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.

Wednesday 18th Longreach – Barcaldine – Mt Arthur

Now it is time to make our way back to Barcaldine to meet mum & dad and head out to our friends place at Mt Arthur.

We drove 25ks out to Barcaldine Downs and the dirt road started a short distance after that the road was very good.

Turned onto the Mt Arthur road and 20ks up there we found the homestead, now one home at this stage so we sat around until they arrived.  I had to go back to Barcaldine Downs to pick up mum & dad as he was not keen to take his bus on the dirt.

Tuesday 17th Longreach

We are staying here today as tonight we have our cruise and dinner.  So did some food shopping as we are not sure where we will be in the next week.

At 4:30pm we were picked up by the Kinnon & Co bus to go out on the Thomson River for our cruise and dinner by the river.

The sunset cruise was very good and we had stew for dinner really highly recommend this tour to anyone making the trip out here.  They had a great entertainment after dinner a bit cold and a great night.

 

Monday 16th Winton – Longreach

We set off from the park to drive south 13ks south of Winton to visit the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum. 




The tours run on the hr from 9am and we had to wait until 10am,  we walked over to the lab to see the first part of the tour which was very interesting and informative.

Now back to the info centre to attend the second part of the tour which was in a room where all the dinosaur bones were kept after they had done all the work in the lab.  Great place will come back again.

 

Another great tour.

 

It is now 12:30 and time to hit the road as we have about 2hr to Longreach, we had lunch at one of the rest stops on the way.

We have arrived in Longreach and we are having a couple of days at the caravan park and it is no different to any other place we have been out here not grass just dirt and lots of it.

Sunday 15th Winton

We decided to stay another night in the park instead of packing up and moving to the free camp just out of town.

We ventured into the Bladensburg national park and we followed a map we had with all the sights to see.  We found a homestead and then a 4x4 wheel track which took a good hr to do and lots of kangaroos in this park when they saw us coming they hopped away.

We found a good place for you Pete called Skull Hole not much there a small amount of water and that was it.

Also we found Logan falls which made me think of Rhonda & Ian as there grandson is call Logan not much there a some stagnate water which we had to climb down to see.

Now back to camp which was about 2pm and we took a walk down the street to have another look as tomorrow we are heading off back to Longreach. 

Saturday 14th Winton

Today we are going out to the Lark Quarry Conservation Park to see the dinosaur stampede which was 110ks out of town so we had to get away early to be out there before 10am as that what time the first tour took place.

The road was not too bad even after the rain we had last night most of it was dirt. 







We arrived out there at 9:15am early as usual so we took the short walk call Spinifex trail which was around of the centre with a great lookout.  Now it was time to go inside a lot of people had arrived so in we went it was very interesting.

 

After the tour we drove around to Opalton and had lunch at Mayneside Homestead Ruins beside a lovely creek.  This drive was a very big one and I did not think we would every make it to Opalton and not sure what to expect.  Not much in this little community Paul spoke to a bloke and he told him that there was only 22 people here.

Now home we go dropping into the national park to see if we will camp there or the water hole close to town.  Dinner at the pub tonight.

Friday 13th Longreach – Winton

We woke this morning to a little rain, we left our free camp north of Longreach about 8am and along the way the rain got a bit heavier and the clouds were very dark.

We arrived in Winton about 11am and found the Tatts hotel van park set up and went for a walk down to the info centre.  We bought tickets to the Waltzing Matilda Centre, all the dinosaur things we want to see while we are here. 

The town is having a street party tonight (I think they heard we were coming to town) for the locals because of the drought to boost moral so we will venture down at 5:30pm to see what happens.

It is now 5:30pm and time to hit the town there is a band lots of food stalls, and a few drag cars as there is drag racing tomorrow.

We had dinner at the pub listened to the band for awhile before heading back to camp as it was raining a bit heavier now and they really need it out here.

Thursday 12th Ilfracombe – Longreach

Heading to Longreach today about 25ks up the road.  We found the shops and had a walk down the main street and Paul need a haircut and I found him a hair salon so in he went and came out a new man with a number 2.

We booked into the dinner and boat ride for next Tuesday as we will be back here for a couple of nights.  I decided to book in the Cobb and Co coach ride for this afternoon at 2:30pm.

We found the free camping spot Longreach Waterhole had lunch and it was still blowing all the dust around.

Now it was getting near 2pm and we drove into town and looked around the shop Kinnon & Co which was where the coach went from.  Paul bought a great jacket while we waited, now it was time to board the coach and the guy running it wanted to know if Paul wanted to come and let him on for nothing.  It was a great ride and if anyone comes up here should do it.

Before heading back to camp after our ride we did a bit of shopping and looking in the camping shop.

Quite night listening to the radio.