First up was Arkell. We stayed in Bathurst on the Friday night and and drove the one hour to Abercrombie Caves. Conveniently Arkell was on the way.
The guy from National Parks and Wildlife that works at the Caves told me that some places were intended to be towns, so they were named, but amounted to nothing. Many of my places I'm suppose to go to are actually 'localities'. May have more of these random poses under signs.
Abercrombie Caves are the main event of this trip. They were used for different things over the years such as camping, dances and church sermons and some bush rangers also used it as a hideout (Ben Hall may be amongst them... oooohhh).
Hiked up a hill to go over the caves.
Then had to go down to get to the entrance. The original river (many a moon ago) was up the top where I am standing taking the photo of my friend P. After a fair few years the river seeped into the limestone cracks and created a sinkhole which formed the caves.
The Abercrombie Caves are 221m long, 60m wide at each end and 30m high in the middle.
We went on a self-guided tour so you can take as long as you want. You get a coin to open up the gated entrance to the caves and that also sets off a timer for the lights through the caves. It is about an hour and I wish I bought a torch because I couldn't take photos of the info signs in the dark.
In the basic tour you just walk through the caves unguided. In the other ones you can go further in and I assume these are more cave-like with tunnels. We went on a weekend and this was the only tour available until late afternoon.
Not actually cold in the caves. Mostly still dead air. Here I am looking all cool.
The caves are not like the Jenolan Caves or others where you may be completely underground. It is pretty much a passageway through limestone, actually called The Archway. There are other caves that come off the Archway but not on our self-guided tour. The Archway in the caves is apparently the largest archway in the southern hemisphere... well there you go
Much fun and hilarity was had on the 'rickety bridge'. Until I felt a loose plank on the other side.
P was unaware of this loose plank.
Standing on a massive piece of limestone.
Standing near the 'Dancefloor'. Built around 1854 as a place where miners and other could come and have a shin-dig. Surprisingly in good condition. Not a fantastic photo though.
My haul from the giftshop. Slightly out of date lollies and a post card! The NPWS guy was really helpful in explaining the different types of towns and how towns are formed.
This is the 'town' of Athol, on the map as a small town which is why it's on the list. The homestead Athol built in 1875 located just outside of Blayney and surrounded by two acres of manicured gardens. Athol was also one of the first parcels of land offered to Europeans after the road through the Blue Mountains was opened up. I was unaware of this before going to Athol so didn't get to stroll the gardens.
Mega chicken salad sandwich from Ryan's Bakery in Blayney.
Could not find Ammerdown! I know some places don't exist or have no signage so I decided to try and find the next most interesting thing in the area.
Amaroo is not a town but does have a road. Trying to jump up and hang off the sign. I may of slipped over.
Photos from the car on way to Cowra.
Sunset from POW Camp in Cowra, one of my favourite spots in town.
Then to have a bit of Manx dancing to celebrate an Isle of Man holiday/event. I think this was 'Hunt The Wren'. Had a really good day (and weekend).
Doing this trip I realised that I do miss living back home. I think I learnt more about the area from going out there and I enjoyed the travelling around. I think I really need to get new maps, or a GPS. Something where I can zoom in on the area rather then estimating that it should be coming up soo.
Thanks P for joining me, hope you enjoyed yourself as much as I did. To B for letting me stay over.
