At last, I'm heading north on Thursday12th of June to warmer weather, a planned meet up with Joanne and Rose to travel a little bit up the coast road. We will meet for our first night at the Royan Hotel Kew and discuss our next evenings stop. We are not doing a tagalong, just meeting up for the overnight catch ups.
First night stayed at the Royal Hotel at Kew NSW for one night, Jo had a few drinks. There was a great little store across the roundabout from the pub that sold precooked meals reasonably priced. Rose didn't arrive.
Stopped to Alstonville NSW for 1 night $25.00, Rose caught up with us there.
Jo and Rose convinced me to travel thru Brisbane via the link road, the fee was only $5.80 but the traffic was just amazing, a 4-land bottleneck, never have I see anything like it.
Stopped at Kellinworth Queensland $20 per night for 3 nights with Rose, Jo and Griff, Griff had arrived there a few days earlier. Rose left after one night to head her own way. On the day 3 Griff went south, and Jo and I headed north.
Next stop is Gingin free camp for 1 night.
And of course, Jo meets a traveler who worked at the same place as she out Scone way, That girl! she has a knack for meeting people from her area.
The hippie van's owner was Portugues, traveling to Cairns for winter, he had the longest matted dreadlocks I've ever seen.
19th Marlborough Hotel for 1 night, very good $5.00 shower and loo. Large tv screen in the beer garden for state of origan 2, Queensland won the match, a lot of noise coming from the locals, I think, especially as we two were wearing blue shirts.
Kattabul hotel, the 20th I think. was 1-night, free if you buy a drink. We had a very good burger cooked on the bbq even though their kitchen was under repair and not serving food.
We met a lovely traveler named John, we invited him to sit with us for dinner, I think he enjoyed our company.These two guys had this gigantic fire started fairly quickly. Met Major Mitchell, at the Information tourist hot spot at Proserpine. Jo and I had coffee, plenty to look at while resting off the road.
20th June Home Hill, shower, loo, water, dump point, shops, free overnight parking. I said goodby to Jo in the morning. Jo is heading to Townsville to see her son and I am turning west to Dinosaur country.
Giru to Woodstock. the road wasn't too bad, many creeks and one lane bridges but fairly decent considering it's a flood area. This saved me from traveling further toward Townsville.
21st June Woodstock big grass area free toilets stay 3 nights. I had a very welcome break from driving.
Charters Towers has a Woolies right in the middle of town, I parked easily nearby and enjoyed window shopping.
24th Campaspe River camp near Homestead. Just an overnighter, had toilet, there were 3 other campers already there. The parking area is situated between road and railway but didn't bother me at all.
Hughenden for lunch, wasn't a lot there to see so I continued on.
The road going to Winton was the worst I've been on, it was terrible, throwing the caravan from side to side and up and down.
Pulled in at Confield, just a small campground with toilet, seating and a fireplace for one night. 2 motorhomes pulled in with 2 single women, Adel (grew up on a cattle station) and Lorraine (retired Registered nurse) they parked up near me so they could use the fire so of course joined them .... Cameron came shortly after, He has been hitchhiking up and down to east coast but now needed to get home as his dog was sick. We watched the sunset together then had a roaring fire, music and dancing, those two girls were much fun with a little bit of the funny stuff and wine.
It was bloody freezing in the morning so ran the heater, can't live without it now.
Cameron sleeps in a hammock with a sleeping bag and a tarp over the top. I think...are you sure it's warm enough? I cooked him a Jaffle on the fire and Lorraine cooked sausages to share with all of us. He was such an honest and friendly man.
To Winton, the road was a little better.
Before I arrived, I booked a half day Red Dirt tour to Lark Quarry Stampede the next Saturday the 28th costing $120.00 Well worth the break from driving 110kls out to the Quarry.
North Gegory hotel is my 2 night's stay @ $15 per night in the centre of town so easy walking for me. The tour will pick me up at Matilda info centre, so I plan to leave the pub grounds early and park up in the street, then have breakfast before 8am as pick up time is 8.30am.
Now for the dinosaurs. check out the other page.
I left Winton at lunchtime after the Red Dirt Tour of the dinosaurs.
Feeling very happy I'd seen them.
Stopped at Macsland rest area for the night, toilets and internet here with plenty of bush camping spots for privacy, about 20ks out of Longreach. There were a couple of campers already here and a few others arrived near and after sunset. I was the last to leave in the morning.
Longreach wasn't that far down the Landsborough hwy. It was Sunday so everything was closed, not the bakery though. I bought a lovely cheesecake.
Drove thru Barcaldine, nothing open there too. Heading south I could see I was driving into a storm. Squarley rain clouds, very black.
Ended up in Blackall in a camp spot that I've been to before, put the xtrail into 4x4 and slipped and slid into a spot for the night or maybe two, will wait the rain out here, no point getting bogged and not getting out at all.
Well, I did get bogged try to get out in the morning. Many vans tried to leave during the day. Most people were unhappy there was no assistance from the council to assist in getting them out and are refusing to leave the $10 camp fee. I figured it a sure bet that it would be dryer tomorrow.
I walked the very short walk to town. I found free hot showers in the centre of town. Tomorrow I will park nearby a have a quicky before leaving heading toward Tambo the Teddy bear town.
Pancakes for breakfast in my new frypan.
In the town of St George I had the best beef and pea pie
It's been really cold especially at last night's stop Augathella. On zero degrees this morning with frost on the ground I left fairly early around 8 and drove most of the day to Nindigully pub and camped the night. I think I'll try and make for home as quick as I can and crank up the air conditioner to high.
My last night was at Muswellbrook showground, I left there very early around 5 am. Couldn't wait to get home. I arrived home safely.
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