Having arrived safely at Carolyn and Kevin's lovely home at Shoal Point, we settled into the back yard and immediately began to compare notes on where we wanted to travel together when we were ready to leave again.
The two boys had lots of planned activities, working on their vans & cars, fishing, a little touring around the place and lots of good company. A fishing trip was organised and we had several feasts of fish and crab meat, we visited the local farmers market and bought some of the lovely local produce and I began eating lots of tropical fruits mmmmmm.
We began to accompany them to visit their families and got to know their sons and wives and their beautiful little boys.
After spotting a couple of Dragon Boats drawn up in front of a sailing club, I contacted the local Dragons Abreast group, and went to meet them on the Friday night at the sailingclub where they sold raffle tickets for the club.
As there was no paddling on the Sunday due to lack of numbers being Queens Birthday Holliday (part of Hobart DAA's problem sometimes) a lunch was arranged at Eimeo Pub.
The road to it was steep allowing extensive views of the sea and nearby islands, the food was good but expensive and we enjoyed the company of DAA Mackay members and getting to know them.
Carolyn and I accompanied some of the members to the theatre on the Monday to see Oranges and Sunshine, coffee, then on Tuesday I enjoyed a paddle round the protected Mackay Harbour at sunset, they launch their Dragon Boat with a tractor because the tide goes out so far, it would be almost impossible to carry down to the water.
The weather is mostly warm, and the temperatures can come down dramatically at night, sometimes to 5 deg, mostly 10 or 11 deg. and during yhe day it can go up to as much as 25 deg.
Meanwhile the work was progressing with the boys and the time is drawing near when we will set off, planning to go to Ayr firstly and on through Charters Towers and Mount Isa.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Leaving Barcy on another cold morning, paused at Jericho to take photos of the "walls of Jericho" and also the smallest drive-in in Australia - just 32 cars, and if you arrived too late you had to sit beside the projection box.
Then on to Alpha - lunch purchased at the recommended Bakery - the most gorgeous lamingtons we have ever tasted. In all spent $17 for 1 loaf of bread, 3 pies, 2 aforementioned lamingtons and 2 vanilla squares, a splendiphorous lunch which will land squarely on the waist line, darn it !
After this we passed through the Drummond Ranges noting much differing vegetation and enjoyed lovely soft orange bottle brush and lots of yellow wattle (always a wattle in bloom somewhere in Australia) and settled at a caravan park in Emerald for overnight, remaining hooked up.
Then on to Alpha - lunch purchased at the recommended Bakery - the most gorgeous lamingtons we have ever tasted. In all spent $17 for 1 loaf of bread, 3 pies, 2 aforementioned lamingtons and 2 vanilla squares, a splendiphorous lunch which will land squarely on the waist line, darn it !
After this we passed through the Drummond Ranges noting much differing vegetation and enjoyed lovely soft orange bottle brush and lots of yellow wattle (always a wattle in bloom somewhere in Australia) and settled at a caravan park in Emerald for overnight, remaining hooked up.
THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE
One of the very interesting things we viewed at Barcaldine was "THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE'.
In 1891 the shearers and pastoralists were involved in an industrial battle that was to profoundly affect Australia's future.
The unions argued that they should have the right to stipulate who could work in the shearing sheds and the employers argued for the right to engage any workers on conditions to be negotiated.
After the strike a large Ghost Gum in the centre of "Barcy" came to symbolise this important place and time and became known as "The Tree of Knowledge".
In May 2006 the Tree was poisoned and never recovered and now has an architecturally designed memorial opened in May 2009.
In 1891 the shearers and pastoralists were involved in an industrial battle that was to profoundly affect Australia's future.
The unions argued that they should have the right to stipulate who could work in the shearing sheds and the employers argued for the right to engage any workers on conditions to be negotiated.
After the strike a large Ghost Gum in the centre of "Barcy" came to symbolise this important place and time and became known as "The Tree of Knowledge".
In May 2006 the Tree was poisoned and never recovered and now has an architecturally designed memorial opened in May 2009.
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