Sydney to Port Macquarie
Left Sydney today about 10:15 bound for Port Macquarie to meet up with Margie. The traffic was heavy northbound on the F3 so I took my time and ended up at the service centres (Tuggerah) in time for lunch. As I droe along the freeway I could see a large black cloud building to the north and without further warning the heavens opened up with some heavy rain and pea sized hail.
The lightning was flanging every few seconds but I dared not stop to get a few pictures because of the heavy traffic. I made it to the service centre and got a burger and a drink for lunch.
After a half hour stop (possibly less) I took off again for Port. I took a brief "comfort stop" at Freemans Waterhole. The old Oak factory is a shadow of it's former self. It's a shame about that because they used to have great milkshakes. I decided to take the Cessnock exit off the F3 and travel through Maitland, Patterson, Dungog, Gloucester and Krambach because I knew there would be heavy traffic at the end of the "3". There was (heard it on the radio as I cruised through Maitland).
Patterson was a pretty little place (I hadn't been there before) and was shocked that the main north railway travels straight through the town, with feet to spare either side of the line for the train to pass. Any wonder trains are constantly late in this state !
Onwards through Dungog and Gloucester. The roads are crap in this part of the state. Thr road improved slightly after Gloucester in the run down the hills to Krambach. I noted the amount of new calves in the paddocks which is a good sign for drought recovery. There was a lot of green compared to the last time I was up that way.
Finally I rejoined the Pacific Highway at Nabiac and Amish community. The petrol price at the Ampol service station was ridiculous. I mean at 106.9 cents per litre, it was a good 16 cents per litre dearer than Sydney. You can't tell me it costs 16 cents per litre in a 40,000 litre truck to carry fuel from Sydney to Nabiac. It's greed pure greed. Stay away from the Ampol at Nabiac !
I travelled on through the Taree Bypass and on to Kew, where I was convinced there would be a traffic hold up. There wasn't a car to be seen ... except for the Police at the side of the road trying to nab the unsuspecting errant driver in the 60kph zone.
At last, after a long drive I arrived in Port Macquarie at about 17:30 for a well earned rest and a great BBQ dinner thanks to Margarets mother, Wendy.
The lightning was flanging every few seconds but I dared not stop to get a few pictures because of the heavy traffic. I made it to the service centre and got a burger and a drink for lunch.
After a half hour stop (possibly less) I took off again for Port. I took a brief "comfort stop" at Freemans Waterhole. The old Oak factory is a shadow of it's former self. It's a shame about that because they used to have great milkshakes. I decided to take the Cessnock exit off the F3 and travel through Maitland, Patterson, Dungog, Gloucester and Krambach because I knew there would be heavy traffic at the end of the "3". There was (heard it on the radio as I cruised through Maitland).
Patterson was a pretty little place (I hadn't been there before) and was shocked that the main north railway travels straight through the town, with feet to spare either side of the line for the train to pass. Any wonder trains are constantly late in this state !
Onwards through Dungog and Gloucester. The roads are crap in this part of the state. Thr road improved slightly after Gloucester in the run down the hills to Krambach. I noted the amount of new calves in the paddocks which is a good sign for drought recovery. There was a lot of green compared to the last time I was up that way.
Finally I rejoined the Pacific Highway at Nabiac and Amish community. The petrol price at the Ampol service station was ridiculous. I mean at 106.9 cents per litre, it was a good 16 cents per litre dearer than Sydney. You can't tell me it costs 16 cents per litre in a 40,000 litre truck to carry fuel from Sydney to Nabiac. It's greed pure greed. Stay away from the Ampol at Nabiac !
I travelled on through the Taree Bypass and on to Kew, where I was convinced there would be a traffic hold up. There wasn't a car to be seen ... except for the Police at the side of the road trying to nab the unsuspecting errant driver in the 60kph zone.
At last, after a long drive I arrived in Port Macquarie at about 17:30 for a well earned rest and a great BBQ dinner thanks to Margarets mother, Wendy.
posted by Peter Konnecke at
22:28
