It had rained overnight with the rain actually waking us on one occasion. We awoke to an overcast but dry morning.
We were not really in any hurry to start the day and after a leisurely breakfast, we departed the caravan park and programmed our GPS to take us to a place on our map called Turondale. Turondale is north of Bathurst and on the main sealed road to Hill End. Turondale is also the location of the graves of many of “Her” relatives.
About 40 minutes after leaving our caravan park, we passed a sign on the side of the road showing “Turondale”. Other than some scattered farmhouses, there was nothing to suggest the existence of a town. Further down the road we stopped and spoke to a couple of surveyors asking them where Turondale was. They suggested we continue further up the road. Several minutes later we came across a vehicle stopped on the road and we asked the driver for directions to the local cemetery. He provided the information. He questioned us as to our motives and as soon as “She” gave details of the family name we were looking for, we were surprised to learn that the gentleman we were taking to was actually a distant relative. “She” was so surprised and delighted. Time was spent looking through a family history book “She” had bought with her and it was not long before stories were being exchange.
After saying goodbye we headed to the local Turondale Church and the small graveyard behind the church. We were amazed to see that the majority of the cemetery was occupied by “Her” relatives and we took photographs of every grave. “She” had waited for years for this day and she was quite moved by the entire experience.
A little further up the road we arrived at a bridge that had been named after one of her relatives. “Coles” bridge is an old wooden bridge that crosses the Turon River.
Leaving Turondale we then headed to Hill End arriving just before the museum closed for lunch. We had seen a sign for a café within a motel complex so we decided to have lunch there.
When we entered the café we were the only ones there. The kitchen looked deserted but we were soon greeted by who we assumed was the owner. We were informed that the café was open but with limited choices. “She” chose pea soup whilst “He” chose fish (flathead) and chips. We also ordered coffee and a soft drink.
It did not take long to serve us lunch and we were also given a couple of pieces of leftover wedding cake from the weekend. It cost us $27 for lunch with the food a bit on the ordinary side.
Whilst we were in the café we asked one of the local where it would be best to fly the quad copter. We were told that the local cricket group would probably be the safest place as “the local ferals might shoot it down mistaking it for a Police aerial vehicle if it was flown over their “herb” crops”.
We went to the local cricket field and flew the quad copter for a couple of minutes whilst several photographs were taken. Fortunately we attracted no local interest.
We stopped and took photographs of some of the old buildings, visited a tourist mine (it was closed) then a lookout over the original mining site at End Hill. Heading back to Hill End, “He” took a wrong turn and we soon found ourselves lost on a fire trail. The trail actually led to a lookout that gave expansive views of the Hill End township.
We late returned to the museum before heading back to Bathurst. It had been a big day.
We enjoyed another pizza for tea before settling in front of the television for the remainder of the evening.