Emerald

We left Seaforth last Thursday after a days delay due to rain, we had about 90mm overnight so thought it best to delay our departure some of the tents had water running through them during the night. Heading inland from Mackay to Clermont we left the sugar canes behind to then travel into Coal Mining country, we also saw many coal trains that were so long they had to have a second engine in the middle of the train. We stayed 4 nights out at the Theresa Creek Dam which is about 20klms out from Clermont. We had great weather while we were there and Bazza was even able to put his pots in and get a feed of Red Claw. It is a very pretty spot to camp and only $10 per night, no power but there are good amenities and access to water. The caretakers there run a karaoke night and sausage sizzle on Sunday nights, a prize is given for the best singer, joke teller or bush poet a fun time had by all. Camping in the park was a gem fossicker who sold jewelry and cut stones, we bought a nice green Sapphire from him. Later in the day we helped him look for a stone that he had dropped on the ground but did not have any luck, he was lucky enough to find it the next day when the morning sun made it sparkle. That night all the campers were seated around the fire pit for the karaoke when the gem guy decided he would toss the Sapphire that he had found that morning amongst them, Bazza was alert enough to see where it landed, and after crawling around on his hands and knees for some minutes he found it. Most of the other campers did not realise what he had thrown, so only a couple were looking for the stone, Bazza thinks it is alright getting something for nothing.
We left Theresa Creek Dam this morning and headed for Rubyvale and Sapphire stopping at Rubyvale to check out the gems and have morning tea. We decided we would go on a further 45klm to Emerald, where we are staying at caravan park to catch up with all the washing and charge all our rechargeable items as we have been existing without power for the last month.