Before hitting the road this morning I walked the few meters to Dirrenbandi's town park and photographed the metal relief-statue of a charge by Australia horse soldiers in WWI, and some coloured poles (which I think have some aboriginal significance). After that I had coffee at the town bakery which is run by a Russian family.

The first stop of the day was the little town/village of Hebel which is just north of the NSW-Queensland border. This town is famous/note worthy for its pub (which is the first photo). On this visit however I discovered the town rest area which appears to have been recently removated. It has a new picnic shelter and a number of information signs and is located near the local water hole. The signs confirmed that I have been travelling The Great Inland Way since Charters Towers and that I will continue on this Way for almost the rest of my trip.

Not long after leaving Hebel I crossed the border into New South Wales. The first NSW town of the day was Lightning Ridge which is a famous Opal mining town. In addition it is famous for its local baths of hot artesian water. The socia center of Lightning Ridge is the Lightning Ridge Bowling Club. I noticed that the parking lot of the Lightning Ridge Tourinst Information Center had been turned into an a market and there wre vehicles everwhere.

Between Lightning Ridge and Coonamble (my destination for todays ride) I saw many fields of yellow plants which google tells me are probably Canola.