So with a promise to try and stay more current here we go again.
After saying farewell to the Brooksbys , (as they head off down the coast home to Adelaide , with kisses and hugs we promised that we would catch up at Christmas ) we head back inland to Charters Towers then South towards Emerald.
Craft time in the car DArcy and Taine
After staying longer than expected in Townsville we knew that we had to get some KMs under our belt - with out going crazy so we headed directly on to Claremont. There had obviously been some recent rain in the area and the storm looked like it was still in the area but as it turned out we only got two or three drops. It was purely a overnight stop for us so we pulled into the caravan park, ate dinner, watched a movie then went to bed before hitting the road again headed for Emerald.
Taine and DArcy riding the monorail in the Emerald Botanic Gardens
Us going over Fairburn Dam
Emerald is a coal mining town and there are mines etc all along the road as you head into town. We had to pick up the mail and school books then headed south west of town to Fairburn Dam (three times the water of Sydney harbour) for the night. It was beautiful and 75% full so a great place to camp for the night. You can only stay in the caravan park so we picked a site close to the lakes edge and settled in. It is a well know spot for Redclaw (like a yabbie) so we put in our nets overnight and hoped for the best - using cat food as the recommended bait. Most people however have boats and put out a lot of pots and are up and out on the water at 6am each day. They were catching plenty but ours were only thrown in off the bank.
The mighty big Redclaw
Taine and DArcy with the "sleeping" Redclaw - Fairburn Dam QLD
The camp kitchen was good so we enjoyed an evening cooking and chatting with other travellers and holiday makers and even had the chance to watch TV Yeahhhh!!!!!!
The boys headed down to the dam early and were very excited by the fact that they had actually caught any Redclaw including one monster . They relayed the pots and then headed in for a swim. It had a nice sandy bottom so although they couldnt see too far it wasnt yucky to stand on.
We then walk around the bank of the dam before we all headed in for another swim, carefully avoiding the big tortoises that kept popping up around us. DArcy and i then swam out to the boat bouy having a little panic every time something touched out leg. It was a good long swim against the wind to DArcy and i were stuffed by the time we got back! Good fun though.
Fairburn dam is well know for its birdlife and in the afternoon the Rainbow Lorikeets come in from everywhere. They are obviously accustomed to getting fed and are very very very very friendly and not frightened at all. The kids and i had a ball sitting down and having them crawl and jump and bit and poo all over us. It was a real highlight for the kids.
Feeding the birds at Fairburn Dam QLD
From the dam Kym and i had made the decision to head a little further south to the Carnarvon National Park as we had previously missed it on our very first trip north to QLD in 1993. It would mean a little backtracking but we thought it would be worth it.
Carnarvon Gorge National Park - QLD
It is a national park known for its walks and let me tell you that is true.!!!!! It was hot, very hot and the walks were long, very long. Our first afternoon we spent in the local rock pools keeping cool as it was just too hot to be anywhere else. The following morning we were on the walking track by 8am and already there was a bite in the sun. Some of the gorge was closed because of a recent fire but still we had a 14km round trip ahead of us in 40 plus weather. The walk was mostly flatish with lots of river crossings and side walks to take. It was beautiful and the creek was flowing so we took advantage of it by drinking it, dunking our hats in it and at one stage taking off our shoes and boots and soaking our tired feet in the cold water. It was a long 4 plus hours but it was well worth the effort. (The national park is currently 23/11 completely closed due to the huge bush fire in the area) My crazy parents recently did the entire 20 km walk and mum even went back two days later and did another 14kms because she though she had missed some of the side attractions!!!!!!!!! Crazy stuff!!
That afternoon we went back to our air conditioned caravan, watched a movie and all complained about our sore feet. Jurassic park was the movie of choice as the Dinosaur fossils that we had visited in Winton were partly an inspiration for the movie so we thought it was a good idea to watch it!!! Early in the evening we headed back to the Rock pools and just floated and chatted to to some of the other travellers.
The boys climbing at the Rock Pools Carnarvon NP
Early to bed with out too many complaints from anyone - especially me.
From Carnarvon National Park we had to back track to Emerald - top up on groceries then head onto Sapphire and Rubyvale. While we were in Fairburn Dam, Kym had called the Brooksbys to rave about the area and unknown to us other friends of theirs - Karl and Caz had also promoted the area - so as we came into phone range we organised to catchup again in Sapphire. Up to Sapphire Caravan Park we went and with out exagerating it is one of the best parks we have stayed in all year. The layout, the owners, the pool, the toilets, the sites, the outlook, the campkitchen and the cost were fantastic. It is a real Gem in the Gemfields. There was only our three vans there and we had a fantasitic three days. Although i would not like to travel permanently with other people having the Brooksbys and Caz and Karl around just made the stay complete. The kids got on great and the rest of us just a a brilliant time. As it turns out we have ran into and chatted to Caz and Karl many times on our trip (Katherine, Edith Falls, Mataranka and Normanton) and had never realised that it was the friends that the Brooksbys had been chatting about. We all did the gem fossicking and all had some success and had a great time doing it. We all took our stones around to a local cutter and should receive the cut stones in January some time. The rest of the stones we found are to small to be cut in Australia so we have the address of a cutter in Thailand that will cut stones of any size and at 1/10 of the price of here.
Searching for The Big One - Sapphire QLD
Taine thinks he has got one!!!
The Brooksby girls and Riley hoping for a huge one
The rest of our time was spent floating and chatting in the pool before moving onto the 'restaurant' Italiano that Riley, Georgia and the boys created at the camp kitchen. It was great to have the chance to relax and chat with other travellers and Caz and Karl are a great laugh. Now leaving Sapphire we were sure that we were parting company for good this time from the Brooksbys (more photos ) after our false starts in Mt Isa and Townsville, as they have to be home a little earlier than us. Karl and Caz are from Perth so they should be passing through Adelaide in February sometime!
From Sapphire we continued West chasing the hot, actually very hot weather. We stopped overnight at Lloyd Jones Weir near Balcaldine after visiting The Tree of Knowledge and having a drink in one of six pubs in the main street. The pub we drank at has recently been bought by a NZ family and one of the daughters and a cousin were working the place. I dont think Barcaldine would know what hit them with those dynamo's. They had the party going with 80's music - i loved it, and it was only midday. Look out Barcaldine!!!!! Great girls. Lloyd Jones Weir is a free camp and iI suspect during the winter months it would be very very popular. It is a nice spot but the water levels were low and it was hot hot hot , but we opened up all the windows and vents, watched a movie outside on the computer, watched the goats and kangaroos play chasey on the banks for the weir and had a great nights sleep.
The tree at Lloyd Jones Weir with a little bit of something left from other travellers - DArcy left his sunglasses in the tree. Near Barcaldine QLD
The following day we headed to Longreach which is a destination we (Kym and I ) had always intended to visit on this trip. It has meant a bit of backtracking but who knows when we will be up here again. We arrived early and were set up by 11am knowing it was going to be another scorching hot day - 47 C it turns out and it was a stinker.
In the spa at Longreach Caravan park
The park however had some 'spas' and we spent a good 5-6 hours just sitting and playing in them through out the day and evening, having our last swim at about 9pm before heading to bed. It was great and helped us survive the day. Although we do have airconditioning it really does struggle in that kind of heat. Especially day after day after day. This area of Australia really is a winter travelling area but im still really glad we have been out to visit. It has meant we havent been able to bush camp like we would have liked but you need to be fair on the kids and sensible in this kind of weather.
The Stockmans Hall of Fame
Longreach is famous for its Stockmans Hall of Fame and The QANTAS Foundation museum. We decided that we would see both of them the next day heading out early to the museum. Well let me tell you, i was very surprised and our couple of hours turned into 4 hours and still we could have spent longer. The kids loved it and were entertained by all the attractions and had some educational sheets to fill in as well. The staff were great and we really enjoyed our tour of the Jumbo. We were booked in on the 9am tour but we were busy in the museum still so changed to the 11am tour which turned out to be a great idea. We were the only ones on it and so im sure we got more out of it.
QANTAS Museum Longreach QLD
For lunch we headed into the main street and had pies and cakes from the Merino Bakery - yumbo we were all very happy with the taste and the price. Very nice.
We then headed straight out to the Hall of Fame. It is a beautiful building and doesnt look 21 years old. Whether it was because we had all enjoyed the QANTAS museum so much im not sure but the Hall of Fame was not as good. Many people spend hours and hours and hours there but i think with the kids, the interaction was not enough and there was just toooooooo much reading to be done. Never the less we all got something out of it and it was a great place to escape the heat. 45C plus again. The rest of the night was spent in the spas again trying to stay cool.
Not much in Blackall - between Longreach and Tambo, actually people have said that there is F___all at Blackall (John Atkinson!) - we found the Black Stump.
Saturday we were on the road pretty early to beat the heat and we were set up and swimming in Tambo by before lunch getting the only site with shade in the park! The park had a pool so again (sounds like a record) we spent the afternoon in the pool. The kids are all starting to be over the trip and spent alot of the afternoon planning what and when and how we should get home!!! Kym and i had some work to do that night so the kids happily watched a video while Kym and i sat outside working . Tambo for us was just a stop over but it was a very pleasant evening.
If your name was Mitchell would you go out of your way in 40 plus degree weather just to go to a town named Mitchell. We would! It is famous for its artesian hot spas as well so after setting up camp - we headed back in to town to visit the springs. $22.oo for the family to get in so let me tell you (im a Bird ) we were going to get our moneys worth. We arrived at 1pm left at closing time at 6pm and spent the entire afternoon swapping from hot spring (39C) to cooler spring (29C) to the large swimming pool - 3.5 metres deep in the deep end. What a day - apparently the minerals or herbs and spices as we call them are good for aching and weary bones .
The Mitchell hot springs
We then spent some time taking pictures of all the Mitchell things in town. Easily entertained we are.
Mitchell QLD
Up again early to avoid the heat - a reoccurring theme - we headed to Roma. It is a larger town in the oil and gas field here in QLD. After getting the tyres on the van rotated and flipped and a new battery (the old one had buldged in the heat) we headed to the park with the pool and again found the only site with shade. The kids swam, i did the grocceries - before spending three hours updating the blog on top of the three hours i spent last night - and Kym worked in the afternoon. Tomorrow we are off to the cattle sale yards before heading on to St George.
Roma Sale Yards - Roma QLD
Life of the road continues to be great fun although as i mention the kids are really homesick and pushing to get home. Riley particularly so! We understand that but as we know once we are home our trip of a life time is over so we arent pushing it. We have the date of the 18th December in mind so at this time it is still our planned arrival date. Exciting for all of us really.
