Today marks the true start of our family’s road trip adventure.

Departed from Bingara at around 8:30 am, traversing the fields towards Narrabri. Upon arrival, we merged onto the Newell Highway heading south, encountering the heaviest traffic since our departure from Murwillumbah.

The roads were bustling with “B” Doubles, “B” Triples, AB Road trains, and various other vehicles. Regrettably, we encountered the distressing scenario of 80 Kph grey nomads who seem to dominate the highways with their oblivious and apparent claim over the lanes. They neither speed up nor allow others to pass, likely never glancing in the rearview mirror.

On one occasion, a driver felt entitled to merge onto the 110 KPH highway from a rest stop at a crawling pace, reaching just under 80 KPH after about 2 kilometres. Our vehicle, along with a “B” Double trailing us, had no choice but to decelerate and patiently follow as they leisurely continued on their way, probably covering a mere 40 or 50 kilometres for the day.

Arrived into Coonabarabran around 11.30 for a quick run in the park, refuelling and a bite to eat.

Now everyone that has ever travelled with two 6-year-olds and a dog, knows our pain here. Two hours later we were on our way out to the Siding Spring Observatory, some 25 kilometres west of town.

Now we were warned about this place being a bit iffy. We were assured, using Google, it was open and operating, the road was safe to travel and only light traffic to be expected.

What wasn’t expected, but funnily enough discussed between Erica and I, was the sign just before the turn off, some 20 kilometres out of town, “Road not suitable for Caravans” Caravan parking provided on right.

Well sort of Caravan parking, I would suggest this might have been the road camp for either the building or repair of the works up to the telescope. But as instructed we left the van parked up down the bottom of the hill, along with Max the Dog and Erica the grandma to watch over said dog and caravan.

I have to say it was worth it to get up and see what was there, but disappointing to see there really isn’t any reason for the caravan exclusion, other that the rather ordinary experience and competence, or lack thereof, some operators of these vehicles demonstrate.

The gentleman in the shop at the top was a first class, Dinki di Aussie. No problem to hard and no question to hard to have an answer for. Not necessarily the correct answer, of possibly the most politically correct answer, but you definitely knew he meant business and was not a newbie in the job. Please don’t change, Australia needs more people like you to curt through the BS and entitlement of some travellers.

And when you get up the hill to the telescope house, well trust me the wind let you know summer was a non-event right now in the hills behind Coonabarabran.

Quick roll down, couple up the caravan, oh and collect Erica and Max, and we were off back into town for a quick shop at IGA, gotta support the locals, and then down the highway again.

We chose to stop overnight on the riverbank at Mendooran Free Camp. Nice spot, albeit I will forecast a cool to freezing night ahead.

Now set up for the night, and no gas. Some caring passerby has decided to open the gas bottle on the van and, being kind here, checked the quality of our gas. Unfortunately it has not met their approval and they release it to be free from containment and being burnt.

Not to worry though, the diesel cooktop in the van appears to work, just like the diesel hot water system. So yes, a warm shower and a hot meal, followed by a warmed van overnight. Just what the doctor ordered.

Nope, the diesel cooktop wouldn’t fire up either, so it was cold sandwiches and off to bed. We did however manage a very nice warm shower.