2012 Winton Adventure

We took our time getting going this morning, partly as I was still uploading photos of the rally cars to my website.  Click Here if you didn’t see them on a previous post!

Later in the morning we went into town for coffee and a bit of a walk around. Bourke is an interesting town of contrasts. We explored the town but were careful as we felt very intimidated by the locals. Everything in the shops is under lock and key. If you want to buy alcohol, you have to purchase through a metal grill. Clothing in the shops is under wire and chains.

All the paperwork for the sale of Mum’s retirement unit has now been finalised and the funds have been transferred to her bank account, so I now have to transfer funds to the Nursing Home for the balance of Mum’s accommodation bond. The amount was too big to transfer electronically so unfortunately I had to go to one bank to get a bank cheque and then walk to another bank to deposit the funds. Quite scary in Bourke!

Then it was back to Kidmans Camp to pack up for our departure tomorrow.

Tonight we experienced a delicious campfire spit roast dinner with a bush poet. We really enjoyed our dinner and entertainment under the stars. Ann even won a prize in the raffle. All moneys raised went to the Flying Doctor Service.

Ann’s Raffle Prizes – all money went to the Royal Flying Doctor Service

I got up early and it was absolutely freezing. I met up with the guys in the Outback Car Trek 2012 at the site of the Back ‘O’ Bourke Hotel and we had a chat about the rally. I actually stayed out in the cold – in the Ute – for an hour or so taking photos of the cars as they left their staging point and then came back to the van for a well earned hot shower and hot drink. I was happy with my morning adventure.

Outback Car Trek 2012 at Bourke

Click Here to see some more of my photos of the 2012 Outback Car Trek rally participants as they left Burke.

Mid-morning we went back to the Back’O’Bourke Information Centre and took our time going through the exhibition. It is very comprehensive and impressive. It was cold and raining outside so we went back to the Back’O’Bourke Café for a nice hot bowl of soup for Ann and a Roo burger for me. Very good.

We went back to the caravan park as I was a bit tired by this stage and we were a bit sick of the rain.

We booked in for another night at Kidmans Camp.

This morning we drove in to the Port of Burke wharf area for a walk and a coffee, and saw the historic Crossley Steam Engine operating. We then drove out to the cemetery for a walk and to visit Fred Hollows’ Grave before heading back to the van for lunch.

Fred Hollows’ Grave at Bourke

Fred Hollows’ Grave at Bourke

After lunch we drove out to the airport to see the Nancy Bird Walton photos and story. Very interesting. This is a very small airport with very small planes.

Bourke Airport

Then we drove down to the boat ramp under the old North Burke Bridge, where there are some great photo opportunities. We met up with two other couples from the Caravan Park and we all watched the paddle steamer Jandra travel under the bridge and turnaround and go under again.

North Bourke Bridge

North Bourke Bridge

Paddle Steamer Jandra

We decided to head off to the old Back ‘O’ Burke Hotel for a drink only to find that the pub burnt down 2 years ago, so we came back to Kidmans Camp and socialised with the neighbours. We went for a walk around the park and I met some guys participating in a classic car rally to raise funds for the Flying Doctor Service – the Outback Car Trek – so I plan to get up early tomorrow and meet them in town to take some photos as they head off on the next leg of their rally.