to a private company and used for servicing diesel locos. Final visit for the day was to the Monte Cristo Homestead, a fully renovated old fine home, full of period furniture. The homestead was actually the owner's second dwelling, having prospered in the area. The original home, still stands behind the Homestead and was eventually used as servants quarters.
Back to the caravan park and some writing up of the days happenings and a trial run with the new Wi-Fi modem to catch up with news and mail. Cooked the snags in the CP camp kitchen and finished dinner just in time to settle back and watch the Swans slog it out with the Blues. Wet weather footy is not attractive and this was something else again, it came down in bucket loads.