I apologize for the lack of photos throughout the blog but as they are so slow to download I left them out.
MALCOLM and DIANNE

24 10.07

HOME

There was 12 mm of rain although it didn’t rain thro the night, left by 0700 and went into rain and strong winds about Olary and Yunta. There was some water over the road but the signs of a lot of flooding on the previous day were evident. We called into Peterborough and also Terowie and had lunch at Burra. The crops from there down were a lot better than expected and some very good, the rain would have helped.

We arrived at Grant and Beks about 1400 and Youngy was there to greet us. We went to Andre’s for tea with P and B there as well. The kids were very excited especially Victoria.

It was good to be back home after14 weeks and approx 10,000 ks and apart from the gearbox at Roxby not another thing at all going wrong. I was very impressed with the AVan which stood up to the rougher roads around Birdsville very well. It did let in a lot of dust in the early stages but after we laid coverings over everything it was a lot better. The plastic over the back window of the Prado was a great idea as the top of the spare tyre was covered in rocks with one about fist size, also the pack rack was great .Before leaving I had wondered if it was too big but on the road it was exceptional, also the canvas bag was good and perfectly water proof. As for the Cooper tyres that a lot of people either love or detest there was not a sign of any of the chipping tearing or ripping off of lugs and in the sand of Fraser Island they were great. The Prado was exceptionally comfortable and we did about 18 Lts per hundred and with the two tanks made for long range driving. Although we did not do any night driving the lights are lousy, I don’t know if the ARB bar blocks it at all but for a new vehicle they could be a lot better. Before another trip I will take the UHF out of the glove box and put it in my reach as Di is not interested and I need to have it closer to adjust volume at times.

23 10.07

BROKEN HILL

Arose to a cooler morning but still cloudy which turned to rain later in the day. Arrived in
Broken Hill about 1030 and booked into a Top 10 Park (first paid one since leaving Fred’s).

We went out to Silverton and looked at some galleries in the town; the old goal at Silverton has a very comprehensive collection of memorabilia pertaining to the old town and the mining history. This is where a lot of films have been made including Mad Max and Priscilla.

As it rained steadily most of the day we spent a lot of time in the van which is a bit squeezy without the annexe.

22 10.07

WILCANNIA ( west of there anyway)

We were up and gone by 0600 which was good as it was quite hot later in the mid 30’s, saw lots of kangaroo’s and emu’s and then around Cobar hundreds of wild goats. The country from Wyandra down past Cunnamulla is very flat and very very dry, we stopped at Cunnamulla which is on the banks of the Warrego River and is the home of the “Cunnamulla Fella”, a bronze statue in the main part of town.”He” was made famous by Slim Dusty’s song of the same name (I think). This is a really nice town with lots of green lawns and gardens which is in contrast to the surrounding countryside. The railway terminates there and the station is one of three in NSW with a closed roof.

Further south we crossed the border at Barringun where I found another cache, it was quite an easy one but there was a red herring as well as someone had left a porno magazine in the same place which was dispatched into the bin nearby. Bit disappointing as this is a pastime enjoyed by children and women folk. I was pleased to find this one as I was the second to find it and had been beaten by only one day by someone else, rather amazing due to its remote location.

We stopped for lunch at Bourke which has the feel of Wilcannia about it with broken windows and boarded up buildings. Down by the river there were a group of people gathered and admiring a gold cup which we found out next day on the news was the Melbourne Cup which is touring the west.

As it was very hot and we didn’t want to stop too early we pushed on and stopped at a truck stop west of Wilcannia after a 13 hour day. It was still in the mid 30’s and was deadly still with no air at all, but this changed at about 2300 when it blew up a gale and blew dust everywhere, we had a blanket on by morning.

21 10.07

WYANDRA

Woke with the kookaburras at dawn and had a hot shower with plenty of water in the basic showers at Wallumbilla Showgrounds, the birds near the billabong next to us were plentiful, a very nice spot considering the price which was nothing.

Went on to Roma where we stopped at Macca’s for breakfast and rang the kids and Bill B. We have decided we will push on for home so we didn’t stop there as planned. The country in that area is extremely dry with crops of wheat and barley dying at the flower stage and no feed to speak of. Literally hundreds of dead kangaroos on the sides of the road, at one stage there would have been 20 per kilometre, also dead emus.

Stopped for a late lunch at Charleville at a park where there are “rainmaking machines, these were a German invention that shot gases up into the clouds to make it rain! Needless to say it didn’t work. Had a hunt for a cache at same place without success.

Turned south there and went down to the very small town of Wyandra which has another free campsite again with hot showers and power, albeit very open with no trees and bare dirt ( at least there was no bindii like the last place). There were two other couples there both in motor homes, so had drinks with them. The showers were a bit different as they were two showers in one room so it was a share situation.

Today was Aunty Nell and Uncle Jim’s 80^th birthday and both A and V and Grant and Bek went to it which was good as Carol was down from Darwin and was able to speak to Bart about his move there.

20 10.07

WALLUMBILLA (east of ROMA)

After having a quick drive around the town and finding the butcher is not open on Saturdays we went back to the park and hooked up to leave when Helen to owner came around inviting everyone to join in morning tea with freshly cooked scones. There were about six couples there and again everyone was extremely friendly and the cones were delicious. Dianne spoke to Helen and asked if she was a Christian as there were scripture verses in the shower block. She was, and Di was able to encourage her especially as they are really in a dire state due to the drought on their farm.

We left about 1130 after doing another tour of the town , visiting the Catholic Church with the inner walls covered in murals and a good collection of old engines and tractors( not in the church!). We travelled north and came to Jandowae, Chinchilla ( where we had lunch an Di rang home), Miles and then stopping at a free camp in the showgrounds at Wallumbilla. This was quite comfortable with hot showers and even some power for the early arrivals, as there was only one other camper we were in luck. We stopped at the tourist info centre and were regaled by one of the local women who was character to say the least. The days have gradually become warmer again after the change that came through when we were on Fraser island and although it was a two blanket night last night it will be one sheet tonight.

19 10.07

BELL

Fred and Pam went back to Brisbane about 1030 this morning after Fred had gone to his physio appointment in TCB. I went in with him and bought some groceries for our homeward trip. Di had an appointment with her for her foot which has been troubling her for some time, so after that we left about 1300. We had a great time with Fred and Pam who made us very welcome.

We filled up with petrol at Gympie and then went back out to Kilkivan passing Fat Hen Creek where we had stopped on the way down. Travelled on past Kingaroy and stopped at a free camp at Kumbia which was very nice with power on a honesty basis and coin in the slot showers and a very clean free BBQ. However, over the fence the neighbour had a pile of rubbish burning that was sending stinking smoke all over the site, so we went on stopping at a caravan park in Bell, that’s ok I have never heard of it either. Anyway it cost $20 and had lawns with clean facilities, we were invited to the “happy hour at six and were made very welcome by the folk there. I said how we were intending to stay at Kumbia and was slightly chastised by the proprietor who said that she and her husband are running the park as well as their farm in an attempt to tide them over the drought and that teach van that stops there is one that the local parks don’t get. I can sympathise with her but we the traveling public also like to have these freebies as well. Anyway the other people there were waxing lyrical about the sites to be seen in the district and said we should stay another night so we may.