Originally, we planned to go to Wilcannia but it was a big 520km and we read about a nice place just out of Hilston (400km), so we headed there instead.
It was 33 degrees and overcast when we left Moama and it quickly crept up to 38 degrees as we neared Deniliquin and its huge fields of straw bales (some round and some rectangular, just to keep things interesting!). There were also various vehicles stuck on top of posts here and there (a ute, a mini and a tractor,,,), not sure what that's about, but anyway!
The 180km stretch of the Cobb Hwy between Deniliquin and Hay is affectionately known as The Long Paddock and it is very apt. There was literally nothing but completely flat low scrub as far as the eye can see, with just the road disappearing into a hazy mirage on the horizon.
I hate to say it, but honestly, it was just so utterly featureless. I would hesitate to say "boring" though, because just the vastness of the sky and land was staggering in its own right.
Occasionally there was a bit of excitement - like a sheep on the road or after we stopped to let the dogs out and then thought we'd forgotten Sunshine for a brief moment (it's ok, she was just camouflaged on the bedding!!). We did notice the word "Gin" on various signs and after a bit of Googling found out that there are several Cotton Gins in the area - factories which sort the cotton fibers from the seeds. Interesting!
We scoffed our homemade wraps in the car (so much easier to eat than regular sandwiches!) and made it to Hilston at 1.30pm, after a brief stop to investigate a strange rattling sound, which we thought was coming from the roof, but turned out to be a loose Coke bottle in the Esky !! LOL
We knew we were going to be dodging rain for the next few days, and so far it was cloudy, hot and humid, but no rain.
About 30km North of town we turned off the highway and followed a dirt road for 10km til we reached our destination for the night, Billabourie Station. It was right on the river, had power, hot showers and bathrooms but was only $25 a night and the owner had told us we were welcome to stay, even though they were actually away themselves!
We drove in and it was like a perfect bush wonderland - all to ourselves!! A beautiful river bend, comets with lily pads, beautiful grassy flat riverbank sites. And did I mention we were the only ones here! Absolutely magic :). Four very very happy campers.
Steve even decided to do a spot of fishing... Lasted a whole 30 minutes before he gave up! He nearly caught Spike though, when the stupid dog lunged at the bacon rind on the hook! Sunshine meanwhile trotted off in search of some poo to eat (her favorite camping pastime) and hit the jackpot when she found a dead carp rotting in an old firepit ... Eww. Needless to say, she got a dunking after that!
We snacked for dinner as it was just too hot to make anything at 38 degrees and then we sought refuge inside from the horrendous sand flies when they attacked at dusk!
We rejigged our route a little based on the forecasted rain which would prohibit us from staying at Charlotte Plains as planned. We decided instead to strike out for Bourke the next day and spend two nights there.
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