Day 56 - Wish upon a star

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Coonabarabran - Warrambungles NP  38km

It's just after 8pm and we are laying on the picnic table next to our campsite, eyes glued to the stary nightsky above us. It's absolutely breathtaking. I openly admit that I am not one for astronomy and aside from how it makes you feel, very little, I know as much (very little). Until not long ago I only knew Pluto as the dog in a Disney cartoon. But what we get to see with our own eyes is so magical that we forget how chilly it is. It's almost pitch-dark in the campground if it wasn't for the couple two sites down who spoil the ambience by cooking an Indian curry under a camping floodlight (where is the chutney, honey?). 

moonlight shadows

But it's dark enough to be brave and ask Louise all kinds of questions about the universe above us. We can all debate about what it means to see a shooting star. But in this instance, and we see two, I remain a helpless romantic and I make a wish. After that we retreat to the tent to the smell of a curry from two sites down. 

The scene above takes place at the Blackman Campground in the Warrambungles National Park. Warrambungle is Gamiloroi word meaning crooked mountain.

Crooked mountains

The landscape of the park has been shaped by thousands of years of volcanic activities. It's a dream destination for hikers and bushwalkers and there are hiking trails, long and short, galore. If I could, I would send the kind lady I spoke to at the Mudgee caravan park a thank you card. She encouraged us to come here. It was a piece of work to get here by bicycle from Coonabarabran. But it is well worth it. The weather gods are with us, too. Once we reach the highest point, the clouds are lifting and we enjoy the rest of the day in postcard scenery. I absolutely recommend a visit to this National Park to anyone, even if you don't set a foot on a walking trail. I would put it right up there next to the Flinders Ranges or the Grampians. 

We hope that our motorcycling campground buddies made it safe and sound to their destination in Warwick. When we headed off into different directions in the morning, good wishes were generously shared. And a photo opportunity was too good to be missed, but offers to swap bikes were kindly declined.

Tempted for a moment...






 
Location: Warrumbungle National Park, New South Wales, Australia

Comments

  1. FrancieApril 6, 2022 at 4:40 PM

    Fabulous I remember the early Hillcrest days when we 'lived' in the shed and the trip to the Joe-built outside loo was enhanced greatly by leaving the dunny door open and gazing up at the magnificent milky way.
    PS I have put in one entry for the Hunter Writing comp and thinking about another. These things add up at $16.50 an entry - funny way they had of calculating the fee Entry fee $15 GST $1.50!
    Anyway, keeping the brain going.

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