Pat your python
by iandsmith
Country Music Week (read at least a fortnight) is THE thing that happens in the north west of N.S.W. every year. Down Peel Street, the main drag in this part of the world, you may come across anything from buskers to purveyors of foodstuffs to..........snakes? Yes, anything is likely.
Here you see me heavily disguised in sunnies and country hat trying to blend with the crownd while I actually fondle your real live type reptile. (Hard and slippery if you want to know.)
You can easily spend hours seeing heaps of interesting things during the two weeks towards the end of January in the main street alone.
As for the other 70 venues where bands might be playing well, you can spend days!
Just a short walk
by iandsmith
"I don't know, I only made it about two thirds of the way up." With those words ringing in my ears I pulled up in the carpark next to the nature reserve, grabbed my camera gear and commenced climbing.
Col, my friend who had uttered the above, also had added, "It's steep." He got that right. What it also was was rocky. The sort of "rocky" that you trip up on every so often. Lucky I had my steel-capped safety boots on!
Flagstaff Hill was indeed a challenge yet, with a couple of breaks, I managed the 2.19 km hike in around 34 minutes. I suggest that's a fairly good time and you should allow more if you're in a group or you're not fit.
Peel Street
by iandsmith
This is where a lot of Country Music Week happens, the main street of Tamworth. There is a busker at every second shop - literally. At times one drowns out the other. There are so many characters here that you could spend the whole day strolling and listening; except it's hot because it's in the middle of summer and you'll probably be wanting a drink or two.
So, you'll slip into a pub and there'll be a band there. Oh well, off to the cafe for some peace. Oh no, there's a singer in here as well. Remember, that's why you came! It takes up the week leading into the long weekend but, in the week preceding that one there are plenty of people and acts who arrive early and pick up a lot the vibe.
Don't get put off by the country music stigma. It's just a great occasion and a fabulous atmosphere that you'll rarely find anywhere else.
Do I like it - yee hah!!
A new life
by iandsmith
It was wonderful to see that a church, now terminally short of parishoners, had found new owners to at least preserve and maintain the architecture.
It used to be a Presbyterian Church but is now used as Government Offices and is located on the main highway (northern side) of Tamworth.
Up in the rainforest.
by aussirose
We love bushwalking and Tamworth has some lovely scenery up in the surrounding hills. We went on a rainforest bushwalk and found a lovely rock swimming hole. Also coming home we went to this berry farm (don't know the name of it) but you could go a pick all sorts of berrys and we also bought some lovely jams and dessert berry wine. It's well worth a visit.
I'm sure anyone would be able to direct you there if you ask where the berry farm is :o)
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Troy Cassar Daly
As used in the Northern Daily Leader
Spectacular views
Motel Grande
