Floods Tara

Check these photo's out CLICK HERE

Yesterday we started our journey to the Kwiambal National Park & from all reports the previous day the road was clear. How fast the water rises! There was some floods on the Surat Road west of Tara which we were able to negotiate but when we were 14km from Moonie on the Leichhardt Hiway the Moonie River was far to high & you would have to be a submarine to get through.

So we had to turn around & go home!!! Hoping to get through on Saturday 1st January 2011. The road reports are not very accurate so we decided to unhitch the caravan & go for a drive. The Tara-Surat Road was supposed to be closed but there was no problem! we continued down the Moonie Hiway to Moonie which was supposed to be closed again no problem?

At Moonie we were able to confirm by the locals that the road was blocked to Goondawindi? the road reports the day before said it was open! So what do you do! We had a nice lunch at Moonie then Traveled back to Tara via the Cambridge Crossing Road & was not a problem.

When we got back to Tara to get some bread & milk & fruit alas there was none the town is isolated from the main centers & no supplies were getting in & it was reported that the town is out of fuel. Would you believe it then the power went off for 6 hours! So we lit up the BBQ started up the generator & pretended we were camping. Funny.

Hopefully the next post we will actually be from our destination. Keep posted & Have a happy New Year.

Home to Gairloch Cottage 3-10-2010

We are home & the grass is long it will be a few days mowing lawns, washing the wagon & the van but you should see the wonderful colours we came home too. The wild flowers are a really great display of white, purple & yellow.
The gardens look wonderful thanks to Trish's efforts, native trees blossoming & a myriad of flowers, geraniums, daisies, even the bromiliads & cactus are flowering. Just love the spring time when we get rain.
 Talking about rain we have had a decent amount while away as the dam is full & the melon-holes are full so we have these private lakes which is nice except the mossies are out in full vengeance.
Had a BBQ last night & had to put the bug zapper on as the bugs, moths, mossies etc were that thick the air was black with them (see photo's).
The ponies & chooks look like they were having fun but they all were actually pleased to see us. Well now it is time to get some work done & plan for another tour. Yipee!!! 

Some Photo's For you CLICK HERE



 

Cunnamulla & St.George 1 & 2-October 2010

G'day how are you going & where are you from, are the most common expressions that start conversation amongst all the fellow travelers we meet. Well we traveled yesterday from Charleville to Cunnamulla & stopped at Wyandra to get a coffee, the Post Office-Cafe-Store the only one in town was very interesting as the lady owner seemed a bit stoned however we did have coffee & scones.
Then we traveled onto Cunnamulla & were going to stay at the showgrounds however it is now closed to campers because of insurance costs which is a shame but we found a camping ground further into Cunnamulla which turned out ok. Met some more people & we had some drinks & a lot of yarns around the campfire that evening. The was a character there named Peter who had some real funny jokes & stories.
This morning we headed off to St.George nearly 300 km and stopped at Bollon for a drink. The cafe was open & what an interesting place full of old shearing history (see the photo's). We are now in St.George & the shops are shut! yipee said Arthur. Set the van up for the night & went for a walk down to the Bollon River, as all the other rivers it is quite full & flowing. Mucked around down there having fun (see the photo's).
Having a BBQ tonight as the weather is warm & fine. Well the journey ends tomorrow as we travel the last leg to Tara. We want to stay out here & keep going it is such a wonderful life. The Pajero & the Caravan have been wonderful with no major problems.

Cunnamulla & St. George CLICK HERE for Photo's

Charleville 29 & 30-9-2010

Had a good trip to Charleville but nearly ran out of Diesel! managed to get to Auguthella which was great. Charleville is a nice town & we stayed in Cobb & Co Caravan Park for 2 days. Had a nice evening around the camp fire with some more new friends from WA. Bert & Margaret. Tomorrow we are off to Cunnamulla.

Running out of time have to be back on Sunday!!!!

Some Pictures for you CLICK HERE Charleville

Tambo 28-9-2010

Had a 4 hour drive from Longreach to Tambo (via Barcaldine & Blackall) this morning. Its is wonderful seeing the outback green from all the rain. Passed a few Emu's with their chicks along the way. A lot of water at Tambo from the heavy rains they have had the locals said mate its been bucketing down had 3 inches last night. The road to Alpha & Springsure is cut off the Barcoo river is really deep across the road. Went for a walk this afternoon through the town.
Tambo is the oldest town in the west & it is also famous for Tambo Teddy's all manufactured from sheepskin & Trish had a good look around. Lovely parks in the town next to the Barcoo River. Golly Gosh just heard thunder outside better go secure the van. Bye for now.

Tambo CLICK HERE for photos

Qantas Museum & Brooks & Magee

Hi folks this is our last day in Longreach & what a big day. Yesterday we spent all day drying everything out from the storm last night.
We had a great day at the Qantas Founders Museum & also went on the Boeing 747 Tour which was very interesting (well Arthur thought so. Bloke stuff). We got to stand inside the massive jet engine. See Photo.
That evening we had a great time at the Woolshed Restaurant nice meal & stayed for the show by country singers Brooks & Magee which was wonderful. Then we went to bed to get up early in the morning to start our travels.
Tomorrow we are heading toward Charleville with a overnight stop at Tambo. Good night all.

 
Photos for you CLICK HERE good for the blokes!

This is Day 11

G'day Folks, Here we are again. Last night we boarded the the "Thomson Belle" a paddlewheeler that churns comfortably down the Thomson River supposedly steaming through the magnificent sunset & back to shore for a bush-cooked meal around the campfire.

Well it all turned pear shaped as we turned around & saw this massive storm looming down on us, well to cut a long story short we all got saturated & were bused to a hall for the bush cooked meal (which was cooked in the bush before the storm hit us). The meal was fantastic & entertainment was from the Internationally renowned Bare Foot Poet Milton Taylor. It was an evening of bush heritage & bush humour.

Well when we got back to the van the storm had hit the park really hard & we had left the widows & vents open!!!! So this morning is clean-up day & drying everything out. There was no damage. The moral to the story is shut the windows wally!

On the Thomson River PHOTOS CLICK HERE

This is day 10

How are you all going? We are having a lazy day today as we are taking an evening trip & dinner on the Thompson River @ Longreach. The boat is a paddle boat called the Thomson Belle should be a good night out unless it is canceled due to the weather. Last night we had a big lightening storm which shook the van a bit but it weathered really well.
Went for a walk around Discovery Park today & took some photos of the plants in bloom, they are mainly Bougainvillea, Oleander & Canna Lillies. Discovery Park is a very nice park with all the amenities & plenty to do.

Photos Just For You CLICK HERE

This is Day 9

G'day,
Today we went for a drive to Ilfracombe 27 clicks from Longreach. As you drive into town, one of the worlds longest museums peels away as you pass. This is the Machinery Mile & Heritage Display where you are able to trace the history of pastoral & community development from early walking beam drilling rigs, to early graders & fireploughs, tractors, pumps. This town is a testament to the early settlers & pioneers that made this country with many displays & historical artifacts. Simply an amazing day.

Pictures for you CLICK HERE

The link below is for the blokes. Pictures of old Tractors from my previous blog.

Pictures for the Guys CLICK HERE

Don't forget to see what we are up to tomorrow!

Day 9 One for the Blokes Ilfracombe Tractors

Hey Guys. Spent the morning at Ilfracombe a Town 27km south of Longreach. Took some interesting pictures if you are into old tractors.
There are also old Trucks, Graders, Dozers, Steam Machines, etc. etc. They are all displayed on the grassed area down one side of the road.

                                          McCormick Deering 1917?

                                          Old Dozers

To see The Tractors CLICK HERE 

This is Day 8

Hi Friends & Family,

Had some rain today but were able to go for a drive to the Lilly Lagoon which is north of Longreach off the road to Muttaburra. This was our first little off road run. It is amazing to find this lagoon in the middle of nowhere which has bird life & some lilies growing there.
There was also a lot of cattle in amongst the bush grazing & we were able to get quite close. Unfortunately the birds are really timid however got a picture of 1!
Went up town today also for Trish to have some retail therapy & book in for a cruise on saturday afternoon on a paddle boat on the Thompson river. We are hoping this goes ahead as the river is rising & flowing quite fast due to the rains. 
We are really pleased with the Pajero it drives really well & you wouldn't know the caravan was behind you but of course you must remember! Hoping to go to the Qantas museum tomorrow.

Some pictures CLICK HERE

This is Day 6 & 7

Hi Folks,

We had a good trip to Longreach. Set up the Caravan for a nice 7 day stay in the Discovery Caravan Park.
Nice big outback park with all the amenities & things happening all the time. Caught the cockatoo & snake show
 (see the photo's) had fish & chips for tea met lots of people. Day 7 we went up to town to get some supplies & then onto the Thompson River to meet some people & see the river. Had a lazy afternoon & cooked a BBQ for dinner. We could really get to like this life!

Some Photo's CLICK HERE

This Is Day 5

Well here we are day 5. Day 4 we got stuck in Tambo the rain was too heavy to leave they had 107mm. We left this morning to stop at Barcaldine via Blackall. Had a good trip was not impressed with Blackall but Barcaldine is a lovely historical town where the Tree of Knowledge stands the place where the Labour Movement was formed. We found a lovely boutique caravan park called the Roses & Things with lovely gardens & nice atmosphere. Tomorrow we are off to Longreach for 7 days weather permitting as there are floods around & supposed to have a storm tonight O dear!
Keep in touch 

Some Pictures for You CLICK HERE

This is Day No.3

Well we wish it would stop raining. Heading for Tambo today Saturday 18th September 2010. Stopped at Auguthella for a look around & Cuppa & fuel at the local service station. Arrived at Tambo for lunch & just vegetated for the rest of the day it is so wet we have stopped at the local Caravan Park for the night.

See Photo's CLICK HERE

This is day No 2

Well it is still wet & getting wetter. Today we left Muckadilla and headed for Morven & stopped at Mitchell for morning tea. Mitchell is another old Western Queensland town and we were amazed at how many Pubs they have. (see the pictures) Also there are large Bottle trees through the town which look great, we bought a couple of small bottle trees as they grow well at home, we have a large one at the side of our house which is great shade. We camped the night at Morven in the local Show Grounds which has all the amenities & it was wet all night.

See Photo's CLICK HERE

The Journey Begins

Well here we are friends it's time to travel . Thursday the 16th September we took off heading to Longreach Qld which is 1000km from Tara. The wagon is ready & packed & the van is set to go.
Our first stop is at Glenmorgan where this amazing Motor Museum is & would you believe it they had a 1948 Ford Mercury see the pictures this is the car Arthur had when he was courting Trish. We have some amazing stories about us & the Merc however that is another story.
Our next stop was at Surat to get some fuel & then we parked @ the Fishing & Restocking Club Park right beside the Balonne River & had a cuppa. This is a great free site.
Next we traveled through Roma to Muckadilla where we parked in the local Community Park which has toilets & even showers. Well it took all of 5 minutes to walk around the town but it has real character see the photo's of the bench seats outside the local watering hole (the Pub). The free facilities are excellent. Would you believe it is COLD & starting to rain & here we are dressed for the hot outback.
Enjoying our first day & after dinner we played with the computer & photos then went to bed with a good book. Good night all. Enjoy the photos.  See the photo's Click Here

Lovely Spring Day at Tarella

Hi All, What a lovely day we had today. We went to Marion Simmonds property about 12km from Tara on the Kogan Road. We enjoyed our time with Marion & the animals and were served with wonderful snacks & drinks. It was great seeing all the new spring babies - lambs, calves, goats. We were even able to bottle feed some of the orphan lambs.

We were able to say hello to our former fostered sheep Lucinda & Dana who have both had twins.

The property is amazing with all the different animals. If you need a good country farm fix then this is the place with sheep, goats, cattle, milking cows, pigs, dogs, horses, poultry.


Thank you Marion for a great afternoon

Some pictures for you to look at     Spring Babies 2010

Nearly Ready

Hi to all our friends & family. Here it is now the 1st September 2010 Spring is in the air and we are really getting the bug to join the Grey Nomads. Have had a hectic time setting everything up for our travels but it is all coming together now. We will be heading to Longreach which is nearly 1000 km from Tara & will be away for 2 weeks. This is our trial run and we are both really excited about exploring the country between here & there!
 Our caravan is a Coromal Excel 541 & our wagon is a Pajero 3.0ltr Diesel both 2004 models. All our caravan friends say we did really well.

So we are leaving on Friday 17th September & looking forward to meeting new friends on our travels & will be away 2 weeks approx. We will be publishing new posts as we go so please keep looking.

Some pictures for you.
http://picasaweb.google.com/arthurandtrish/20100901#