Day 45 COOMALIE AT LAST!

31 July

Finally, after a week camping at the beautiful Manbulloo Station it was time to pack up and start the last leg of our outward journey for this Amble. I have been looking forward to getting back to Coomalie since the last time we farewelled our dear friends, the Wrighties and Richard, 3 years ago. During our early morning walk around camp in the, I was SO impressed to come across a very enterprising camper, who has adapted her rig to include a Café. Somehow word had quickly spread around camp, as there was a steady line of residents drifting in for a quick caffeine fix.

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We pulled in to the old mining town of Pine Creek for lunch at Mayse’s Café. As we enjoyed our steak sandwich and iced coffee, we were entertained by the antics of the hundreds of fruit bats hanging in the nearby trees.

And then it was time for the last tiny section of our Driving through the gates into Coomalie I felt a deep sense of returning home to a place that is very special in my heart.

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After almost 6000 kms we have arrived! It was heartwarming to be greeted by our dear friends Richard Luxton (the kind and generous owner of Coomalie) and James & Denise Wright (whom we first met back at Canowindra many years ago). Fellow campers, Larry and Therese from Dubbo were also part of the welcoming committee, not to mention Conan, Chinner and her daughter, Carlie of Coomalie. We have now set up home almost under the Gadghi Gum Tree

https://www.canbr.gov.au/cpbr/cd-keys/RFK7/key/RFK7/Media/Html/entities/Corymbia_torelliana.htm

In the evening we all gathered at the Wrightie’s for ‘fivesies’ followed by a mouthwatering feast of Corned Beef, Potato Bake, Pumpkin, Peas, Beans and Denise’s famous white sauce. That was followed by THE most amazing apple pie, with icecream, cream AND custard!

As well as the current Coomalie residents we were joined by the current caretakers of the Batchelor Museum, Geraldine and her Welsh husband, Bryn with the most resonant deep voice from the deepest Welsh Dales; as well as another couple of very old friends of Richard’s.

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