2025Kandos

We visit Jacqui in KANDOS
At Jacqui's place in Kandos 27/09/25 Cherry trees starting to blossom on Jacqui's quarter acre block in Kandos. At Jacqui's place in Kandos 27/09/25 - Photograph by Jenni. The blossoms are quite pretty I have to say. I looked up a word that means "blossom lover" and found this: "Anthophile." So Jenni is an anthophile. Wayout Artspace in Kandos 27/09/25 I did not like this at all; it was way too angry. Art is not supposed to be angry in my mind. So, our aboriginal peoples have a point, but why express it here? I think they were treated abominably by the English when they invaded, but I don't want it rammed down my throat like this. Coffee in Kandos 27/09/25 With Jacqui at TOCS Gluten Free cafe in Kandos main street.
Coffee with Jacqui in Kandos 27/09/25 The cafe also sells some beautiful art by a local artist as well as sundry other goodies (Jenni bought a paint-by-numbers kit). Coffee with Jacqui at Kandos 27/09/25 We're at TOCS Gluten Free cafe in the main street of Kandos. The main street seemed very busy and we noticed there were lots of tourists visiting the shops. Jacqui suggested that the tourist train from Sydney might be in town. So, we went down to the station for a look. Kandos Train Station 27/09/25 No, this is not the tourist-train to Kandos (aka The Kandos Explorer), but the train was at the station. The Kandos Explorer in Kandos 27/09/25 The train has been restored (a bit amateurishly) with original carriages and an obsolete diesel. Maybe it would have been a better experience for fare-paying passengers had it been drawn by a steam engine.
The Kandos Explorer in Kandos 27/09/25 Jacqui poses for the camera. The Kandos Explorer in Kandos 27/09/25 Me and my daughter. The Kandos Explorer in Kandos 27/09/25 Looking towards the front of the train from the lovely old wooden station. We suspected the train was here because of the number of tourists exploring the town. The town is usually mostly empty but it was less empty today. The Kandos Explorer in Kandos 27/09/95 This sign gives a brief and interesting history of the station and Kandos cement.
Tractors on parade 27/09/25 We're on our way to the Dunns Swamp camping area and pass a wheeled herd of tractors. Jenni pulls off the road and we wave to them as they go by. They wave back of course. (I looked for a collective noun but there were none for a 'wheeled herd of tractors') Tractors on the way to Dunn's Swamp 27/09/25 Big muscly beasts. Very impressive. This was quite a buzz for us city kids. We didn't find out the reason for the parade (at least 20 tractors, including some pretty old ones, as well as several support vehicles). Tractor parade 27/09/25 A straggler coming up the rear. We are driving on Narrango Road through spectacularly lush grazing land. Dunn's Swamp Ganguddy 27/09/25 Dunns Swamp is on the Cudgegong River. This picture shows a small dam, barely visible, in the top of the picture, just to the North of the Long Cave Lookout . The river disappears after the dam to the western side and eventually trickles slowly down the eastern side where it once again disappears.
Dunn's Swamp Ganguddy 27/09/25 This is the public parking area of the Dunn's Swamp campground. Dunn's Swamp Ganguddy 27/09/25 What's interesting about the Cudgegong River is that it travels both east and west from here and disappears into grazing land on both sides of its origin here on the mountain top. Dunn's Swamp Ganguddy 27/09/25 The water is fresh (ie non-salt), topped up every time it rains. Dunn's Swamp Ganguddy 27/09/25 It is quite beautiful, peaceful and relaxing, really lovely. This is the Australia most people never get to see.
Dunn's Swamp Ganguddy 27/09/25 OMG! the belly. Gotta get rid of that. One day. Dunn's Swamp Ganguddy 27/09/25 Jacqui took this photo; It's really nice I think. I look pretty good for nearly 85 I reckon. C'mon, humour me, Dunn's Swamp Ganguddy 27/09/25 50 years married can you believe? You don't get that long for murder. Dunn's Swamp Ganguddy 27/09/25 The river turns right, takes a couple of Omega twists and turns and stops at the dam . . .
Dunn's Swamp Ganguddy 27/09/25 . . . And in this direction (east) it actually disappears as well. The river is what you would call fresh water but you wouldn't want to drink it. Today, it's very peaceful; Jacqui said Dunn's Swamp is a very popular spot during summer. Dunn's Swamp Ganguddy 27/09/25 There are many pyramidal shaped sandstone mounds in the Wollemi National Park. They were laid down over billions of years in an ancient ocean when the East Coast was still not part of the Australian continent. Curiously, the uplift (orogeny) that caused the Blue Mountains and these mountains occurred a mere 1 MYA ago. Dunn's Swamp Ganguddy 27/09/25 Wattle trees in New South Wales are nearing the end of their lifespan as flowers. They will not flower again until spring 2026. Dunn's Swamp Ganguddy 27/09/25 My lovely daughter (age 61).
Dunn's Swamp Ganguddy 27/09/25 A fireplace: what an ideal setting for a get together with friends or family. There are many camping spots available right now and the drop toilet doesn't smell at all - well, hardly at all. The building on the right houses a kayak rental organisation; they were shutting up for the day. Kandos 27/09/25 A beautiful sunset taken on our way to dinner in the local Mexican restaurant (Pepinos) in Rylstone. Sadly, Jessie could not join us because her Glen Davis bush walk took 12 hours instead of 7. We had to get back home to Mackie and try to explain why we are late with his dinner and to beg his forgiveness. End of this adventure, Click to return