Stayed a few days at Springsure, a camp just outside of town called Virgin Rock. It has a flush toilet and tap water. Look closely at the shape in the rock, it use to resemble the virgin Mary and at night time it's lite up spectacularly.
Met a couple of lovely men to chat to, each traveling north on long journeys. I shared Mike's fire on two occasions just before dust for an hour and learned he tows this motor bike in the trailer behind his coaster. Both these men are married but spend many months on the road. Travelers are always up for a chat.
Denis in particular was an interesting character, he travels in his Toyota 4x4 truck with sleeping quarters in the back, solar on the roof and spends a lot of time in the top end.
The story came up about him meeting his friend 'MG' (whom his daughter is in a relationship with) for a northerly trip and introducing him to the tropics, fishing and crocodile's. Funnily enough this 'MG' turns out to be Mark Gardener, one of many managers of the Northern Sector NSW Ambulance Service and happily remembering him from my days as Patient Transport Officer at Hamilton Station in Newcastle.
Mark always called me 'H'. Hmm! thinking he couldn't remember my name until I learnt 'H' is a term of endearment. I told Denis to give my regards to that handsome, friendly man when he meets up with him at Cairns airport (for another fishing trip) in the next few weeks. This small world continually amazes me....
Emerald is the largest town so far, driving in I see really green pastures, finding out later it is the new cotton plants standing only a few centimeters high and looking very much like turf.
Emerald has the most impressive railway station, I didn't get photos at all as I seemed to be very busy catching up on shopping. Oh what bliss... there's Coles, WW, Big W, BCF, Dick Smith....you name it...any store you need is in town.
I though it a good idea to book the motor home in for a wheel change over as someone asked me if my front tires were wearing on the inside. I received an 8am appointment that next morning. Turning up early and speaking to the owner while he checked the tread he told me the tires are in good condition and didn't need changing over so they just put air in all round.
This guy needs a lesson in reversing...getting too close for comfort!
Another interesting fire, this ones is made from beer kegs with tree, plant and southern cross designs all around and fitted with long legs but I think most of the heat generated was lost, not outward but upward.
Hang on a minute I stopped at Jericho too.
It was a great spot beside the river with a massive camp area and only requiring a donation for your stay. I counted 30 + caravan, campervans and motor homes spread out along the river and fence line with plenty of room in-between.
Once a month they have a movies at the Drive In and if your motor home is too big its just a walk up to the town and settle into the deck chairs for the movie.
But be warned! bring all your goodies with you as the local store charges like a wounded bull. For instance I purchased 2ltr milk and 300m cream for $11. But I can say their hot chips are the best I've ever tasted and only $3 for a small bag that had more than enough for me.
Ruby getting up close and personal with a local, this youngster was very inquisitive, the only game bull in the herd.
Another attempt at Damper making, but wait......it was ok inside
Very dark skies got me motivated in going out into the cold night to capture my first star trails. It turned out to be blown out, maybe I could alter the colour in Photoshop.
Determined to get it right I'll try again another night, I've also made the decision to head out to the Array Telescopes at Wee Waa, hopefully stop the night and get light photos of them.
A fresh start and in the distance I can see the ranges of Idalia and Carnarvon National Parks and onto Blackall where I had the unfortunate luck to meet a traveling Evangelist. Mmm! should I have told him I am an Atheist? No!
I came into Barcaldine for a quick squize around the town and pub
before heading back out to Lloyd Jones Weir, a camp area about 15k out, I had already passed the turn off so retraced my tracks to the road to Isisford then 1k of dirt road. It was a nice shady place, a little crowded though with clean flushing toilets and plenty of open fire places.
Cooked my butcher bought sausages (lip smacking good) on my neighbor's fire after a lovely happy hour with them, then a good night sleep with not so much pain in my ankle.
I've check and this bird is defiantly a Brolga.
The Tree of Knowledge stands in Barcaldine surrounded by a large box shaped frame protecting the branches of the large old Cabbage Gum tree. A group of protesting sheep shearer's, after the 1891 Shearer's strike for better conditions, founded the birth place of the Australian Labor Party under this tree in 1892.
Heading east tomorrow in the direction of Rockhampton.
Passing through this vast area on the Landsborough Hwy, surveyed by Major Mitchell Surveyor-General of NSW in 1846. The cranky Scotsman filled the position after Evans (of Blue mountains fame) died. Remembering the majority of Australia was NSW. He and his men spent more than 12 months exploring the unknown country looking for a great river flowing north/west.
He never found it, maybe its because its underground and I, have not found the Major Mitchell cockatoo.
Looking in the distance to the west where the water mirages begin and the trees are sparse, that far out place is where I would love to be.
Stopping at Tambo for the night in a caravan park for $25, simply because I can, specially due to my mangled ankle. Fell out of the motor home, missed the step, panicked thinking I had broken it, plenty of strapping, tight sock and shoe kept it in place, all is good.
And Wow! speaking to family on FB how amazing is that. I don't know how they did it but I was so grateful to hear their voices.
I don't often admit I miss them all but I defiantly do, thank you for the call girls.
At first sight, the town of Augathella was disappointing as my first stop at the garage/caravan park was where I asked the price for one powered overnight site and was told $30. A bit rich for me so continued on into the town find a spot to have lunch and I found it a small pretty town with a food store, a reasonably priced butcher, a lovely parking area and of course the local pub with free overnight parking to boot.
Out front of the butcher I met the local police officers young wife, her baby daughter and her Scottish mum. He being posted in this town for the next 3 years and being only 1 month since their arrival, we talked about how they would manage living in the outback after coming from the big smoke 'Brisbane'. Of course I can't remember any of their names and as usual my introduction to them was via Ruby as they have their own silky terrier. I found them very chatty especially the young wife, who'd resigned from the police force ending her own career to become a mum and to follow her husband. I've come away from this meeting with an open invitation for a cuppa and chat next time I'm through this way.
I asked another local, a retired shearer what was grown on the properties around here, use to be Sorghum! was the answer, for cattle feed, some tree forestry further back toward Morven but mostly cattle farming has taken over these days.
Here's a layed back Augathella local, he didn't move an inch while Ruby and I circled the truck while taking photos of him.
There are plenty of like minded people out here, everywhere I go people are so friendly and willing to take the time talk about their travel experiences, direction headed, their home town and best places to stay, pretty much anything goes as long as your willing to stop, sit and talk awhile. I went for a tinkle at the loo and it took me 1 hour to return the my camp.
Graham and Marg (Butter) whom I've mentioned before, are traveling with their dog 'Buddy' a long haired terrier who has terminal cancer, he is on his last trip to the bush giving him as much freedom as possible to emulate his younger days, the best time ever for him. Then later, I learn Marg also is battling breast cancer and is in remission. Just the loveliest couple to spend time with, Marge was a crochet learner as well as Anne, so she, Anne and I sat around the camp fire most of the day exchanging ideas on how to achiever some new stitches for crochet.
I quickly have to mention George (the Generator man) It begs understanding why someone would park their caravan no more that 6 mtrs away from the gathering place (the large fire pit) and run the genny for 6 plus hours every day. The mind boggles.
The lovely Anne and Allan consistently offered to pick up items for me from the shop, simply because when they were looking for a powered site I pointed out an available power point that they didn't see. They had a lovely fire made from a Tooheys beer keg and I was welcomed to share it also.
I met a couple who live very near, a few streets away form my Uncle Dick and Aunty Beth in Cudmirra, Sussex Inlet, they new exactly which house I was referring, on a corner across the road from the park and beach.
And how about Ziggy and Lou (Lindee) talk about have a chat! that's Lou for sure and helpful! they offered me their double up connection tap and refused my offer of $10 for it. The next day I was watching Ziggy solder some alligator clips and wire together and asked him what he thought of the wires I have hanging from a 12v plug that's not connected to anything, he promptly checked it out and offered to solder the wires to the house battery. I'm happy to report that the 12v plug now is in great working order, thank you Ziggy.
Catching part of a discussion between these two men (Ziggy seated right) I learnt they both are Vietnam vets. I love you guys......for what you had to do.
In a small country town Ziggy had come across the tank that he was deployed in as a gunner. Lou said "when we came across it (the name of the tank escaped me, it had a girls name of course) I tried my very best to rap my arms around it to hug the tank"
I'm sure Lou was possibly thanking it for keeping her beloved Ziggy safe.
Being the happy person Lou is, nothing surprises.....she came out of her caravan with their mascot/travelling companion which is a hand puppet monkey called Jimmy, he has been traveling with them for 20 plus years. Also Lou is an avid crocheter and shares with her friend, a facebook page called Crochet and Craft with Maggie. A very interesting site with a multitude of patterns available, Lou has also added many stitches that she has made up herself to achieve a variety of textures and patterns. I had a wonderful afternoon of instruction and chatter.
Opps! forgot to mention Ruby taking off after a mob of Kangaroo's.
The Australian Silky Terrier was bred for rat catching, Ruby might have thought she'd come across a very large species of rat?
She spotted them, got their scent and began to give chase, Stupid me! not thinking where we were I said...go!...but straight away when I noticed how much speed she got up and was racing away, disappearing into the scrub, that I shouldn't have said that.
The wind was blowing toward me so she couldn't hear me calling for her to stop. I could see the large mob of Roo's bounding off with her close behind them, then I thought, what if they turn and attack her. As time passed I started to wonder if I would ever see her again, the scrub is so vast, thick with dead wood and full of low bushes that she blended into the earthy colours really quickly.
I didn't show panic on the outside, didn't want to show my new bestie (Anne) that I was about to fall apart, kept it under control until I seen a small brown fluff ball, panting madly, picking her way through the bindys, nettles and burr's. She was gone for what seemed a long time but was probably only about10 minutes. I picked her up and carried her back for a long cool drink and the removal of burr's from her paws and fur. I also lost my jacket that was tied around my waist, somewhere out there too!
A hard lesson learnt, never to say "Go" in the scrub to my little rat chaser.
