Lunch in Pooncarie, 116 km north. A long way for lunch, I know, but the cafe came with good recommendations. We also wanted to have a look at Pooncarie as well.
Pooncarie is situated on the banks of the Darling River and during the 19th century was a major river port
on the Darling River.
The Old Wharf Cafe over looks the river and in itself is a very scenic spot. Today the weather was perfect, warm and sunny.
The view of the tables in front of the cafe with the river behind them.
Walter told me to look sideways when he took the photograph, which made me look a little strange.
It is an award winning cafe and the food is prepared and cooked by the owners, Barb and Bob. As well as being delicious it is reasonably priced. Both of our meals, barramundi for Walter, and chicken
parmigiana for me, cost $18 each. Our meals came with chips (of course) green salad and coleslaw plus a choice of three salad dressings. We chose espresso coffee to finish the meal. It was all so delicious.
There was never an actual wooden wharf here, but rather the banks of the river provided a natural area for loading and unloading boats.
The Darling is much lower now, but a few months ago the flood water spread out over the opposite side of the river.
We did not know this but the road only reopened on the south side yesterday, after being closed for six months. It had also been closed on the north side too (to Menindee Lakes) for a while. So today was the first day that people could travel through the settlement. Luckily we had decided to continue down the Silver City Highway last Thursday rather then coming through Menindee as planned.
The gardens and sports areas were beautifully green, and very well planned. But of course they have plenty of water at the moment.
The mural on the side of the pavilion.
Port Pitstop, the One Stop Shop. Fuel, fishing needs, groceries, sandwiches. You name it, they sell it.
The old post office. There is a new post office next door, which still appears to be an old building.
Some of the flood waters north of Wentworth. Although the road has been repaired along this section it is still very rough. We have started to recognise the areas that were flooded, as they are still very muddy and brown.
Our morning stop for coffee, which was another beautiful setting. The owner of the cafe turned the open sign around so that it was visible in the photograph.
My banana bread, which was delicious. It certainly started the day off well. Walter, who is trying to lose a little weight, ate a small slice of it. The coffee was also excellent.
By the time we arrived back at the campsite we were in need of a little snooze!
There are only four caravans here and two tents so we have plenty of room. I think the lack of people is due to recent flooding rather then people not liking the campsite. The owners have found the last few years very difficult, first Covid and people not being able to move round NSW and Victoria, then the recent floods which basically closed down all areas along the lower Murray River and Darling River.
Difficult times.
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