Longreach, Qld

June 9th.

We left Windorah this morning. Our destination was Longreach via the Thomson Development Road.  The roads out here are a bit scary when they suddenly go from two lanes to one. It’s ok if there is no oncoming traffic but when you see a road train heading for you it’s no time to play chicken. We give them all the road they want. Thankfully it wasn’t raining otherwise it would have been a boggy trip!

On our way to Longreach we stopped and had lunch at the Stonehenge pub. Some interesting facts about Stonehenge can be found by clicking Here.  (Have you ever heard of Jindalee Spy Station? )

We camped at the Apex free camp just out of town. Well it was $3 per night, almost free. Wow, there were about 100 vans here. We stayed her for 4 nights. We visited the Stockman’s Hall of Fame, which was very interesting. We went for a run to Ilfracombe where they have a fantastic display of old vehicles and machinery.

A couple Brolgas who decided to befriend us. I gave them a piece of stale bread one morning, so they kept their eye on us. As soon as they saw us at the van they would race over to us thinking they were going to get more bread. 

   
 John also befriended a fellow in Longreach.

Windorah. Qld.

3 – 9 June

We left Lake Houdraman, Quilpie and headed off to Coopers Creek for a free camp. When we arrived we found there was going to be a fishing competition at the creek. As we thought it may be a bit crowded we headed into Windorah Caravan Park. It cost $15 per night for power site with hot showers, washing machine and clean amenities. A bargain!  

Click here to find more on Windorah
It was very peaceful here. Many travellers left there van here and travelled to Birdsville. When they arrived back it took all day to get the dust out of their cars but they all enjoyed the adventure.

I was without internet here. There was internet at the information centre so ‘most mornings’ I went to check my emails. This was good therapy for me. I thought I would be lost without Internet but I coped very well and survived!

Oh! Most shops here also closed at noon Saturday, too.  
This was the sunset on 7th June taken from Windorah caravan park.

I love the outback.

  
And this was the resident goanna at Lake Houdraman, Quilpie.

Lake Houdraman, Quilpie, Qld

Our next stop from Toompine was Quilpie. Another cute town. We found a free camp right by a lake.

Lake Houdraman was a haven for birdwatchers and also the residential emus and cattle as well as a goanna.

It was here we met up with Carina & Pete. We enjoyed our campfires and chin wags over the next four evenings.

We did a little fossicking for opal, too.

It was at this town that us city slickers found that in the outback everyone enjoys the week end. The shops close at noon on Saturday and re open again on Monday. 

June 2nd.

The clouds started rolling in and we were concerned that we may get bogged in if we were here in the wet so we headed off to Windorah.

   
 

Toompine pub.

Toompine Pub – the pub with no town. Populations: 2 

  
We had a great free camp here with power and water. It was Friday night and the shearers were thirsty. The place was jumping with about 20 people all enjoying the atmosphere. There were 4 guys who had been shooting out on a property, a couple who travelled 75 Klms to have a drink and dinner a couple of backpackers and the free campers. It was an interesting evening. Thank you.

Life’s good on the road.

Cunnamulla Qld

We free camped behind the pub at Cunamulla.  Our wonderful hosts, Bob and his wife were so welcoming. It is a very hospitable town too. We stayed 4 nights here.

This is a statue of the Cunamulla Fella.

 
The plaque States. The Cunnamulla Fella

Immortalised in song by. Stan Coster/Slim Dusty

May 26 – 29

Bourke NSW

   
 
We camped by the river at North Bourke. A lovely free camp where we met a couple who have been on the road for 14 years. We learned a lot from that lovely couple.

I talked John into buying a small chainsaw so we could have a campfire so I decided we needed a camp oven. The nomad couple gave me a few tips on cooking in it. First meal, vegetable soup which tasted like crap. We buried that!  Apparently I didn’t season the camp oven properly. Second attempt was pumpkin scones. As per the photo above, they tasted as good as they looked…….success.

We enjoyed 6 great nights here.

I also took this lovely photo of a White Plumed Honeyeater.