7 March, 2011 - Coach Stop Caravan Park, Maitland, NSW

We ended up sharing our campsite with another couple last night. They came in before dark, just a Chris was cooking dinner. Their massive rig consisted of an old bus of ten or eleven metres towing a Landcruiser (or the like) which had a small trailer stacked on top of it. They had taken five weeks to come across from Kalgoorlie  and had been seeking a camping ground to stay overnight and fill up with water. All camps had been full and so they had given up for the day and found Pothams Lane Rest Area. We chatted for a while and then Chris was ready to serve and so they retired to their own.

                           Our modest rig at Potham's Rest dwarfed by that of Ward and Linda

The night passed uneventfully however we were sandwiched between the New England Highway
and the railway. I only heard the one train, coal freight I imagine, but it took a long time to go through. Despite the transport noise, the night was not too bad.

We came through to Maitland, called in to the Information Centre to confirm that there was just the only caravan park in town. We set up camp here at the Coach Stop which is situated beside the New England Highway and the railway. The park is run down, the owner / manageress apologised as we checked in, that the amenities were in a poor state but they had been doing their best since taking it over two years ago. The residents are mainly permanents, quite common, but these seem to be a poorer lot than normal. Perhaps they are a younger lot than the usual retired or middle aged lot you get. Their residences are scruffy and the term "trailer trash" comes to mind as one wanders around to explore the park. I appreciate that is a very prejudiced statement; I make no apology except to those few among them who are actually here for the purposes of work away from home.

After lunch Chris telephoned the warranty people then we sought out the Toyota service people here. The service manager, Norman Burton, went out in the vehicle with Chris to hear his concerns and in turn was able to confirm that the vehicle is actually okay. It is performing as it ought, although the clutch will die in the not too distant future. The horrendous fuel consumption is simply a hazard of our activity, the exhaust emissions can be minimised by a small adjustment to the right foot and the sooting problem minimised by a small adjustment to the muffler. And so we left Burton’s Toyota having been given peace of mind for no charge.

We then drove on to Morpeth which is now a satellite superb of Maitland. Morpeth, established in the very early 1820s, was the main port up the Hunter River from where goods were transported to and from by barge up to West Maitland and then by land, further inland. From there we drove back toward East Maitland, to the relatively new Stocklands Green Hill shopping centre where we shopped and then returned to camp. Swan Street is lined with beautiful old buildings, many occupied nowadays with boutiques and cafes. It is absolutely charming.

I cooked tonight, making a hot salad which is normally a favourite but not so tonight. I used a can of Spam Roast Turkey as the meat and will never again. Still one has to try these things. Next time it will be leftover roast chicken, the real thing, as per normal. The fact I cooked is worthy of noting because I have probably only cooked once in every two weeks since arriving in Australia. I could say that I have Chris well trained; he would say it is for self-preservation.

Maitland is a city now including East and West Maitland, Morpeth and other areas, with a population of 62,000. It is a mere 6 metres above sea level. I have seen frangipanis and hibiscus growing in domestic gardens which suggests a much warmer climate than we have encountered over the past few weeks. Until the gold rush it was the second largest settlement in New South Wales after Sydney. It is in the heart of the world class Hunter Valley wine region, however it was only after we left this morning’s camp just west of Branxton that we noted any evidence of vineyards. Built on flood plains, it has suffered fifteen major floods since settlement. The city apparently has a significant Polish contingent as a result of immigration after World War II. Perhaps we will see more of that tomorrow as we explore the centre of the city which is the old town of West Maitland where the Beveges dwelled and worked.