Choosing to stay at a caravan park titled 'Roses 'n Things' we found it very lovely, as its name suggested it was planted with over 1,000 rose bushes, Bouganvillia and other lovely plants including Marrayas, Sweet William, Bottle Brush, Fine Leaf Bottle trees and many other things whose names escape me. A Gazebo situated at the front with cherub statues and roses climbing over it, surrounded by lots of green grass, the sight of it was enchanting.
The amenities block was painted lovingly in shades of blue, with free use of washing machine and iron.
All surrounded by paddocks containing various cattle and horses who would come and ask for food, couldn't resist giving them a slice of bread or two.
The next day we set off early for Longreach to fulfill John's dream of seeing the Qantas Founders Museum; a 100 klms drive, spying kangaroo and emu along the way.
The museum containing artefacts, photos and much written and spoken information on the founders was very informative then at 11 o'clock the tour of the Boeing 747 The City of Bunbury (which J had flown on)and a 707 the first of 13 purchased by Qantas (John Travolta owns No. 13.) After Qantas sold it to Saudi Arabia it was luxuriously fitted out in Teak cabinets, lamps and seat belts with gold fittings (now removed) dining table and a bedroom were just some of the features, it had been set up to carry 20 people - from the original 137.
We drove around Longreach which typified what I had envisioned an outback town would look.
Large,wide, dry, dusty streets just a few kids, the odd car, but mostly just empty and dusty -took multiple photos and loved it, saying to myself "I AM ACTUALLY IN THE OUTBACK"
Monday, May 30, 2011
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
The time was slipping by, so on Saturday last a goodbye dinner was arranged at Leanne's. Once again we were treated to a scrumptious meal, Jessica and Jason came and we all had a really lovely family get together.
On Monday we finished packing up and got going along the Bruce Highway, it was overcast and humid, threatening rain and as we approached Wondai it pelted down to such an extent that we considered it safer to pull over - then we continued on, but found the Wondai facility wanting, decided to continue another 31 klms to Kingaroy, by this time the downpour had ceased and we booked into our previous park at the showground and remained hitched.
After a refreshing sleep proceeded to the peanut processing factory and purchased salted peanuts and our beloved peanut oil for cooking.
Proceeding through the towns of Tingora, Durong, Canaga with their spacious streets, Chinchilla (I bought water melon, tomatoes, cucumber, pumpkin) on through Miles to Roma.
Settled into Top Tourist Caravan Park, which was largely occupied by workman and their vehicles for the mining and gas industries.
Next morning we explored Roma and found the Drapery Store of which we had been told, it was stacked from literally the ceiling to the floor, with no order, with drapery and kitchen ware.
The range was something to behold, from very, very old to up to date.
We also walked and found 2 more stores owned by the same family, large shops containing clothing and shoes, and another FULL of furniture, all of them were roughly the size of Spotlight Stores. Million and millions of dollars worth of stock, just sitting in these big stores with no order and no real effort to display or promote sales. The sight of these stores will remain with us for years to come, the chaos and disorder and total waste was mind blowing.
After a very cold night (about 2 deg.) we moved on crossing the Bungeworgoria Creek, Big Womalilla Creek several times, passing through Muckadilla, I gradually thawed out and we arrived at Augathella, and stayed at the Augathella - BP - motel/come caravan park.
Lots of red soil to sweep out, little grass, good facilities and spent a comfortable overnight, to move on through Tambo, Blackall and arrive Barcaldine.
On Monday we finished packing up and got going along the Bruce Highway, it was overcast and humid, threatening rain and as we approached Wondai it pelted down to such an extent that we considered it safer to pull over - then we continued on, but found the Wondai facility wanting, decided to continue another 31 klms to Kingaroy, by this time the downpour had ceased and we booked into our previous park at the showground and remained hitched.
After a refreshing sleep proceeded to the peanut processing factory and purchased salted peanuts and our beloved peanut oil for cooking.
Proceeding through the towns of Tingora, Durong, Canaga with their spacious streets, Chinchilla (I bought water melon, tomatoes, cucumber, pumpkin) on through Miles to Roma.
Settled into Top Tourist Caravan Park, which was largely occupied by workman and their vehicles for the mining and gas industries.
Next morning we explored Roma and found the Drapery Store of which we had been told, it was stacked from literally the ceiling to the floor, with no order, with drapery and kitchen ware.
The range was something to behold, from very, very old to up to date.
We also walked and found 2 more stores owned by the same family, large shops containing clothing and shoes, and another FULL of furniture, all of them were roughly the size of Spotlight Stores. Million and millions of dollars worth of stock, just sitting in these big stores with no order and no real effort to display or promote sales. The sight of these stores will remain with us for years to come, the chaos and disorder and total waste was mind blowing.
After a very cold night (about 2 deg.) we moved on crossing the Bungeworgoria Creek, Big Womalilla Creek several times, passing through Muckadilla, I gradually thawed out and we arrived at Augathella, and stayed at the Augathella - BP - motel/come caravan park.
Lots of red soil to sweep out, little grass, good facilities and spent a comfortable overnight, to move on through Tambo, Blackall and arrive Barcaldine.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Continuing to Brisbane
Thursday and on up the highway to Brisbane, set up at Redcliffe Showground, shopped and went across to Murrumba Downs to see the family.
Sunday was Mothers Day celebrated at Leanne's with a lovely lunch, I made a cheese & onion damper, took cooked chicken, Olivia Paige Gourlay made 4 yummy french style tarts, followed by black forest cake and fresh fruit salad. When you add in the company of daughter and her daughters just the best Mothers Day.
Once again there were chores to be done the next week, you know a womans work and a mans work, is never done.
On the next Saturday we drove to Surfers Paradise to meet brother Peter and Sue who had flown up to celebrate Sue's sister's 50th birthday, they were staying at the Royal Woods, mmm very swish. Went on amphibious vehicle on the waterways and viewed the the beautiful hotels, homes etc., with commentary the weather all adding to our enjoyment.
After our car came back from repairs, Leanne gave us 2 free tickets, which she had been given by her employer at the Entertainment Centre to see Andre Rieu. We rolled along and thoroughly enjoyed this showmans performance from the FRONT ROW, where we had been reseated - WOW The Seekers were featured entertainers, plus 3 tenors and some sopranos, one of whom came from Brisbane (she had the voice of an angel), we considered ourselves to be doubly blessed and came out walking on air.
Sunday was Mothers Day celebrated at Leanne's with a lovely lunch, I made a cheese & onion damper, took cooked chicken, Olivia Paige Gourlay made 4 yummy french style tarts, followed by black forest cake and fresh fruit salad. When you add in the company of daughter and her daughters just the best Mothers Day.
Once again there were chores to be done the next week, you know a womans work and a mans work, is never done.
On the next Saturday we drove to Surfers Paradise to meet brother Peter and Sue who had flown up to celebrate Sue's sister's 50th birthday, they were staying at the Royal Woods, mmm very swish. Went on amphibious vehicle on the waterways and viewed the the beautiful hotels, homes etc., with commentary the weather all adding to our enjoyment.
After our car came back from repairs, Leanne gave us 2 free tickets, which she had been given by her employer at the Entertainment Centre to see Andre Rieu. We rolled along and thoroughly enjoyed this showmans performance from the FRONT ROW, where we had been reseated - WOW The Seekers were featured entertainers, plus 3 tenors and some sopranos, one of whom came from Brisbane (she had the voice of an angel), we considered ourselves to be doubly blessed and came out walking on air.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
WARWICK/TOOWOOMBA
Warwick is a city we enjoyed last year, so decided to make it our headquarters while we completed a few chores, one of which was to have a computer chip in our vehicle at a specialist in Toowoomba, which is reputed to improve the performance and reduce the amount of fuel used. Staying in the Rose City C/Park for 6 nights was quite economical, reasonable facilities, though a large proportion of permanents.
First priority was to watch the wedding of William and Catherine, I loved Diana for her naturalness and totally abhor the way she was treated and find her son so like her and feel affection for him, so I am delighted about the marriage; stayed up later than usual but it was worth it. I made sure I read all about it in the next 2 day's newspapers, while John was watching motor racing - and so we spent that weekend.
Monday went to view Glengallan Homestead nearby and learn the history of how it boomed and busted over the decades and with various owners and farming activities - it would have been beautiful if it had been able to be finished as it was designed to be.
Tuesday was John's birthday - spent quietly - I made him a birthday cake, then we set off the explore more of Warwick the city and had lunch at the charming Belle Vue Cafe which had been in business for 101 years, we enjoyed fish and prawn burgers. The walls were painted with scenes from the surrounding farming countryside, the dishes and cups on which the food was served were ornate, all totally charming, we tootled about the countryside a bit more then back home for a cuppa and birthday cake.
Wednesday was the trip to Toowoomba, left the car for the computer chip to be done, we walked down into town beside the waterway that runs through the city which was shown so dramatically flooding in January.
Along the way sitting in a garden bed jammed between 2 saplings was 1500 litre water tank which we remembered seeing on TV being pushed through the bridge by the force of the water. Of course there were signs all over of flotsam caught in fences and businesses being refurbished but generally Toowoomba was picking up and of course there were lots of places not in the way of that huge deluge of water.
We took a round trip along the Warrego Highway through the Lockyer Valley, turned off at Grantham and drove through, getting some idea of the heatache suffered by the people, some of whom were camping or in a caravan on their premises, of others there was no sign.
Along the way we stopped at the Ma Ma Village Store and had locally made icecreams, this place was imaginatevly decorated with many hanging pots, posters on the walls, we took some time to delight in it's individuality. We are coming to realise that all over Australia there are interesting, quirky, entertaining little spots, just waiting to be discovered.
First priority was to watch the wedding of William and Catherine, I loved Diana for her naturalness and totally abhor the way she was treated and find her son so like her and feel affection for him, so I am delighted about the marriage; stayed up later than usual but it was worth it. I made sure I read all about it in the next 2 day's newspapers, while John was watching motor racing - and so we spent that weekend.
Monday went to view Glengallan Homestead nearby and learn the history of how it boomed and busted over the decades and with various owners and farming activities - it would have been beautiful if it had been able to be finished as it was designed to be.
Tuesday was John's birthday - spent quietly - I made him a birthday cake, then we set off the explore more of Warwick the city and had lunch at the charming Belle Vue Cafe which had been in business for 101 years, we enjoyed fish and prawn burgers. The walls were painted with scenes from the surrounding farming countryside, the dishes and cups on which the food was served were ornate, all totally charming, we tootled about the countryside a bit more then back home for a cuppa and birthday cake.
Wednesday was the trip to Toowoomba, left the car for the computer chip to be done, we walked down into town beside the waterway that runs through the city which was shown so dramatically flooding in January.
Along the way sitting in a garden bed jammed between 2 saplings was 1500 litre water tank which we remembered seeing on TV being pushed through the bridge by the force of the water. Of course there were signs all over of flotsam caught in fences and businesses being refurbished but generally Toowoomba was picking up and of course there were lots of places not in the way of that huge deluge of water.
We took a round trip along the Warrego Highway through the Lockyer Valley, turned off at Grantham and drove through, getting some idea of the heatache suffered by the people, some of whom were camping or in a caravan on their premises, of others there was no sign.
Along the way we stopped at the Ma Ma Village Store and had locally made icecreams, this place was imaginatevly decorated with many hanging pots, posters on the walls, we took some time to delight in it's individuality. We are coming to realise that all over Australia there are interesting, quirky, entertaining little spots, just waiting to be discovered.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
DELIGHTFUL GLEN INNES
The intention was to overnight at Glen Innes, but, after driving through - then we found Craigebourne Cara/Park, I fell in love. It was set in green surrounds, glorious autumnal toned trees, a carpet of their glorious leaves which had fallen on a mat of short, green grass, it was cool and beautiful. Glen Innes was about to celebrate, a Celtic Festival, so we stayed another night to check it out.
That afternoon we visited the Australian Standing Stones comprising 40 granite monoliths, 24 representing the hours in the day, 3 central 4 cardinal marking N.S.E&W and 7 marking summer and winter solstices - a custom of the ancient Celts. There were also plaques containing many Celtic Family names & was delighted to find my maiden name Thomson - meaning son of Tom.
The next day we had a delightful 3 hours Heritage Walk around the township viewing the remarkable architecture of many of the buildings dating from the 1880's, many of them featured beautiful arches.
That afternoon we drove around the area, where the early settlers had created a beautiful european styled landscape, many farming lands containing cattle, sheep, alpacas, goats, and completed a tourist loop via Emmaville(mining) and Deepwater.
Back home I took more photos of the huge granite boulders at the camp the beautiful green grassy slopes between them - so peaceful, my kind of place.
That afternoon we visited the Australian Standing Stones comprising 40 granite monoliths, 24 representing the hours in the day, 3 central 4 cardinal marking N.S.E&W and 7 marking summer and winter solstices - a custom of the ancient Celts. There were also plaques containing many Celtic Family names & was delighted to find my maiden name Thomson - meaning son of Tom.
The next day we had a delightful 3 hours Heritage Walk around the township viewing the remarkable architecture of many of the buildings dating from the 1880's, many of them featured beautiful arches.
That afternoon we drove around the area, where the early settlers had created a beautiful european styled landscape, many farming lands containing cattle, sheep, alpacas, goats, and completed a tourist loop via Emmaville(mining) and Deepwater.
Back home I took more photos of the huge granite boulders at the camp the beautiful green grassy slopes between them - so peaceful, my kind of place.
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