Day 66

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Thursday 16th

Slept real well, was pretty chilly last night and still is this morning, I know it’s not going to last. We filled up with fuel in Tambo, love to give a wee bit back to the towns that allow freedom camping, we do respect it. Got to Augethella and had a bite to eat at the cafe in pub. Huge wide streets. Looked around town, some lovely paintings of art on the shops.The drive to Charllieville is beautiful, purple and yellow flowers growing wild along the side of road in places. We have booked into a Bush Camp on private property 2 km east of town.

Dusty roads. Shadow in boots. Street in Tambo, so clean and tidy, flower gardens inspite of drought. Traveling with road trains, This is the cleanest out back toilet I have ever seen and had nice smelly toilet scents there as well, read down at some of the comments, just a few of very many positive remarks. Between Tambo and Augethella. Meatant Love this sign, A street in Charlieville, lovely and wide, flowers are beautiful, Reminds me of Warrick in a small way.

Day 65

Posted on October 15, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Wednesday 15th

Had breakfast by the fire this morning a real cold snap, there is snow somewhere down south can feel it. All packed up, dropped into see Fran, caretaker of Lara and Don gave her the bird collection he did while we stayed there, he photographed 26 different types of birds in the 5 days we were there, they have compiled a book for visitors. Stocked up with some food items at Blackall and went to info centre to look around, then headed off to Tambo to Scrubby Bend. Nice place to stay, no road noise and its the tidiest wee town.

Glossy Ibis and Black winged stilt. We are leaving the property, we will be back. 🙂 At the turn of from Landsborough Highway to Lara Wetlands. Sun going down at Scrubby Bend. Yes water in the creek, we havent seen much water in creeks for so long, it gets exciting when we do see it. All settled for the night here at Scrubby Bend.

Day 64

Posted on October 14, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Tuesday 14th

Another very windy night and cool this morning, so nice after all the hot days. Only got to 28 deg I was told. Had a quiet day, did some packing as we head off tomorrow, had tea early and went over to the hot pools, said our cheerio’s to the people in the pool with us.

Love the speed sign. Yellow-billed spoonbill Pelicans getting their place for the night. View from the loo. Another view from the loo.

Yet another view from the loo, so you can see its not at all boring.

Day 63

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Monday 13th

Storms, thunder and lightning during the night and black skies this morning, awesome. Was a very hot day when all cleared 41 deg, and humid. I got ticks yesterday and another 4 today, only little ones but fly spray does the job.We are staying another 2 days, just so nice here. Went over to the hot pool and all the others were there, Jo the owner and caretaker and another couple who were camping, we just sat and chattered, so nice.

His and Her lou, or a double lou, the black board above is in the toilet above like this, so good, the IGA girls having some fun. The timber was milled from the farm, all treated beautifully. Our backyard for the moment. Lovely to see Cockatiels flying free. Looking down towards the other camper. The black sky this morning Nice lighting as the sun was going down Black-fronted Dotterel Red winged parrot

Day 62

Posted on October 12, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Sunday 12th

Had a good night sleep, it was quiet chilly after the storm. Did a walk around the wetlands, just beautiful, these wetlands have been here 100 years that they know of and Jo, the owner is keeping it all in natural state, even the artisan pool and waters are not tampered with, only tested. The sites are huge and they have washing machine bowls or 1/3 of a 44 gallon drum for fire pits, keeps it all fire safe.

Kite teasing me. Camp Kitchen, has everything you need. Roo while walking around the wetlands. Large sites for all, these are placed around the perimater of the wetlands. overflow of the bore, artisan waters, these run into the wetlands and into the pool. The pool, so nice. Ablution block, really beautiful and old fashioned and clean. Shower and toilets.

Day 61

Posted on October 11, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Saturday 11th

Windy as hell again, rained a wee bit during the night but fine to pack up, heading off towards Charlieville, may stop at Lloyd Weir, they have artisan hot pools. Well we ended up at a place called Lara Wetlands, what a magic spot, with artisan hot pools as well, Yeah, I get to soak.:) We booked in for 2 nights at this stage. Big storm went thru and then we sat in the pools watching the lightning on the horizon, lovely way to end the day. Met the owner this afternoon to get some money and introduce herself, lovely person. Here’s a few photo’s from today from our camp site, cool backyard for next 3 days.

Dunny out in the bush camp, I have grunged it up a bit for fun. The poor old D5, has been sitting awhile but they do use it on the farm for the roads. Kite about to land in its nest, from our camp site. Looking across the wetlands from our camp site. Lara wetlands. The morning before heading off, sparrow loves porridge, soaking to wash. Sparrow leaving the nest. Barcaldine, morning before heading off.

Day 60

Posted on October 10, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Friday 10th

Windy as hell today so cant cook a breakfast, trying out the new Gluten Free weetbix, and they tasted real good. Getting sorted, packing up and heading off to Barcaldine, stayed at a van park, another hot day 43 deg. We had a job to be done on the camper so needed to be in a town. Here’s a few photo’s of the day. Visited some people out on a farm, here are their Drake and ducklings. Not a lot of photos today.

Dad looking after the bubs. Olive-backed Oriole’s nest, she was guarding this nest fiercely. Olive-backed Oriole I think. The road heading to Aramac, country side very flat, Edge of town at Aramac. Camels being farmed.

Day 59

Posted on October 9, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Thursday 9th

Just as hot today so did a wee drive around, went and saw Dons sister who lives here and we had tea over there place. I just love the signs that I have seen on our travels. The country people are so nice all have the time to chat.

Some of the signs, note the great deal at van park and its amenities are great. Flash church. Self explanatory. Table and seats in the middle of the road. Famous White Bull.

Day 58

Posted on October 8, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Wednesday 8th

So nice just sitting listening to nothing having breakfast. The fire truck camp in and I went and spoke with the chap, he comes and fills the water tank up, cleans out the ablution block. Real nice person. We headed off to Aramac, popped into Pentland, checked it out and headed off down the Aramac/Torrens road, very wide, red road, temperature was 40 degrees. Had a good run and not many vehicles on this road, I just love the way the landscapes change. Had morning tea under a trees, boy it was hot. I did some driving today, did 180 km into Aramac, good practice in case I need to. Here’s a few photo’s to tell the story.

Red dirt roads. Was quiet soft in places. Campasepe River bed. Train bridge in foreground. Flat country side along the way. So many extremes. Back on the dirt. Begining of the Torrens/Aramac road from Pentland. Our destination second from bottom. Pentland Hotel, could tell a story or two. Camp site at Campasepe, they had not long done a burn off. Lovely chap from Pentland doing his rounds and jobs. At Aramac it was the evening of the moon eclisps, this is my effort.

Day 56 – 57

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Monday 6th – Tuesday 7th

Monday was sorting, packing and stocking up for heading west.

Tuesday we headed off at 10.30 am and going to the Campasepe River camping spot. Before we headed off the tree loppers arrived and I got some shots of them doing there work. Had a good run thru, camp site is nice and roomy, shade and nice toilets etc, no showers. River was dry and they had not long done a burn off.

Star trails. Campasepe River. Tree Loppers at work at the relations place. Toilet block, rubbish bins, parking and camping. Campasepe River. Apostile birds at Charters Towers Dump point area, so hot this day. Columbia mine shaft entry. Charters Towers. Loved this, on the way today. Macrossan River and rail bridge, big camping area here. Macrossan camping. This is not far out of Charters Towers.