Longreach cont....

Not feeling any better today and now Bazza is coughing, oops I have shared it ! We went along to the Qantas Museum this morning, Bazza did the tour of the 747 while I continued looking at the great display of the Qantas history in the museum. This afternoon was spent at the Stockman's Hall of Fame, good thing the video that we went to watch only went for 15 minutes, as I was just nodding off for a little kip. Both attractions are well worth the visit, so much information that it was impossible for us to read it all. It was back to the caravan for a rest and Bazza cleaned the car, as on our travels we had driven through several patches of locus.
Today at Longreach there was around 300 horses and their riders, riding through the town out to the Stockman's Hall of Fame as an awareness for breast cancer.

Longreach

The Thompson Developmental Rd from Windorah to Longreach was far better than Diamantina Developmental Rd from Quilpie to Windorah. It was quiet wide until just afte Stonehenge when it regressed to a one lane road with many cattle grids and one lane bridges that you had to make sure you were lined up before crossing. Again the scenery was forever changing at one stage it was just grassy plains for a far as you could see both sides of the road.

We arrived at Longreach mid afternoon and decided to stay at the free camp outside of town along with about 75 other van, motorhomes and campers. It was not the best freebie that we had been to, but was suffice for one night, some had been there for at least three or more. We are now at the Discovery Holiday Park for a couple of nights. Had a lazy day today as feeling a bit chesty, so hoping will be feeling better tomorrow so we can enjoy the Qantas Museum and the Stockmans Hall of Fame.

Windorah

The road from Quilpie was a developmental road, which is a 1 lane piece of bitchamen so when you see an oncoming vehicle your either pull over to the side or travel with one wheel in the gravel. We found it best from previous experience to pull right over and stop so the oncoming vehicle can keep on the road, hoping to save some stone chips. The countryside was very varied from arid rocky paddocks, to dry grass and then when we coming into Coopers Creek about 10 klm out of Windorah it was like an oasis with plenty of green grass. We spent the night at the Windorah caravan park, which is council run the amenities were clean the park was all gravel. It was only $10 a night there and washing machines were cheap $2 but there was a very noisy rooster that lived close by, he had an early start at 3am. I did not think to turn the telly on & watch the soccer or even the tennis might have blocked out his crowing!

As you travel into the township there were large solar panel dishes, which supplemented the generated power, which you could also hear humming during the night.

Quilpie

Today I had an early start, I think Bazza was giving me a hint when I was given my breakfast in bed at 6am ! So after packing up we were on the road by 8.20am, arriving here at Quilpie by 11am. The road from Charleville to Quilpie was excellent, very even not bumpy, plenty of width, and not very much traffic. There was plenty of road kill along the way and cattle grazing on the side of the road, so kept our eyes out for any kangaroo or skittish cattle. Quilpie has quiet a number of Opal shops and a very nice Museum and Visitor Info Centre. Tomorrow before we leave we are going to view the opal alter at St Finnbar's church.

We are camped out at Lake Houdraman which is only about 6klm out of town, a lovely spot plenty of free campsite's on the edge of the Lake with lots of bird life to watch and listen to.

Charleville.......cont......

This morning we were up bright and early so we could go to school, we went to experience the School of Distance Education (school of the air). After one of the staff gave us an informative information session, we then sat in on year 1 children working with their teacher. It was great to listen to the 6 children that were on the air, and to watch how the teacher kept records of their progress.

Tonight we went to see the Bilby's, we had an information session with a DVD from Australian Story that was filmed here on saving the Bilby's. We then went out to view the Bilby's in their enclosure.

Charleville.......cont

Another busy day at down town Charleville. It started at 9.30 with a game of bowls where some of the players were drinking by 9.00 and were getting quiet loud by lunch time. We came away winning by 2 points after what looked like us taking a thrashing at the beginning. Next it was back to the caravan park for some rest and sleep, then at 6.00 we were off out to the Cosmos Centre to view the stars and planets. We were lucky enough to see a couple of satellites as well, one of those being a space station.

Here at Charleville there is also a display of Vortex Guns, that were used unsuccessfully to break the drought.