Since
arriving at Isisford on Wednesday, we had been thoroughly enjoying the spot.
The weather was great with nice warm days and cold, clear nights that got down
to about 4 degrees. Vic had only approved of staying for a few days because the
TV reception was good, which allowed her to watch the Olympic Games Opening
Ceremony and the subsequent competitions. Happy wife… happy life!
Our
great stay here was topped off on Saturday when I heard the rumbling of a Jeep
v8 coming down the track. To our surprise, it was Shane and Ally. They had taken
a couple of days off and had been camping near Emmet, about 50 klms from
Isisford. They’d heard how good this spot was and decided to check it out on
their way back to Longreach. They stayed and had morning tea with us before we
said our goodbyes again.
On
our last night on the banks of the Barcoo, we had a combined dinner with this
band of 10, a fantastic meal of Grunter fillets. The fish had been caught in
Karumba by one of the group, and we were all grateful that he was happy to
share his catch.
The
4 days and nights here had been the best test of the caravan’s power system
that we’d given it. When we free camp, the battery in the van powers the water
pump, lights and the stereo, while the hot water, frig and stove are all gas
powered. The battery also provides power, via the invertor, to recharge the
computer and camera batteries, as well as watch TV. The system had worked
impeccably and still had power available after 4 days… testament to the great
work done by Jared at Battery World Enoggera. For sales or fantastic service
and advice, contact them on their web site at
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Sitting on the Black Stump, Blackall |
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Jackie Howe Memorial |
We
got away at 11am on Sunday and took it carefully to Blackall because we had
heard horror stories about the violent grids that are spread over this section
of highway. After the 90 minute trip, we set up camp at the Barcoo River Camp
Area (#684 in Camps 5) on the edge of town and put our $5 into the honesty box.
We then took a drive around town and saw the Black Stump, the Jackie Howe
Memorial and an old servo I’d seen photos of in a caravan magazine, before
heading out to the Blackall Wool Scour. This is the only steam driven wool
scour still operational of the 52 that once worked across Australia.
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Barcoo River Camp Area |
That
evening, Vic and I went to the Blackall Caravan Park to see country music
singer/songwriter, Graham Rodger
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Graham in action |
(www.grahamrodger.com.au), who performs here each night throughout the winter season. After his show,
for $20 each, you can enjoy a camp oven roast dinner followed by damper and
maple syrup with billy tea. Our main reason for being here was to catch up with
Graham, who Vic and I had both worked with 30 years ago. It was great to catch
up with him after all this time and he was so surprised and happy to see us. We hope to catch up with him again but not in 30 years time...
The
next day the head wind returned and we battled it all the way to Charleville
via Tambo and Augathella. After a quick cuppa in Tambo we headed for Augathella where we "thought" we'd grab a local pie for lunch. Not a pie in sight, actually not a person in sight :(. Augathella is the home to the Bull Ant, or so they say, and where the Smiley stories were written. Some of you more mature travellers will recall Chips Raffety in Smiley, an original Australian classic movie.
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Downtown Augathella |
Why a meat ant? Augathella's football team was known as the mighty Augathella Meat Ants and were fearless in their attack against their opponents. This then earned the town the nickname...Meat Ant Country".
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Our camp site in Charleville - fabulous spot |
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Heaps of room and fabulous amenities and managers |
We booked into the Charleville Bush Camp which is a
fantastic park 2 klms west of town. This is a new park that operates from April
to October and pets, children, and smokers are not permitted here. It’s a
fantastic area with large sites capable of taking the biggest motorhomes or
fifth wheelers, spotlessly clean unisex amenities, lots of shade, a book
exchange and a great fire pit where everybody tends to gather from 4.30 each
afternoon to share stories and experiences.
Overnight the temperature dropped to -1 outside (3 degrees in the van) and it dawned a beautiful day.
At 9am, we met at the office to join others for a bus tour, and over the next 2 hours, we visited Charleville’s historical sites, points of interest and saw the steps being taken to mitigate future flooding of the town. The tour is run by the park manager and the $10 cost was extremely good value.
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Levee bank gates |
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Levee bank |
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Photo of Charleville during the 2010 flood |
In
the afternoon, Caroline, the manager’s wife, showed us around the property,
which was originally the Charleville Race Track in the 1930’s before becoming a piggery.
The old tote office is still there as is the old slaughter house and rusting
equipment fills an old shed. One of the old buildings has been renovated and
makes a comfortable little cabin to stay in. The equipment is outstanding, but the photo opportunities here speak for themselves.....
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Some of the hundreds of horse shoes found on the property (and no Rod didn't get to keep one) |
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Is this where bottled water comes from? |
After
a sluggish start in the morning, we had a slow trip along the Warrego Highway
through Morven and onto Mitchell. The whoop-de-doos were a curse again and
caused a bit of bother inside the van with the pantry shelves coming loose. We
had lunch opposite the Muckadilla Hotel and then continued onto Roma where we
had a stroll around to stretch our legs.
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Our daughter is famous in Roma - apparently she has a music shop |
At 5.30, we rolled into Miles and set up for the night in the park beside Dogwood Creek. When we arrived we did as we all do, one inside and one outside, only to hear this noise coming toward us. Eleven ducks came right up to our van door to greet us. Then just as quickly as they came they turned around and off they went again. It was amazing.
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Our welcome committee |
It quickly became cold so we lit a campfire before having dinner outside and watching the moon rise on our last night on the road, for an unknown time. Vic and I were both extremely tired so retired to the van early and snuggled into a nice warm bed, thanks to the hot water bottles.
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Our Miles campsite |
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There is nothing like an open campfire to get you warm |
On
Wednesday 2nd August, we were up early and broke camp not long
after. It is imperative, when you pass through Chinchilla, to stop at the
Tourist Information Centre and meet the ladies that run the place. They serve
the best Devonshire tea you’ll get, for $5, and the outside deck is a great
place to enjoy it.
From
there we moved onto Toowoomba for lunch and arrived at our son and
daughter-in-law’s home, back in Brisbane, at 4.30pm.
We
were met at the door by our heavily pregnant daughter-in-law who had been in
labour since the night before. We’d left Darwin on the 18th July,
travelled 3781 klms, stayed 2 nights in Longreach, 4 nights at Isisford, 2
nights at Charleville plus lots of over night stops, spent $1377.33 on fuel,
tried to take my time while Vic tried to get me moving and arrived safely back
where we started this amazing trip (or Part A of our Around Australia Trip Number 1.
Our
timing was perfect… at 5.30am on the morning after we got back, our beautiful
little grandson arrived.
Welcome to the world Lakyn Thomas Maden!! Nanny & Poppy can't wait to take you camping.