Christies Car Museum – Tocumwal

So far during our trip we have visited three car museums, Forbes, NSW (already mentioned in an earlier posting), Tocumwal, NSW and Launceston, TAS.  I suppose you could say we have a fascination with old cars.
The museum at Tocumwal is a bit of an eclectic mix, all owned by George Christie, a man who just loves cars, trucks, old farm equipment, old caravans and many other collectable items.  George, who until a few years ago lived in Maryville, is a person who loves to have a chat, and is he such an interesting man to talk and listen too.  Bucko and I chatted to him for ages about his collection, and life in general; we enjoyed our time with George very much. 
Ian (Salway)on the left is a photo of the truck George drove until he retired, isn’t it fabulous?

Outside the museum, in the yard is an old ‘chuck’ wagon made out of galvanised iron and wooden wheels.  The wagon was used in the old days of cattle droving.  The oven is an cast iron fuel stove and it sits at the front of the wagon, a rough bench runs across the far wall and the Cook’s bed is at the end, at least he had a warm place to sleep on cold nights! Unfortunately, my camera battery had run out, so I was unable to take any photos of the wonderful old chuck wagon. 

I had to include the photo of the wonderful old cane dolls pram, I wish it was mine; I can see my old Pedigree dolls sitting in it!

How about Bucko with his Idols?  Yeah, we know they are only cut outs, but, what the heck?

Kyogle, NSW (27 September - 7 October 2009)

We arrived in Kyogle and booked into the only caravan park in town, it is down near the river and the rail line is close by; each morning a train whistle would toot, followed by the slow rumble and screech of wheels on the track! I would wake up, check the time & go back to sleep, just as well I like trains! After setting up we drove up the hill to the town for groceries. Tom & Annie Rogers, (Tom is a friend of Paul’s from long ago Telstra days, in fact PMG days!) rang later in the afternoon to let us know they had returned from their weekend in Noosa. Dinner for most of the nights we were in Kyogle was with Tom & Annie. Alisha, Tom and Annie’s youngest daughter had recently become engaged, so she, along with Ed her fiancée and his parents, who were visiting from England were also in Kyogle. Plenty of talking, laughing and of course, Annie & I HAD to watch The Rafters on Tuesday night to see what was happening with the family!! Once the house was returned to only Tom & Annie & they returned to work we cooked dinner for them some nights; all great fun.

Kyogle became the base for mini trips to the surrounding area, including a day trip to Byron, we did not like the town, felt it is too commercial. The Lighthouse was a different story, stunning; we even saw a few Whales in the distance.

Paul’s sister – Wendy lives near Lismore with her two daughters, so as Alieta works in Bangalow we decided to meet the girls at a restaurant near Allie’s work. It was terrific seeing them again and catching up on all that is happening, Britney is in her 2nd last year of High School so is thinking about what she would like to do when she leaves school. I always enjoy being around Wendy, such a sunny person, makes me feel good.

Smokey Cape Lighthouse, NSW (28 Sept. 2009)

I fell in love with Lighthouses after Paul & I had a trip to the lighthouse at Point Perpendicular in the Shoalhaven area; so I have decided photos of lighthouses are going to be my ‘thing’ to photograph on this trip.

 

The walk up to the lighthouse at Smokey Cape (at South West Rocks), is not strenuous, bit steep but no problems for either of us.   

The design of this lighthouse is rather different to the picture one has when one thinks of lighthouses i.e. tall and somewhat slender.

The lighthouse at Smoky Cape is a short dumpy building, but it still has character.