Tinonee to Scone

6th Janauary 2013:

Left Tinonee at approx 10.20am on Friday 4th January 2013
Travelling down the M1 - Pacific Highway through Bulahdelah, through to Hexham over the Hunter River (which by the way looks very dirty) turned onto the Maitland Rd/New England Highway.  Travelling through Greta, Branxton to Singleton.  Whilst travelling north of Singleton through to Muswellbrook are a multitude of coal mines which has scarred the Hunter Valley landscape, some huge mines between these towns.  Half way between Singleton & Muswellbrook  are Liddell & Bayswater Power Stations which produce power for a lot of NSW and Victoria.   Bayswater was completed in 1984 - Stage 1 was the largest government civil contract to one contractor.
The Liddell Power Station was completed in 1973.  Both are coal powered thermal stations.
While travelling up to Scone we noticed long, long trains carrying the coal to the port, one I counted the coal trucks (fully loaded) 90 carriages with three engines. Our journey took us into horse country where a large number of studs are situated.    Scone was named in 1831. Population of over 4,500.   Very dry at the moment.
Here we will stay for a few days with my sister & husband.