Saturday 15 July 

After lovely rain overnight ( it never rains in Lightning Ridge or so they say) and continuing this morning making the air nice and chilly at 8 degrees, we packed up and parked outside the Artesian baths for a final soak.  

Then it was onward to our home state. The emus and goats were still in abundance, so I guess this shows the type of country we are in.

We had a brief stop in Angledool, not just because I love the name, but also because I wanted to see the old town hall which was built in 1903. Angledool was a privately owned town in the late 1800's. The original Lightning Ridge police station operated there until 1961 when it was moved to LR. There's not much in Angledool anymore, but it looks like a good place to live if you are hiding from the authorities.

After crossing the Queensland border at Hebel, we had another quick stop in Dirranbandi, where the Polish Baker bakes rather delicious stuff, then it was on to St George, the town named by Major Mitchell when he crossed the Balonne River here in 1848 on St George's Day, 23 April.

With the cold rainy weather being unappetising for river camping, we checked in to a rather nice caravan park a little out of town- The Pelican Rest - for $37 and later discovered their amazing camp kitchen, including a fully enclosed glass fire place, where we warmed ourselves and met others over a drink or two. Just that was worth the dollars.

For tea we had corned beef and vegetables with white sauce, which had been cooking in the thermal cooker as we traveled and socialised. I'm such a lazy cook these days.