Charleville 31May2017

It was a 215k drive, good road, some places single lane with reigns up to say pull off the road to allow Roadtrains & trucks have right of way. Naturally we are happy to do that, they are TOO big & we don't want Broken windscreen from flying stones. It is no different to anywhere else in Australia, there are 'Roadworks'

The mines are not visible from the road but are signed. 

The roadside is lined with Mulga, some taller that others due to the quality of the ground. We say only one lot of sheep and the odd cattle intermittently among the scrub.

Poor GPS lost us, had us driving in the scrup!

But eventually found us again....all makes travel interest.

We booked into Cobb & Co Caravan Park $30 per night. We stayed here 2 years ago in our last van. It is nice and central. Great to be warm at night, the days are lovely. Today we went & bought a little gas heater, it will pay for its self in 3 days by not having to stay in Parks.

The things that were memorable of the 850k loop were, FLIES,  buried gas pipeline along the roadside, lots of Emus, very little roadkill, no live kangaroos, endless road signs "Floodway" and "Grid" three dingo carcasses hanging from a tree, and a text message from two friends from my youth in Christchurch who are now Widows, wanting to join us but are concerned about Brian being able to cope with 3 of us! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

We have one more day here then heading north for sun.

A typical road.

Quilpie 29May2017

We had planned to stop enroute to Quilpie but the only place was Eromanga a Dinosaur area and we did that at Winton last year and also there was no free camping spots along the 300j trip which surprised us.

Quilpie was a nice town, it is the end of the rail line that services the Oil, Gas and Opal mines all in the Cooper Basin. The Information Centre was even built in the shape of a railway carriage!

We camped with 4 other vans just across the river (no water naturally). Thought we may stay 2 or 3 days but the forecast was for really cold nights. That night was bad enough.....out with the extra blanket, hot water bottles and warm PJs. A fast decision was made to move on to a Caravan Park for the next stop.

This was where we parked.

Noccundra 28May2017

To keep this in perspective, here is the map.

Bottom left is Noccundra, it's a Pub withe a building beside it with Public HOT shower and toilets. The river bank where we parked was just 1/2 k away. Lots of folk came and stayed 1 night.....we stayed 3! ........along with a million flies 😬

I took off the fly net for a second to take the photo & they attack eyes, nose, ears and mouth...uck!

It was nice and warm, but we couldn't sit outside because of the flies but the view was very nice.

Thargomindah story

I wrote this story 3 times and after writing a full page, I happened to touch the screen accidentally and immediately the whole lot was lost. This program is UNFORGIVING 😱😱😱😱 That was me! I we so upset, cross, angry any other words you like to add 😭😬😭

OK, I've got that off my chest.

Thargomindah was a most interesting stop we chose to stay 3 nights at the Council Caravan Park @ $30 per night. It was beautifully laid out, large drive through parks, new and immaculately maintained ablution block. It made such an impression on my I willingly reported it to the reception desk at the Council building. This is where that stunning mural is. The Australian War Memorial wants it, but the town is not willing to give it up.

Leahy House is one of the few original buildings left. Leafy was one of the major pioneers who was credited with instigating the town and he was even Speaker of the House in Parliament. Sir Kidman bought it then it became National Heritage. Naturally it has a lot of the history in word & photo. 

The old post office frontage is original and they have built around it. It also serves as souvenir and craft shop, bus booking, bank and all other services. 

The Information Centre has an interesting history, the new one was only opened 2 years ago & also has the Library with wifi, a very nice modern building with informed staff.

The old Hospital is open for a guided tour 3.30 daily & this is where one of the Information Centre staff come and do the honours (she was part aboriginal, grew up in the town & knew the history & customs. Guessing age 19, still living at home, brother in boarding school) it was great to hear local customs from all sides. The Hospital was in use until the new one was buil in recent years then it bacame the Information Centre until 2 years ago. It was the staff that felt it was a shame for it to just remain empty and asked for it to be another tourist attraction, as they only really had the Hydro Plant. They found the old beds that had been stored and even the old Mortuary table with its grooves for drainage. In the olden times the matron and her family lived in the 2 end rooms. There was a building right by the fence for Aboriginal patients and they wouldn't even come over the road to come to the Hospital, the Doctor had to go over and get the patient to come in. They were scared of the white people at that time. 

After tat tour we went to the Hydro Plant (same guide, $5pp if you did both tours.)

This Hydro was driven by the force of water from the bore that supplies water at 83degrees to the town. Each town has a cooling plant to make the water useable and also there are huge cooling pings on the edge of town. They were the third place in the world to have electronic street lighting. London, Paris then here. Only a few years ago the locals got fed up with only having electricity from 5 pm to 11pm and they went on the national grid. The turbines were run be diesel in later years and this original one is still working by water only and it was demolished for us and the lights came on. 

Food works Supermarket supplied all we needed for the next few days.

Please excuse any typos because I can't go back and proof read. If I touch anything it will all disappear and I would never do any more Blog.

Thargomindah 25May2017

Try saying that name!

Photos first.

Our route 2 days ago

Set up in the first class Council Caravan Park

Leahy House, one of the two men responsible for settling this area. Later sold to Sir Sid Kidman, now a Heritage attraction.

The 2 Pioneer men

An amazing mural in the Council building

The old Hospital used until 1995 when a new one was built and this became the Information Centre until 2 years ago when the new Centre was built and this was restored as an attraction after finding as many things as they could. A very interesting history.

The plan of the hospital 

The Hydro Power Plant which was in operation until only a few years ago when they were put on the national grid. It was turned on for us, the pressure of the underground water frame the bore turned the turbine to produce electricity and the overhead light went on. It was the third place in the world to have electric street lighting after London and Paris.

Photos 22May

That says it all.

Ebola 22May2017

Sunday 21st was goodbye to Cunnamulla and on to Eulo....a whole 68k!

The caravan Park was full because there was a Country & Western Music Festival on at a Station 17k out of town & some choose to stay here instead of on the property. The Saturday night was the main even so we passed a continual stream of vans going back to civilisation. We had not planned to use the caravan park so headed for the riverside along with many others. Driving around the allotted area we were deciding just where to set up but....the car wouldn't move!.....it had rained & the ground was soft.....we were just spinning! However, engaged 4wheel drive and were able to get out, mind you, made a bit of a mess (photos later) All set up and relaxed before cooking lunch. Our first night without heating was most successful, warmer clothes in the evening and milder climate are the answer.

Today just about all other vans left, Brian walked into the town & I drove in to see all the points of interest, didn't take too long!  Just the same as it was 2 years ago when we came out here for a day out while staying at Cunnamulla. The Opal, gem and local honey shop, the Quilting & leather shop, the Hotel and the General Store which serves as bank (ATM), Post Office, coffee shop and Supermarket, and one guy does it all😁.

It's 3.30pm and there are now 11 vans in site, we feel very safe.

I won at Rummy Q last night, doesn't happen too often! We can get all TV except 7two! without having to set up the Dish. We plan to stay another day here as the weather forecast is great. Wouldn't stay if there was rain forecast, could easily get bogged.

There is a State School and also Mud Baths .

Photos in next Blo, of this area plus a couple of the toilet at the Mud Baths that Brian wished he had taken last time!

Photos 20May

Try again!

It worked  Hip hip hurray.

Cunnamulla 20May2017

We have had 2 quiet days in this little Outback town & it has proved a lovely rest....except......Richmond just LOST😱😱😱😱 Oh my goodness, what abuse my ears have suffered! Just was well you couldn't hear it. I had to take my hearing aids out!!!

Apart from that it's been very good. We had an interesting drive around the area, saw the Airport which is miles out of town, why, one wouldn't know. 

I will post the photos at the end because when I try to add one, I loose everything & have to start all over again (I've already tried 4 times so have given up😫)

We saw a lot of Queenslander houses, the majority in pretty rough, dried out condition which is to be expected in this climate, and a very few looking lovely.

There were a lot of Emus on the roadside and we have seen, live and dead kangaroos (hundreds of roadkill) dead pigs, dead Emus, dead foxes, no dead cattle, yet!

Brian has been walking each day & on one trip saw a mural on a shop that inspired him to go to The Visitors centre and get all the info on a route that will take about 800k instead of 98k to Charleville. It's called the Natural Sciences Loop Road which will take us much more into the out Back. It says there are towns, but those towns will be a fuel pump, a general store, a camping spot and may be a population of 4! We take off tomorrow and hopefully take 2 weeks to do it staying in free campinysites along the way. Some are beside rivers (dry I expect) some on a lake and most just on red dirt.

I went shopping, one supermarket, tin soup was the same price as was yogurt but most things double to Melbourne. This was when I was glad I had a good stock in the van.

We were here 2 years ago so didn't go through the display at the Information Centre.

Today lots a new van have come in , we thought ours was big, well there are plenty that are bigger.....no, we are not changing again!

I haven't recorded in the Blog but did on Facebook so for continuity I will report it here.

On our drive from Bourke to Cunnamulla we crossed the divide between New South Wales and Victoria. We were met by Blue flashing lights and about 8 Police personnel. It was the middle of nowhere! The first young Policeman (I think he was 16!) welcomed us, asked where we were from and was charming, second one asked Brian if he had had a drink in the last 2 hours then asked him to speak into a device (not blow into it) then number 3 gave us a pamphlet on driving in The Outback and gave us tips on what to watch for etc. it was a big ✔️ for Charleville Police.

The weather is mild but thick fog in the morning, I washed today and the sun appeared this afternoon so all got dried.

Now for the promised photos.....it had better work.

I'm not game to try more than one so will send them separately.

Cunnamulla 18May2017

Today a very sensible trip....261k. Brian slept from 10pm to 7.45am, yes he was tired & I hope we will not do that distance again this trip, it's TOO big a day.

We have booked into Cunnamulla Tourist Park for 3 nights. We stayed here 2 years ago.

The drive today was really of no particular interest, typical outback scrub so we enjoyed our 'Audio Book' about the early 1900 of life of a deported convict from London with his family and how they set up a life here. I'm not made of pioneer stuff!

The weather was beautiful this morning but about 4pm the rains came which was expected, we will be pleased of a heater tonight. Last night was the first night we didn't need or use it & woke to a lovely mild morning.

Brian was able to get a sleep and an hours walk around the town before the rains came. I only walked a loop of the Caravan Park!

Tomorrow I'll visit the town & get some fresh veg. It's a very nice little town as far as I remember..

Sorry no pictures today.

Bourke 17May2017

Wow, what a trip. We have come 1007k in 2 days with Brian doing all the driving. We left Darlington Point at 8.30 & arrived here 5.15. Going through Griffith was lovely, orange groves, grape vines and other fruit trees. Stopped to buy roadside oranges

They smell wonderful.

I must tell you about yesterday, we went through cotton fields, rice paddies, fruit trees, wheat growing areas, it's a wonderful and amazing country. That caravan park we stayed in at Darlington Point was very good, the owners patter was first class "$25 per night but a discount was available if the man did 3 hours of gardening and his wife pick up leaves....then you would only have to pay $24.95! He says he can't understand 'Grey Nomads' for not taking up his generous offer 🤣🤣🤣." He put on a lovely campfire every night and a ring of chairs were provided.

Back to to day... drove through HUGE wheat fields and then into outback scrub

The roads are very good, we stopped for dinner on the roadside, meatballs in mushroom and pasta sauce with smashed potatoes followed by 1/2 a slice of banana bread, then Brian had a 1/2 hour sleep before taking off again.

There are some mighty big trucks, B double and Roadtrains.

Diesel has been a  OK , Goolgowi Roadhouse $1.14 and Bourke $1.35

We are now at Kidman Camp, where we stayed 2 years ago. 

Tomorrow will only be a short trip and we plan to stay 2 or 3 nights at Cunnamulla.

Good night , it's been a wonderful day.

Number two 16May

What's for lunch first photo or second?

16 May

We are on the road. Left Donvale at 9am in the fog now it's first 'leg stretch' 

r&b2017

It's Sunday 14th May.....2 more sleeps and we will be on our way. We have that 'Waiting' feeling and are in excitement mode.

Van just about packed, house tidy, one load of washing to be done, Specialist to be seem, hearing aid batteries to be picked up........what else?

First stop Griffith.......we plan and then?????? Very different to last year when it was all planned, this is a REAL adventure.

This is our 'Rig' , home for the next 6 months we hope.