The lovely New England region

Greetings dear reader,

We hope all has gone well with you since our last adventure. In the spirit of "have Jabi, will fly" we've just returned from the New England region of NSW. Departing Wollongong on Friday we flew via the beautiful Sydney Victor 1 beach route from Jibbon Point just south of Cronulla to Long Reef in the north, over the central coast, oh those power stations and beaches and then over Maitland, Paterson, Martins Creek, Stroud Road, Wards Creek, Gloucester, to approach Armidale from the east at the same time as the Qlink flight (now where has that happened before) in the early afternoon for a well earned beer by the pilot.

QLink makes way for Jabi



Approaching Armidale



Life in a Jabi is a never a straight line

While the route appeared as a pencil straight line on a map, as you know from our previous posts, life with a Jabi is never quite a straight line. The first non straight line challenge was to discover that the North Coast rail line we were using as a way point zig zags across the Hunter and Manning Rivers so that the trusty pilot had to fly Jabi  this way and that to ensure we stayed on track. A little disconcerting on the way to Armidale  but it all seemed much easier on the way back.   Around Gloucester we had  a near miss birdstrike....A birdstrike means a flock of birds get confused and instead of flying on their merry way past Jabi, drop onto Jabi and hit things like the propeller or wings and generally rock the Jabi in a non comforting way.  We were admiring a sweet flock of birds and then one bird dropped from the air right in front of Jabi missing us by a few centimetres. We think Jabi was a bit overwhelming for the poor bird. Anyway we know the response to bird flocks from now on ...go up and then if they decide to drop Jabi will be above all the action.

Armidale and surrounds

After the beer and a short (i.e. aborted due to lack of  interest) self walking tour of Armidale we drove around the area to Guyra and Uralla to see the home town of Thunderbolt the bushranger. Very nice scenery and driving, followed by dinner at the Royal Hotel.

Saturday started with an early morning look at the expansive and restful grounds of the University of New England followed by breakfast in town then a drive along Waterfall Way, which according to the guide book  passes through some of New South Wales' most scenic countryside and has become  known as NSW's best and Australia's third most beautiful tourist drive. We went as far as the Wollomombi Falls (pronounced 'walla mom bee') and took a refreshing bush walk to see the falls from both viewing platforms, such incredible serene viewing, aaaaaaaaah.

Wollomombi Falls

The Falls



Natual sculpture



Is that wise?

By the way did you know Armidale is the highest city in Australia? So we assume that means Jabi has landed us at the highest airport in Australia and has taken us to the lowest point in Australia - Lake Eyre.  Does that mean we have already experienced all the highs and lows of light air travel in Australia. We think not!
If you want to know more about all things Armidale go here.

We departed Armidale for a return smooth flight to Wollongong surrounded by a blue sky, sun and peace.

Homeward Bound

Until the next Jabiventure

The Flying Nabateans

In conclusion dear reader

So as you know we made it safely back. But before heading east from Parkes we visited  Bogan Gate and had a close encounter with Elvis.

Thanks for your interest in our journey. Your encouragement made all the difference and we hope you join us on the next adventure.

The Flying Nabateans



And so the end...of this journey anyway.



And we're home!

Touch down Wollongong airport 2pm and what a great touchdown it was! We came over the escarpment with a break in the clouds,  the airport runway in full view and a welcoming committee - a fitting way to end a great adventure!


Watch out for our concluding post.


The Flying Nabateans

Around Parkes

On a crisp sunny morning took a short drive to The Dish and were fortunate to see the a receiver being changed, hence The Dish is on the side in this photo. All power to the guy who climbed to the top as part of the changeover process. That's a special short of job. Onwards to Peak Hill Gold mine and a bush walk around the disused mine, then onto Narromine where Vasant started his gliding career in Australia around 25 years ago. Narramine has grown in the meantime and is still a great gliding and flying centre. No doubt we'll we back! Tomorrow well review the weather situation and decide if we can jabi into Wollongong.  It's all insha'allah when it comes to the weather.

The Flying Nabateans

Cowra by car

Today dear reader we took to the road and had a day trip to visit a friend Ken Skinner on his property in Cowra. In just over an hour we were at Ken's having a cuppa and hearing his plans for his new home and property. We hopped into the ute and Ken took us all over his property including the shearing sheds and new home under construction. What a good thing he has going there. We had lunch in town and Ken gave us a personal tour of Cowra, including the Japanese gardens and Cowra airport for a return trip we hope. 

We came back through some beautiful country via Forbes. Tomorrow we take on The Dish and will give you an update with photos.

The Flying Nabateans

Parked in sunny Parkes

Greetings dear reader from Parkes, we had an enjoyable day in Broken Hill yesterday. Reacquainted with the mighty car we visited the Royal Flying Doctor Service, what great work they do, then out to Silverton an historic mining town and the place where Mad Max 2 was filmed (apparently), followed by an interesting underground tour of Daydream silver mine, walked around the Living Desert and Sculptures and retired to a nice cafe in Argent Street. 

       



Joy of joys, Jabi started first attempt this morning, with no sluggish battery we flew east over the Menindee Lakes and green (yes very green) farms - amazing what rain can do - to arrive in Parkes mid afternoon. 

No doubt dear reader you are thinking we are on our final stop.....think again! As many of you probably know from first hand experience, Sydney is having WILD weather, far too wild to land Jabi tomorrow (Thursday). So, we are extending our stay in Parkes and will get to know central NSW over the next few days.

So weather permitting, insha'allah we will Jabi into Wollongong on Saturday....but let's just see what happens.

The Flying Nabateans
P.S. Note to all Sydney readers, it's crisp, sunny and clear here :)



Hopefully we'll get back to Sydney before we look like this

Channel Country and Lake Eyre

As promised some shots of Lake Eyre and Channel Country. Just imagine the colour amplified as these shots were taken through the Jabi's side window.

 

  

The back story of how we got to Broken Hill

So where were we dear reader,  unexpectedly over night at Leigh Creek. We found some accommodation and had dinner at the only place in town - the pub of course and called it a night. With still no travel angels appearing in the morning, we walked back to the airport. On the way we were stopped by the local council guy, who informed
us we were illegaly parked and yes he had given Jabi a parking Post-It. How were we to know the Jabi parking rules in Leigh Creek? :) Anyway before you think too unkindly of Leigh Creek council, read further. Monday morning at Leigh Creek airport is a happening thing. Two flights in-bound and one Jabi to take off. All good, until we realised Jabi had a  cold battery and spluttered and stammered a bit. No take-off. By this stage all was again quiet UNTIL the local cleaner Trish arrived. We tried to jump start Jabi via her car, that cable was JUST not long enough. Then Trish KINDLY offered to drive in and bring back the airport manager. You guessed it,  who showed up but the parking post-it man. Who was very helpful, gave us a jump start and off we went and all is well again. A quick flight to Broken Hill via the scenic Flinders Ranges followed.


  
We've had a fun day sightseeing in Broken Hill and another b-b-q  dinner and wine awaits.
Will catch up shortly with a photo post of Lake Eyre and Channel Country. No words required for that post. Off to Parkes tomorrow. It's all great!


The Flying Nabateans

You just never know what's going to happen

So dear reader on Friday right on schedule we cruised into William Creek, landed impressively on a dirt strip, after a nice taxi and a quick turn, we'll be good. BUT no one told us about 'bull dust', soft clay that sucks up everything in sight and yes you guessed it as we turned, Jabi's beautiful front and one side wheel got bogged. So here we are bogged. Between some shoves and radio calls we moved Jabi a bit BUT THEN the William Creek cavalry arrived and gave us a big shove, we parked the Jabi and went straight to the pub for drink. (Sadly, no photos as the official tour photographer decided now might not be the best time to be clicking.) William Creek - the place in the middle of nowhere - was awash with people.
The Oodnadatta Track had been closed for a few days because of rain and when the sun shone William Creek was the place to be for a shower, sleep, meal and beer.   

Saturday after breakfast at the pub - note to Nabateans - don't ask the William Creek guys for a skinny coffee or adjust the set menu in ANY WAY, we took off to Coober Pedy. Nice flight BUT airport was not right in the town as advised by one of the trusty William Creek boys. We are stranded. BUT THEN an angel appears in the form of Jan, a South African guy, who offered us a lift into town and kindly offered to show us his dug out home and when we were ready to go to call him and he would give us a lift back to the airport. Nice guy! We walked around Coober Pedy for quite some time, now that is a place with some interesting locals and of course opals and flew back to William Creek.

With a lots of enthusiasm the next day, Sunday, in beautiful weather we took off for Rawnsley Park. Lake Eyre south was magnificent, we said hello to Marree from the air and the weather held up almost to Leigh Creek. Then things got tricky.....the trusty pilot and navigator tried to find a path through the mist but things got worse rather than better and the pilot made a call "We'll stay the night in Leigh Creek".  Leigh Creek on a Sunday is not the place to be stranded, and with no Coober Pedy angel in sight we walked into Leigh Creek.

Stay tuned for our night in Leigh Creek and an exciting departure in the next post. The pilot has the b-b-q happening at our cottage in Broken Hill and food awaits.

The Flying Nabateans
PS photos coming....

The beer in Birdsville was worth the wait and now we're in Broken Hill

Good to connect again dear reader, it seems not even wireless broadband reaches all parts of this big land. Since our last post we've been to Birdsville, William Creek, Coober Pedy, Leigh Creek - now that was a surpise visit due to weather not allowing us to go to Rawnsley Park -and now Broken Hill. So it might take a couple of posts to get up to date.

  

We took off from Charleville and flew across the red earth and channel country to Birdsville. The photos don't really tell the true story, but here is some insight to the great beauty of space and colour as well as the transforming power of water.

 The trusty Jabi took us to Birdsville for the beer Vasant has been waiting for for twenty years -aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.  

Is that clear?

Our next blog will be the story of how we made it to Broken Hill from Birdsville, despite some dodgy weather, small bog, a Jabi parking ticket, cold battery, but importantly some very helpful people LOTS OF FUN, NEW SIGHTS AND ADVENTURE.
The Flying Nabateans

10-4 Birdsville



20 yrs for a beer