Sunday 6th Miles – Isla Gorge

We left there just before 9am and headed north.

Lake Murphy was our first stop and that was in time for lunch, great camp spot but no water in the lake.

Now onto Isla Gorge which was not far we arrived there about 1:30pm very rocky camp spot but managed to find 2 spots.

We took a little walk out to a lookout.

Happy hr watching the sun go down, then had a lovely dinner sitting around a lovely little fire. 
 
 

Saturday 5th Roma – Miles

We eventully got away from camp about 9:30am as Pam found someone to talk to at the showers for ½ hr.  We did not have to get away too early as we only had 140ks to do.

1^st stop was Wallumbilla Railway station so we had a look around there for a little while as they had some info on a train crash in the 1950s.

Now onto Yuleba and out to Judd Lagoon 13ks from town and it was a great spot we had morning tea there (good camp spot).  Down the same road about another 15ks was old Yuleba no ruins left only a plaque.

Back into town and heading to Surat we drove about 15ks to find Native wells and we had lunch there as the day was moving along.

We arrived in Miles about 1pm and we found the info centre which was the historic village also so we spent a couple of hrs looking around there.

It was too late to travel anywhere else so we found the show ground and stayed there for the night.  It was quite a cold night so early to bed. 
 
 
 

Friday 4th Roma

We did not have to get up early today as we were only going to look around Roma, so we went down the main street looking at the shops Pam had to buy 6 litres of vinegar to put in their water tank as it was tasting not very nice.

We went back to the camp with pies for lunch and the vinegar and they empty the tank and filled it with the vinegar.

We did another trip into town as we had to go to the visitors centre and we showed the Simpsons some of the sites around the place.

We decided to go out for dinner and found a nice pub and the meal was fantastic

Biggest Bottle Tree

Thursday 3rd Roma

Today we are moving from the caravan park to the show ground waiting for the Simpsons to turn up. 

We took another trip out to the sale yards to see the cattle that were there being weighed and sorted out into pens.

Pam & Jack arrived about 2pm and they had a bit of trouble setting up as Pam wanted the camper in a particular direction so Jack got out of the car after a lap around the ground to let Pam park it where she wanted it.

Now all settled we sat around drinking tea, then as the afternoon moved on the boys had beers. 

Wednesday 2nd Roma

It was -2 this morning and Paul had to get up and take the car in for a service I stayed in bed a little longer before dragging myself out to do the washing.

We went for a drive to the cattle yards to find they were loading the cattle onto trucks so we watched for some time and it was very interesting.

I did some shopping as we are not sure where we will venture to after we leave here.  We are thinking we might head to the coast as we have a small problem with one of the blinds and might call into Australian Offroad to get them to fix it.

Very cold again tonight so we are staying inside. 

Tuesday 1st July Mitchell – Roma

This morning was the coldest spot in Qld so it was hard to get out of bed, mum & dad left before us as they are on there way home today.  We only had 86ks and could not check into the caravan park until 11am.

We arrived about 10:45 and able to get into the park straight away.  I did some of our washing as we had a lot and I would be doing more tomorrow anyway.   We had a drive around Roma so we checked out the show ground to see if it was going to be ok for when Pam & Jack arrive.

The sun was out and the wind has dropped for now so we spent the afternoon in the sun just relaxing.

Monday 30th Charleville – Mitchell

We have decided to move onto Mitchell and it was very cold this morning.  A little out of Morven which was about 10am we came across about 11 kangaroos jumping all over the road we thought that we were safe when the next thing a kangaroo came back on the road and we have now hit the 1^st one of the trip.  No damage to the car not sure of the kangaroo we did not stop think we ran over its legs.  The wild life has been bad out here so we are lucky we have only hit one.

Arrived in Mitchell about 11am and glad to be off that road.  Mum & dad decided to have one last night with us so we went to the Neil Turner Weir it was crowed but we found a spot in the sun for a little while.

It was still blowing and very cold all day so Paul & I went for a walk around the place looking at the other vans and trying to find some bird life.

It was very cold that night. 
 

Sunday 29th Lake Houdraman – Charleville

We had a big day today 200ks and the wind has dropped slightly still very cold though.  We had morning tea at Fox trap roadhouse (Cooladdi) half way between the two.

We arrived in Charleville and met mum & dad at the Cosmos centre and we had our lunch there.  They decided to travel onto Morven and we went and booked into the Charleville Bush camping park, what a great little park only opened in the winter.  We had happy hour beside this very small fire and we nearly froze as I don’t think the camp host know what a fire is.   Now it is time for dinner out at the renovated pub in town and then back to camp to see if the fire has got bigger.  Paul ventured over to the fire so I went a little while after had a great night with some of the people there. 

Saturday 28th Quilpie – Lake Houdraman

Today we have an even bigger day 4ks as we decided to stay out at Lake Houdraman   which would have been really nice if the wind would stop blowing a gale.  The sun was out which was nice and worm but the wind was terrible.

This morning we managed to pump out our toilet with no dramas and it turned out to be very easy.

Spent the day catching up on my blog as watch the water for any bird pictures. 
 

Friday 27th Welford N.P – Quilpie

Paul went fishing early (the saying is early bird catches the worm) and after about 1/2hr he was back with even a bigger fish he must be good.

 

We got on our way about 9am as we had to me mum & dad at the end of the road I hope.  We did find them and it was now about 11am and we had some morning tea.

Crossing Barcoo River (leaving Welford NP)

We are going to make our way down to Quilpie today as every day we are not sure where we will end up I think this is how retired people travel.

We arrived in Quilpie about 4pm and had a quick look around town before heading out beside the river not much of a camp site ended up staying here.

Thursday 26th Jundah – Welford N.P

 

We all left camp about 9am and we are going to try and pump out our toilet today (no luck we forgot to turn on a switch).  So into town,  we had 49ks to the NP and mum & dad were heading to Windorah on the black top and meeting us near the road in from that end.

The road was good all the way to the N.P. and then 12ks to the camp site which followed the river all the way. 

 

 

Eventually we found the camp spot and set up had a cup of tea, Paul put yabbie pot in and checked it after our cuppu and found he had a good size yabbie.

We decided to go for 2 of the drives there one was the desert drive and that was interesting I found I had a tick and we found 2 very large snakes.  The river drive was not much but it was good to do.

 

Now back at camp we had some lunch and then I decided to have a fish with Paul that was a mistake as I got into trouble by the master as he said I was not doing it right so I gave up and went found some birds to take photos of.

 

That afternoon Paul caught a very nice fish yellow belly and he was very pleased with himself.  It was a cold night and we did not have much fire wood so it will be early to bed.

 

Wednesday 25th Jundah

Today the weather is a little better and we did not have to get up early as we were not going to do much.  Paul tried to catch yabbies only little ones here not really any good for fishing.

During the day we took a trip into town to see the sites not many to see a pub we had to have a look at maybe we might have to get the fish & chips there.

We did get a ice cream and took a run out of the town to get some fire wood to keep us worm tonight as I think we will have another cold night.

Chicken dinner tonight no fish as the fisherman did not catch anything here.  Another night around Rogers fire Paul is hoping he might forget to take it with him.

Tuesday 24th Stonehenge - Jundah

Today we have about 60ks another long day (ha ha) and on the way we stopped in at a lookout which took in all the surrounding areas great view.

We stopped and had a look at a native well about 30ks out of town. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arrived in about 11am this place has wide streets and not a lot of traffic around.  Quite a cute little place there is a general store, post office/info centre/library all in one with computers anyone can use.

Now a 1k out of town is the Thomson river where we will camp for a couple of nights.  The weather today is not very nice with the wind blowing and very cloudy and cold.

Roger and Jill Sheath turned up after we had some lunch and they found a spot near us to camp.  I cooked a great lamb stew for dinner we sat around Roger’s fire pit and went to bed.

Monday 23rd Barcaldine – Longreach - Stonehenge

So today we are heading back to Longreach (must love the place) to meet up with a cousin for morning and he is travelling to Alice.

We arrived in Longreach 10:00 ready to have morning tea at Merino bakery (it is the meeting place for everyone).  Before heading on the road we have to do some shopping as our next big shops could be days away not sure it depends on where we end up.

Out of town we stopped on the side of the road to have pies I bought before heading to the car and they were pretty good.

Stonehenge was about 2hrs away and arrived there about 4pm not much there a pub and visitors centre and a place to camp.  Great sunset tonight.

Sunday 22nd Mt Arthur – Barcaldine

This morning we drove the 60ks back to Barcaldine to find mum & dad.  The were camped in the showground so that is were we will stay the night.

We had a very relaxing afternoon there the weather is perfect.  The amenities here are good and we watched some horses.

We had TV tonight which was something different.

 

Saturday 21st Mt Arthur

Mt Arthur Homestead

This morning Lois & I too mum & dad back to the bus while

Paul & Bob went fishing in one of the dams to see if they could get a big yellow belly.

When we got back to the house they were there with no luck so no fish for dinner.

In the afternoon we sat around socking up the sun and enjoying the peace and quite.

Friday 20th Mt Arthur

The boys worked on a bike today and the girls drove around looking for more brolgas to take photos around the dams and try and find the echidna we saw the day before not luck today.

A great afternoon around the homestead and a beautiful sunny day.

Thursday 19th Mt Arthur

Today we decided to take a drive out with Bob & Lois to look at the bores and make sure they were all working.

A lovely lot of cattle and plenty of Kangaroos out here a flock of Brolgas flying around and even some Bustards.  Great day out on the property had by all.