Another nice day around 24 degrees. We wandered around town in the morning and after lunch in the van we visited the Qantas Founders Museum. This was great. More about the founders than the ‘corporate‘ side of the business. We were there all afternoon as it was so interesting.
QANTAS Founders Museum at Longreach
We had dinner outside enjoying the weather.
We had a nice slow day today. There were lots of people leaving the park today so we had a leisurely breakfast and let them go before having our showers and then went on a trip to explore town. Morning tea at the Merino Bakery before I bought some light weight tops to suit this weather. Then it was back to van for lunch in the sun.
Beautiful weather today – 24 degrees, sunny and a slight breeze. It’s so nice to be warm again. We decided to just chill and catch up on some reading after lunch. Ann did some hand washing which we hung on the clothes horse in the sun. Three brolgas came over and pecked at the awning, checked us out and sauntered off. They must be used to people as they seem very tame.
We woke about 7.30 am. It was a beautiful morning at the free-camp and we enjoyed bacon and eggs, toast and brewed coffee for breakfast before we hit the road and headed north east.
Packing Up at Barcoo River Camp, Blackall
We stopped for a coffee break south of Barcaldine and then drove on to Barcaldine for lunch. This is a very pretty RV friendly town. We bumped into Nola and Ike again. Walked around the town and had lunch at the very good Bakery and bought some fresh meat at the butcher.
Comet Windmill at Barcaldine
Tree of Knowledge at Barcaldine
Plaque at the Tree of Knowledge at Barcaldine
Plaque at the Tree of Knowledge at Barcaldine
Back on the highway and headed for Longreach. We passed through Infracombe where there was an interesting Machinery Museum. Must stop and check it out on the way back. The Caravan Park in Infracombe doesn’t look big enough for us though.
We drove on to Longreach and checked into our good drive through site at the Discovery Top Tourist Caravan Park. We were parked beside two very large 5th Wheelers which was a funny sight as we looked quite small in comparison! We went for a walk around the park – this is the largest caravan park we have seen.
Our Trailblazer “Big Rig” Just Doesn’t Compare
Only had a light tea as we were both tired as although the weather was good today the road was not.
We were up very early for showers etc and then packed up and hitched up and headed north up the Kidman Way. There was plenty of roadkill to be seen by the road. The highway was diverted before Augathella.
Lunch Break at Tambo
We stopped in Tambo by the lake for hot cheese and asparagus on muffins for lunch. We caught up with Nola and Ike who we had met at Charleville.
We then drove on to Blackall where everything was closed because of the Queen’s Birthday Holiday. After driving around town to see the sights, we set up the van at a very nice freecamp (Qld 684 – Barcoo River Camp Blackall). There were some great metal sculptures around the camp area including a large bird on a nest on a tall pole.
Blackall Visitor Information Centre
Tribute to Jackie Howe – Shearer – Blackall
The Black Stump – Blackall
Barcoo River Camp – Blackall
Metal Sculpture at Blackall
We were experiencing great weather so I cooked a BBQ dinner outside.
Today we had some issues with the batteries in the caravan, which is not good news when freecamping, but we coped OK.
This was a great spot and we would like to return here at some point in the future.
Slow day today. I got up early and spent some time on computer while Ann had a bit of a sleep in . After breakfast there was a bit of excitement when two ambulances came with flashing lights and took away one of our neighbours who was staying in a Winnebago. The older lady in the van apparently had a fall.
We then went for a very long walk around Charleville and checked out the heritage railway station. It’s huge but only services two trains a week. There seems to be a local campaign to retain the train service.
Then it was back to the caravan park for coffee and a chat with the neighbours. I fiddled around a bit with the van and Ann made a pasta lunch. After lunch we went to the Supermarket for some last minute items before we head off in the morning. We had a very restful afternoon.
Up early for hot showers and then off into town for coffee and cake at Russell Bakery. We then drove to the Cosmos Centre at the Airport where the displays and show were amazing and well worth doing. We both learned lots about the cosmos, meteorites, and the world we live on.
Cosmos Centre at the Charleville Airport
Back to the van for lunch and then off to the Royal Flying Doctor display centre. Again, a very interesting display and well worth a visit. After that we drove around the town to have a good look around. Charleville is a very pretty town with many well preserved old “Queenslander” buildings.
Traditional “Queenslander”
Then it was back to the van and Ann did a load of washing/drying. We decided not to go to see the singer again and kicked back with happy hour in the van by the telly.
Up early and had nice hot springwater showersand after chatting with our neighbours Terry and Margaret, we headed off to Charleville. Rough road and lots of road kill on the way, but it was only 101 kms or so.
We arrived in Charleville and checked in at Baileys Bar Caravan Park. It is friendly and a bit higgledy piggledy and is jam packed but we were squeezed in next to the laundry. We could not even put out the awning. But we were in and enjoyed a lovely camp oven lamb dinner by the camp fire with a poet and a singer.
Bit Cramped at Baileys Bar Caravan Park at Charleville
We met Chris and Alice here. Chris had worked with the Dept of Forestry and as a journalist with CMCA. He had suffered terrible burns at some stage and had a Venture 5th Wheeler which they had had especially fitted out to meet his needs. We also met up with a surprising number of people who we have previously met on the road – we all seem to be headed in the same direction.
We were up early and set off for Cunnamulla. We stopped at Barringun for morning coffee and arrived at Cunnamulla by lunch time and went for a long walk around town. It is a pretty place but apparently has nearly as many social problems as Bourke.
On the Road to Cunnamulla
Cunnamulla Fella
We continued driving to Wyandra where we intended to free-camp behind the school. Unfortunately about 40 other vans had the same idea. There was a sign behind the Post Office advertising powered sites for $15 so we drove in. The owners of the Post Office have set up a small Caravan Park with new shower block (totally hot artesian water – no HWS) and about a dozen powered sites. They have an indoor/outdoor movie theatre and a big fire pit for happy hour.
Caravan Park in Wyandra
We ordered burgers for dinner by the campfire at the Post Office/General Store and then went for a walk around town. That didn’t take long. There was a very well done war memorial to remind us just how many young people from country towns went on a big adventure to WW1 and WW2 and never returned. The main street also had a double row of wire with bras displayed right along the length of the town as part of a breast cancer awareness campaign.
We started the night with happy hour around the fire. The owners’ dogs came out dressed in their Dryzabone coats. The local school teacher joined us as did the other vanners who were staying there. The owner had some very entertaining stories to tell until it was really cold and dark and he showed us into the “Movie Theatre” where we watched old Cinemascope movie reels and ate our “Roadkill Burgers”.
What an interesting night!
We took our time getting going this morning, partly as I was still uploading photos of the rally cars to my website. Click Here if you didn’t see them on a previous post!
Later in the morning we went into town for coffee and a bit of a walk around. Bourke is an interesting town of contrasts. We explored the town but were careful as we felt very intimidated by the locals. Everything in the shops is under lock and key. If you want to buy alcohol, you have to purchase through a metal grill. Clothing in the shops is under wire and chains.
All the paperwork for the sale of Mum’s retirement unit has now been finalised and the funds have been transferred to her bank account, so I now have to transfer funds to the Nursing Home for the balance of Mum’s accommodation bond. The amount was too big to transfer electronically so unfortunately I had to go to one bank to get a bank cheque and then walk to another bank to deposit the funds. Quite scary in Bourke!
Then it was back to Kidmans Camp to pack up for our departure tomorrow.
Tonight we experienced a delicious campfire spit roast dinner with a bush poet. We really enjoyed our dinner and entertainment under the stars. Ann even won a prize in the raffle. All moneys raised went to the Flying Doctor Service.
Ann’s Raffle Prizes – all money went to the Royal Flying Doctor Service
I got up early and it was absolutely freezing. I met up with the guys in the Outback Car Trek 2012 at the site of the Back ‘O’ Bourke Hotel and we had a chat about the rally. I actually stayed out in the cold – in the Ute – for an hour or so taking photos of the cars as they left their staging point and then came back to the van for a well earned hot shower and hot drink. I was happy with my morning adventure.
Outback Car Trek 2012 at Bourke
Click Here to see some more of my photos of the 2012 Outback Car Trek rally participants as they left Burke.
Mid-morning we went back to the Back’O’Bourke Information Centre and took our time going through the exhibition. It is very comprehensive and impressive. It was cold and raining outside so we went back to the Back’O’Bourke Café for a nice hot bowl of soup for Ann and a Roo burger for me. Very good.
We went back to the caravan park as I was a bit tired by this stage and we were a bit sick of the rain.
We booked in for another night at Kidmans Camp.
Shorty's RV Adventures 