Aussie Road Trip Day Three Wednesday 17th July

Glen Innes to Dubbo......

We hit the New England Highway bound for Armidale in search of a decent cup of coffee. The complimentry breakfast at our motel, with its powder mix orange juice and cheap sachet coffee just didn't quite provide the caffeine fix required to start the day. (John: the motel coffee wasn't merely instant, it was the weakest, most disgusting instant imaginable. There was real but misdirected talent in its procurement).

The first part of the drive was in heavy fog, but with plenty of experience driving in heavy fog after living in Maleny, this didn't phase us. (John: as it cleared the misty, dreamy scenery was quite magical. It gave a fog a good name).



John happily drinking coffee in Armidale

Relief and caffeine came to us at Armidale, a very pretty University town, at the Court House Cafe just opposite the actual City Court House.

We assumed a big case must have been due in court today as the local media were stationed outside with lots of large cameras and reporters. Also quite a crowd of people were outside the coffee shop sitting around chatting and awaiting ... something.

We never did find out what. The town centre otherwise had a slightly tired air about it, after obviously once being quite prosperous. There were many vacant shops, and closed arcades and not a lot of action happening anywhere. Maybe it was too early.
 

Roameo was keen to see the  Dorathea Mckellar
(I love a sunburnt country) poetry exhibition
at the Gunnedah Town Hall

The splendid scenery on the drive, and the lack of traffic made our journey most enjoyable.

We had intended stopping in Tamworth for lunch, but it was still a bit early and we didn't manage to spot the giant guitar (Country Music Capital of Australia) so we drove on to Gunnedah instead.



This turned out to be an excellent choice. The Gunnedah Hotel, where we elected to have lunch served surprisingly good meals. My Barramundi in lemon herb and garlic sause was as good as I've had anywhere. Since we were nowhere near the sea I hadn't had high hopes that it would be so good and was pleasantly surprised. John felt very righteous having a Tuscan salad with chicken. It was tasty too and both oh so healthy! 

 



We made it to Dunedoo in good time.
Sadly it wasn't as exciting as it sounded.

The barmaid advised us to travel to Dubbo via Tambar Springs and Dunedoo (instead of via Coonabarrabran and Gilgandra as we'd planned). A shorter trip she proclaimed. Who could resist the opportunity to go to Dunedoo? I kept singing "We're going to Dunny-doo" tonelessly on and on. "The Castle" reference being lost on John .... he  just found it annoying! It was however quicker than the other route, leading onwards towards ...

... Dubbo!



Having a walk around Dubbo's main shopping precinct

We've had a brief look around Dubbo main street and now are ensconced in the Green Gables Motel. I'm not sure if we'll have time to go back and check out the old Dubbo Gaol tomorrow as we have a busy day ahead at the Western Plains Zoo!
(John: Barb had been getting really excited at the prospect of the gaol, but she felt we could do the zoo or the gaol but not both. We're in great danger of trying to fit too much into a day)



... but we were too late to book
for the night time ghost tour
of the gaol .... sounds creepy!

Roameo found the Old Dubbo Gaol ...