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