Saturday...26 July 2014

So we set off again yesterday and from Charters Towers we headed to Hughenden, home of the Muttasorus dinosaur, but sadly by the time we got there the caravan park was full so we continued toward Winton and free camped at a gravel dump in the very small township of Stamford. We had the place to ourselves as even the roadhouse had closed. Very quiet night, bit on the warm side but otherwise a good nights camping.
This morning we motored down to Winton and on to Longreach. From there we went to Ilfracombe (famous for its main street which has a mile of very old tractors and other equipment). We ordered takeaways at the local hotel and spent the waiting time looking at their collection of hats donated by mostly stockmen and such. The pub at Daly Waters has its roof lined by bras and foreign currency, the pub in Ilfracome has its roof lined by akubras and $5 notes. The notes are collected over the year in donations and then used for the maintenance of the mile of tractors!
From Ilfracombe we turned onto the Isisford road. Not a very long drive but it was ruined for us by the 40 km of roadworks that actually meant driving in the tabledrain for nearly 25 km. Very rough detour tracks!
We had planned to stay at the well known Isisford free camp on the banks of the Barcoo river but two things put us off. There were over 600 people camping there and none of them seemed to be aware of the stench of something dead and decaying at or very near the camp. We slowed down and wound the window down while we worked out the layout and instantly the choking stench hit our noses and you know the campers were all just sitting there and none of them seemed to be able to smell it or care if they could!!!
Although it was getting late in the day we chose to continue to Blackall for the night.
Just out of Isisford is Isis Downs Station. This place is famous for its shearing shed and at one time the shed was open to the public but sadly it is closed now. Himself would give his eye teeth to get a look at that shed but alas it was not to be so he had to settle for stopping at the station gate and taking pictures.

Our luck was out again when we got to Blackall, the caravan park was full, so we are camped in the Blackall Council camp ground just on the edge of town. Its a free camp you have to pay for! Still it is somewhere for us to lay our weary heads before we continue our trek tomorrow.