9.7.19 - Fisherman’s Creek (near Pooncarie)

A good campsite. Great fire, plenty of wood. Bit chilly overnight. 

Breaky, pots of tea, thermos’ filled etc. lots of chat around the fire. 

Packed up pretty damp tents - lots of condensation, no rain. 

Left Meg and Milani in bed and the rest of us headed off to leave them to catch up later. 

Time to walk around the Creek a bit. 

Chatting over the morning fire. 

Then into Pooncarie for fuel and we found an AMAZING coffee shop/cafe/gallery (Grinders coffee) lovely couple running it and such good value for money. If you are ever in Pooncarie, don’t drive past. I had a mug of coffee and Humminbird cake (bumblebee according to the man of the cafe) for $7 - ridiculous. 

Coffee and cake at Pooncarie’s Okd Wharf Cafe and Gallery 

It really was a gem in the most unexpected place. 

Luckily we stopped as we learnt that all dirt roads to Menindee are closed. Menindee had a storm hover over them. So our option is back to Wentworth, then up to Broken Hill our Wilcannia then Minindee and finally White Cliffs, then according to road reports we are good. NB we also had free wifi at the Cafe. 

A bit more googling of road closures and decision that we should phone Stef and tell them we are coming back. 

A quick look at site of the Natural Pooncarie Wharf on the Darling River. 

View of the Darling from natural wharf. 

Looking the other way 

A cool and worn through log

I liked the log, took a few. 

Long shot. 

There is a boat hanging in those trees. 

A sign of optimism- one day it will rain 

Mary in photog pose. 

The Pooncarie Pub. 

We returned to camp at Fisherman’s Creek and Meg and Stef were almost packed up. We headed back to Wentworth, then a quick lunch at wayside stop before taking off for Broken Hill. 

We weren’t going to arrive till after 5.00 so started looking for camp about 4.15. The countryside is barren of any green, there is NO undergrowth, only trees. You can see the drought in action right here. Found a track off to the left and camped on a sandy spot to get some sun on the damp tents and awnings. 

Firewood collected, fire pit dug, toilet hole and tent done too. Phil and Mary cracked out their new Evershower. A smart little set up that catches and recycles the water. It was pretty nice. 

Time to phaff around the fire. 

Phil’s awning drying and the EverShower ready to roll. 

This is an exciting new acquisition. 

Looking up. 

Looking down. The base catches the water and recycles it back again. 

The view as sunset. Can NEVER get sick of the pink and blue hues of sunset out here. 

Tea of curried snags followed by jelly, yoghurt and strawberries. Then time for dishes and a sit around the fire. It’s got quite cool.