After a month on the Gold Coast I finally I headed off (minus my gall bladder) on 28 September to attend a Solos Rally in Bingara, New South Wales, that started on 7 October.

It was only about 600kms away so I knew I would have time to explore some of the local area when I got there. Well, that was what I planned to do! When I arrived in Bingara I found this wonderful campsite on the Gwydir River about 7kms out of town and it was soooo relaxing I didn’t want to go anywhere else. As you can see I had a great spot right on the banks of the river.

As I had volunteered to help with the Merchandising Stall I entered the Rally early to do a stock take so I was lucky to get a great location only a short walk to the showers, halls, and, most importantly, Happy Hour venues.

The Rally started on the Monday and about 290 campervans and motorhomes descended on the little town of Bingara. The program was full on! There were bus trips organised nearly every day to local points of interest, and of course there were Line Dancing, Rock n Roll, Country Dancing and Belly Dancing lessons every day too.

A cocktail party was held one evening at the most amazing Art Deco theatre called the Roxy. It has been restored in the last few years and they also showed a short film about the history, restoration and re-launch of this beautiful building. I hope these photos do justice to the amazing detail on the walls.

From  man-made to natural wonders, one of my other outings was to a place called Sawn Rocks. These rocks were formed when Mt Kaputar was a volcano and after it erupted the lava cooled slowly and created pentagonal shapes.

On the walk in to the rocks from the car park there were also some different plants that I hadn’t seen before.

Back at the Rally site there were still a lot of activities happening. There was a Pet Show organised for the Sunday afternoon and more than 50 pets were on display, mostly dogs but also a couple of cats. A lot of Solos travel with dogs, mostly for company but they are also an added protection for people travelling alone.

The ‘horse’ races and Fashions on the Field were also held on Sunday afternoon.

Sunday night was Concert Night. There were some fantastic items prepared by different groups at the rally and an opportunity for the dancers to show off what they had learned during the week. I had written the words for a song about Solo Travelling that the choir sang and the audience joined in as I had put the words on a Power Point Presentation. It is sung to the tune of My Favourite Things from The Sound of Music.

Solo Travelling

(sung to the tune of My Favourite Things)

Fresh water, hot showers, connecting to power
Making new friends, and of course Happy Hour
Sitting round campfires when everyone sings
These are a few of my favourite things.

Staying a few weeks instead of a day
Meeting new travellers who are going your way
Sharing a camp oven meal fit for kings
These are a few of my favourite things.

Sunrises, sunsets, night skies filled with stars
Driving for hours and seeing no cars
Living a lifestyle on freedom’s strong wings
These are a few of my favourite things.

Chorus 1

When it’s raining, when it’s muddy
When the roads are bad
I simply remember my favourite things
And then I don’t feel so sad.

Gravel pits, campgrounds and staying odd places
Where you meet new folks, catch up with old faces
Sharing a drink or a meal at a site
It’s always the start of another great night.

Clean public toilets, good dump points and power
Access to Telstra – did I mention a shower!
Good info centres and country pub bars
Camping out solo beneath the bright stars.

Other grey nomads enjoying their travel
Contacting friends while at home they unravel
Enjoying life’s pleasures, simple as they can be
This nomadic lifestyle is all right by me.

Chorus 2

Solo travelling, sometimes lonely
Wondering what it’s for
I simply pull into the next roadside stop
And then I’m alone no more