Inverell to Bingara

Today was the last few hours of our visit to Inverell. After getting up leisurely, we proceeded to pack the Karavan ready for departure. By 0900, the Karavan was ready and connected to the Bravo.
We travelled a short way to the Inverell Tourist Centre and were able to park the Bravo and Karavan there. As we arrived, the majority of our Apex 40 friends arrived to have morning tea at the River Walk Restaurant and Cafe where we had lunch the day before. By about 1045, most people were anxious to leave. So we said farewell, for several months, to these wonderful people. Most were returning to the coast but one couple were going to Moree to family.
After they all left, Prue and I went shopping for a few items to carry us through. Things like fresh bread, yoghurt were purchased along with a few other items. We ran into Jeff, one of the Apex 40 Inverell members, stopping in the street for a chat. He said that the Inverell Apex 40 members enjoyed the company of the Apex 40 group from Alstonville that we had been with.
About midday, we left Inverell after refuelling. Our track took us onto the Copeton Dam Road. On the way we stop at an olive farm, “Olives of Beaulieu”, near Gum Flat, and sampled some of the beautiful products they had. From extra olive oils, infused olive oils, to processed olives into spreads and wonderful Mediterranean and Asian herb and spice mixes that can be used with olive oil. A very nice family run business which we would recommend to anyone.
We departed “Olives of Beaulieu” at around 1300 and drove towards Copeton Dam. Along the way we encountered a small grass fire beside the road that had obviously managed to escape from somewhere. There was a Rural Fire Service tanker and volunteer crew attending as well as controlling traffic. A farmer was busy with a tractor and front blade pushing burning debris away from the road.
Eventually, we arrived at the dam wall of the massive Copeton Dam. It is only about 5 % of its capacity which is still more than a lot of other dams across the country. As the day was so nice we sat at the edge of the dam wall and ate our lunch. The only noise that was constant was the sound of a turbine generating electricity.
After lunch, we continued on towards Bingara. The drive was over winding and sometimes quite hilly road. The whole way was sealed. On our drive we passed through Keera Station which is the home to well known Angus cattle and owned by the Munro family. The area look a little more green than we had seen since leaving the damp coast.
Finally, we arrived in Bingara where we found the Imperial Hotel/Motel also sold very good cappuccinos. After that we decided we would have a night in the Caravan Park near the Gwydir River with water running through from Copeton Dam. Prue went for a walk as the afternoon was so pleasant, warm and no wind.