Thursday...14 July 2011

Today we went to the Stockmans Hall of Fame. Wow. The building is stunning and the information contained in it is definately worth the time to visit and read.

Included in our tickets was a live show out the back. There is a small open air stadium and a ringer has a few animals well trained to help him entertain us. The most interesting thing he did was yoke up a bullock team and demonstate how they worked.

After that was lunch at the Cattlemans Bar and Grill and then we spent another couple of hours wandering around inside the complex. It includes an art gallery, gift shop and coffee shop.

When we left there we went back into town and saw a Cobb & Co Wagon ride just returning to the depot. The horses were beautiful.

On return to camp we were sitting outside our van having happy hour when we got visited by the resident brolgas. They are not shy and love being fed small treats by the caravan park residents.

Wednesday...13 July 2011

Up early....sounds of screaming children always have the effect of alarm clocks! The precious little ones in the tent next to our van were up and on the go nice and early today, probably because they were cold, it was only 6 degrees at 7.30am! They screamed and yelled and had the time of their lives chasing each other all over the van park, while mum and dad packed up the camper trailer/tent. End result we got up early too and were ready to break camp by 9.00am, a new record for us.
Found out too late that Winton is the home of an actual dinosaur dig. A few kms out of town we passed a turn off to a dinosaur discovery centre. Seems our friend Muttasaurus used to hang around the Winton area. Never mind we will check it out on our way back through Winton after we leave Longreach. Our journery here was relatively easy, only the one stop for 15 mins at road works about half way between Winton and Longreach.
When we arrived we checked into the largest park in town and once we had set up camp we headed out to see the Qantas Founders Museum. It is located at the Longreach airport in a purpose built building right next to the original hangar that Qantas started from. We toured the museum and the original hangar.

Now that is history. We all jump on planes and think nothing of it, but here we are in the middle of nowhere, well actually in the middle of Queensland, and this is where the national airline began all those years ago. It is amazing to think that something that began in the outback became a national icon.

A very interesting afternoon. Tomorrow we are booked to do the tour,show and lunch at the Stockmans Hall of Fame.

Tuesday...12 July 2011

Cannot believe how cold it was last night. Guess its being inland that does it.......
Another long days travel today. We left Pentland when the sun finally got up at 9.30am and got to Winton at 3.00pm. Long day in the car being bounced all over the road. As inland roads go this one was actually quite a good road but full of potholes and dips that make the van jerk on its hitch which in turn thumps hell out of me.
In the meantime we are in Winton which claims to be the home of Waltzing Matilda. When I went to school it was more famous for having some of the biggest sheep flocks and also the biggest shearing sheds in Australia. Times change.
Along the way we had to go through Hughenden which claims to be part of the dinosaur discovery area here in Australia. Out in the street they have a life size replica of the type of dinosaur being found around there. The locals have called him 'Mutt'.

Monday...11 July 2011

Left Townsville this morning, heading inland towards Longreach. We have pulled up for the night in a nowhere town called Pentland about half way between Charters Towers and Hughenden. Just us and four other vans for the night. Bit close to the road so hoping the traffic slows a bit overnight.
We did plan to stay the night in Charters Towers but we went into and out the other side of the town without ever once seeing any caravan park signage, and according to our book there are three parks in that town. A bit of signage would increase their customer numbers!!
Am getting fed up with caravan parks that do not have level sites. This place is uphill and down dale every which way.... no way can we get our van level. Thank goodness it is only for one night, I would be violently ill if I had to stay on this type of lean for very long, it is playing merry hell with my balance!
Have been noticing lots of houses empty on farms as we travel around. What a shame when we have so many people on waiting lists for public housing.

Friday...8 July 2011

Got to Townsville on Wednesday afternoon, long drive. Only 400kms but in traffic with lots of roadworks and minor hold ups. Was fairly tired when we finally got here.
Small problem with the caravan. One of the slides does not want to work. Himself has crawled underneath and says a bracket that holds the sliding mechanism has bent somehow. He took it off and we took it into town and he used a vice at my nephews place to straighten it out so here is hoping that when he puts it all back together today we have a working slide. If not then I guess we will end up staying here longer than expected while we get it fixed.
Saw my sister yesterday and for an  83yo who has had major surgery recently she is looking remarkably well. Very fit and active too, and sharp as a tack. Lovely to see her and chat over a pot of tea.  She always tells me I look like our dear departed father, which I like hearing.
We are staying out of town a bit at a rodeo ground. Very country. Nice and quiet and lots of space and very few rules. Has all the amenities but none of the politics of caravan parks. Most relaxing.

Tuesday...5 July 2011

Have had a lovely time here visiting with my neice. Been good to catch up. Our thanks to her and her husband for all the help and hospitality. Will miss that giggle..........
Moving day tomorrow, we are off to Townsville. After that we turn left and head back towards the inland areas and maybe even make to Longreach this time.

Sunday...3 July 2011

Went to a BBQ on Saturday. Most enjoyable. Did the washing today and of course the weather turned lousy!!!. Every time I wash the sun takes a holiday. Am way over the idea of winter and grey miserable days. Have given up on 'sunny' Queensland. It is a myth......