Date: 19-20th September 2020
Travelled: 388 kms Wentworth to Menindee on the Darling River
Visited: Broken Hill and Menindee
Stayed: Menindee (wildcamped). S32.39188, E142.41831
Budget: NA
We wake to heavy skies and drizzle, which is what we expected. The really heavy rain and storms are to the north and we are just getting the edge of it, in Wentworth.
Itโs all very quiet in the morning, however we get new neighbours who take some 90 minutes to set up their caravan, annexe and various toys sorted. We presume they intend to be here for some time.
We have decided on a lay day and just stay put in Wentworth for a second night. There is an a cycle path to Curlwaa about 8 kms away, but as the day progresses and the rain continues that option dissolves.
Drizzle morning on the Darling. 
Read it yourself.
Mid-afternoon the whole mood changes, suddenly there are some raised voices and people are running around. For some reason unbeknown to me the carp have suddenly started biting.
We have a quiet night, cook inside as the drizzle returned.
The next morning (19th September) the sun is shining, so we have an early walk and catch a last look at Wentworth.
Saint Francis Xavier Church 
Old Wentworth Prison 
Back at the Winnebago we get packed up, service what needs to be done and roll out of Wentworth. Our original plan to go north via Pooncarie to the Menindee Lakes, shot as the road is closed. So we start the long drive around via Broken Hill.
Good start 288 kms to go. 
Some of last nights storm that swept across the Broken Hill region.
Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
We visited Broken Hill a few years ago and have seen most of the sights. Both the caravan parks are expensive and well out of centre of town, so our inclination is to move on to Menindee. We park near the Information Centre which is closed (as people may need information) and go for a walk to re-think our options. Seems to be a lot of people wandering about but everything except the pubs are closed.
We decide to re-fuel and drive on to Menindee. Itโs only a hundred kilometres which isnโt far out here. Mind you, the afternoon is getting longer and we donโt wish to meet any wildlife on the road.
Yesterdayโs storm waters 
Menindee, New South Wales, Australia
We do have a couple of close encounters with kangaroos, but nothing too serious. The caravan park at Copi Hollow is 10 kms short of Menindee village, so we continue on to check the road condition. We arrive to find the roads south are all closed.
Obviously the best place to get the gos is the pub, so I walk in to find the roads are closed in several places and they donโt expect them to be open for a couple of days.
As a consolation one of my drinking buddies tells me we can park up at the local oval for free and save paying the $30 fee at Copi Hollow. So we drive the 200 metres to the oval and start cooking dinner over a couple of drinks.
Michael + Pam
