Surat - Miles

Thursday night we went to the Big Rig Light show which described how they started off drilling for water and discovered gas and oil. It was about 35 minute show which was very informative and gave a good account of the history of Roma. Before leaving Roma we went to the cattle sales they are the largest in the southern hemisphere, again we had trouble understanding the auctioneer.
Thursday we were suppose to part company with Jack and Sharmon, they were heading south to Surat and we were heading east to Miles, but as usual we changed our minds and travelled to Surat and stayed at a free camp just across the Bridge at Surat with them. Surat is a nice little town, not really a lot to see except for a Cobb and Co changing station with a museum and a excellent replica Cobb and Co coach. We rode our bikes into and around town and had a look around the suburbs and rode along a walking track which was quiet well done with exercise equipment along the way. We were only going to stay one night, but again changed our minds and spent the second night.
Today we eventually parted company and headed to Miles where we are staying at a caravan park 19 klms out of town. It is out in the bush and was once an old ammunition storage for the RAFF in the Second World War and was part of the last line of defence if the Japanese invaded Australia. We rode our bike 3 and half klms around the hill where there are 23 bunkers recessed into the hillside. The park is nice and quiet and there is also going to be a happy hour around the fire pit this evening.
With the excitement of the news that we are again grandparents to a little girl Olivia Joanne this threw out our plans of going back into Miles to look around the Heritage Centre this afternoon, have now decided to stay 2 days and do it all tomorrow.

"Meadow Bank" farm stay

We left Mitchell Tuesday morning after saying our goodbyes to our adopted camper Walter and headed for our next stop over at a farm stay on a station called Meadowbank, 12 klms out of Roma. It was a short trip from Mitchell of about 75 klms on a road that was a bit like a roller coaster.
The farm stay was $15 dollars for unpowered and $20 for power. The amenities were basic but Ok and the water was heated by a wood fire system called a donkey. It worked quiet well with plenty of hot water. We were the only ones staying that night and had a camp fire and we cooked another delicious camp oven meal. There were plenty of old farm tractors, steam engines and carts to look at they also had a museum on old farm implements etc. It was very dark and quiet out on the station did not go over to the amenities as didn’t think we could find our way back. Denise also forgot to put the toilet seat down so poor Sharmon had a very friendly wide eyed frog in the toilet when she went to flush it !
Today (Thursday) we headed off for the short trip to Roma, where we are staying at the Top Tourist Park near the Big Rig. We had a look around the town on our bikes and caught up on some washing and grocery shopping, and this evening will go to the light show at the Big Oil Rig.

Mitchell-cont

Sharmon & Jack were with us by lunch time Saturday, had planned to go out for a meal to celebrate Jack's birthday, but after 2 bottles of red and 2 bottles of bubbles we gave it a miss. It wasn't until about 7pm we threw some potatoes in the coals and that was all we had to eat that night. We have spent our time while at Mitchell visiting the artesian spa, catching yabby lunching at the Court House Hotel, and riding our bikes the 2 klm into town. It was a lovely place to stay as we able to have a camp fire and Sunday night we had the most delicious marinated roast beef & baked veggie meal cooked in the camp oven. We were even able to invite our lonely neighbour Walter to share our meal, he did ask if all Tasmanian's were as nice as us !! Especially after we shared our caramel tarts as well, the boys told him it would cost him a bottle of wine he promptly supplied two plus fruit cake.