The Woolshed - the first camp in the new truck

It had to happen - a camp with the new rig and so soon after purchase too! The Colorado performed well on its maiden camp so much is expected for the future and whilst quite a few camps (solo and with others) are planned, each camp will be broken up only by hard work on the fitout. New drawers have already been installed, which means I no longer have to lug around two road boxes filled with my kitchen gear and electrical 'things', such as powerboards, light globes, Anderson connectors, etc. Life is getting easier already.

Unfortunately I was not able to acquire the new rack kit I have on order for the canopy in time, but that is down to impatience and the need to camp as much as it is on sloppy stock control with the supplier. The rack kit is about a week away, apparently, and once I install it, the rooftop tent can be transferred from my station wagon to the ute. Not prepared to settle for a rating of 80kg, I've almost doubled that to 150kg with the kit I managed to purchase and I am looking forward to it being a part of the rig's fitout very soon. I should also be able to install my awning and the camp dunny as well, so I am excited about the next trip away, fully kitted out shelter-wise.

The first night of the camp was spent at The Woolshed, a camping area in the Turon National Park, which has been on the wishlist for a couple of years and now it's done. An otherwise peaceful night was broken up by a bunch of yahoos careening into the campground in a Patrol and finding their way into a large hole close to the edge of the Turon River. Some of the crowd were in a ute, which towed the Patrol out of the hole and then they were all on their way fairly quickly. If ever there was a reason not to be a dickhead behind the wheel, this was it and in reality, the hole the Patrol bogged in probably saved a few lives that night. Only metres from the hole was a cliff about three metres high with a fall into the Turon and then the salvage operation would have been a bit more serious.

As the crowd drove off, the night quietened down and Dave and I enjoyed a few drinks by the fire. The night would remain a warm one for some reason and by Saturday morning, we'd get the added benefit of no condensation on or in our tents - packing up dry is always a good thing.

After a small breakfast and breaking camp we headed for Mudgee, for the usual fare at the pie shop on Market Street. Following this, fuel and a few supplies from the supermarket were obtained and we were on our way to the next campground, this time on crown land near Turon Gates. The journey was broken up by a quick refreshments stop at the Royal Hotel in Sofala - Australia's first gold mining town.



Crown land means no rules, no fees and anything goes - up to a point. We found an unooccupied spot in the wider river bed and with no rain forecast we knew it would be safe to camp there. The Turon seems to be heading for a complete dry up as no serious rain has fallen in the catchment for a while now. Could an El Nino finally be coming? Time will tell.



Camp was made and it was time to relax before cooking tea. Dave had a steak which he cooked in a new skillet with a folding handle for the first time. I had a can of spaghetti with bacon and onion thrown in. Quick meals with an easy clean up so more time could be spent relaxing by the fire and trying not to think about the fact that this was the last night of the camp.

Another warm night was followed by Sunday morning, another light breakfast and then the pack to head home. We both stopped at the Shell roadhouse at Lithgow to wash our trucks and then it was time to head back to the Emerald City.

Written at 19:30 on 27 February 2025 by Brad.

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