Comm Games Getaway, Day 13.

The fog and mist had appeared in the early morning sometime after a fine, clear and chilly night. 

I had breakfast and a leisurely pack up but was still on the road, a bit after 8 am. Most of the canoers had packed up and were on the water just about to head off. I followed the road west stopping at Dalmorton to look at the camping available on the river (not as much space as Buccarumbi bridge but still very nice) and the remains of the old village. 

Then a quick stop for photos at the hand carved tunnel and then wandering along the road seeing occasional spots that would be good for camping. 

I turned off onto the Narrow Pass Fire Trail to drive up to Tommy's Rock Lookout. This was a very steep, twisty, narrow dirt road that had numerous humps to stop water runoff causing too much erosion. I used second gear low range and Blute had no trouble climbing the hill, although it would have got interesting if there was someone coming the other way as there was not much room to pass. The view from the lookout is stunning on a fine day like today. I thought I could continue along the fire trial and come out to the south of Glen Innes but the signs said that there was a locked gate so I went back down hill also mostly in second gear low range. 

 Not far away is the Mann River Camping Reserve, however it is closed at the moment for upgrades. I haven't been there for years but it looks like they have flattened it all out and made dedicated camping sites, each with a table and fire pit, instead of having the large grassy area where you could set up camp however you want. Heading out I went up the long and windy road up the side of the range and then was expecting a rather corrugated gravel road before getting to the main road but they have bitumened it since I was there last. 

I had some KFC for lunch in Glen Innes and continued west through Inverell and Warialda on the Gwydir Highway. I was aiming for a site just past Pallamallwa but took the wrong turn and ended up on the wrong side of the river. I really should have read the directions in Wikicamps properly. 😞 A short back track and I found the place no worries. The river is not running and is looking pretty dry but the Gum Flat Camping Reserve is quite large and has lots of nice spots and not that many people here. 

While writing this I'm hoping that the wind will die out, so I can light up a camp fire without burning the whole place down. On the plus side the wind does seem to be keeping the biting insects away.

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