Bb is for BELLINGEN and the BELLINGER RIVER

FOR INTRODUCTION TO THE BELLINGER RIVER CLICK HERE.

THE YAAN :  We took a drive along the Bellinger River this week. Way up Thora and along the Darkwood Road. I wanted to see what the Bellinger River did further upstream.

We headed west through Bellingen township and took a left at Thora Hall at the foot of the Dorrigo Mountain. Then we followed the road out along the Valley and kept going till we ran out of dirt. Out there in the Valley, there’s a Steiner School called Chrysalis and a handful of communes, a Public School and houses of all kinds. The water is clear with plenty of swimming holes and its citrus season so there were trees just dropping mandarines and lemons and oranges. Here and there, were roadside stalls selling all manner of things. Goat’s Poo and books, bananas and eggs and secondhand clothes. Noone mans the stalls – just a trust tin for payment.

At one point a car came round a bend at us. So many kids in it that about four lads were riding on the roof and inside was filled up.  All of them laughing and joking. 

We followed the road and river up to a ford that was too deep for our Starwagon and then came back to lunch at Thora on takeaways from the Atelier in Bellingen. Wrapped the day up with dessert in the Lodge Café in Bellingen township. The Chess Players meet there of a Sunday afternoon.  Folk Club on a Friday night.

The partner of my daughter tells me that he has come across the ranges and ridges during the big floods of 2009 in his 4 wheel drive. He is of a more daring nature than I am.

BELLINGER RIVER ALONG THE DARKWOOD ROAD.

The Darkwood Road beside the Bellinger River. Getting a bit narrow at this point as we headed upstream.

A BELLINGEN BUSH SHACK ALONG DARKWOOD ROAD.

BELLINGEN BUSH STALL AND MAILBOX

BUSH HALL AT THORA BESIDE THE RIVER

LODGE CAFÉ IN BELLINGEN TOWNSHIP

BELLINGER RIVER IN DARKWOOD