Advertisement
Published: August 10th 2009
Edit Blog Post
Drove on to Black River and looked up Richard & Di’s directions. Rang them when we where at their gate - 4 kms from the house. Drove up to the house, and wow, green lawn! Chatted, looked around and eventually set up. Richard taught Alex how to crack his whip, and how to make a new cracker. He had fun practicing! Had tea with them and boy the nights get a lot cooler here. Actually got to use my pyjamas & doona!
Next morning, had a shower and put some washing on. Richard & Di have arranged to weigh, tag, brand and castrate some weaners (calves). Kids thought it was going to be great fun. Helped to carry some tools down to the cattle yards, without knowing what they were for. They loved watching, but enjoying helping even more - just opening doors on the crush or tapping the calves to get them moving. Kate thought the tagging on the ear was bad, until she saw the castrating. I thought she was going to be sick. She watched from a distance after that. She is like her Mum, doesn’t like the blood and gore!
Went for a drive down
Glenrowan Station
Better than any campground to the beachfront part of the property. About 30 beach huts left after extremely wet season some got washed away. The council wont allow any rebuilding, they are trying to get rid of the community. They all have to pay rent to Di, and only own the house, not the land. But still they love living there. It is a little community, with a Hall, Bar, Memorial Park. They have there own locked access gate. Unfortunately it doesn’t stop idiots on motorbikes from cutting the wire fence hooning through the paddock down to the beach. Richard & Di are continuously repairing their fences. Had roast lamb for dinner and Sally (Di’s daughter) cooked Impossible Pie. Both yummy. Will have to get the recipe.
Richard & Di took us up to the Hervey Range Historical Tearooms, well known for their $50 cup of coffee!! Yes that’s right, not a typo! Anyway, food was nice and a recent addition was a function shed/area out the back with a rustic bar. A bride and groom arrived for their wedding reception while we were there. Into Townsville and went to the Reef HQ. The kids loved the tunnel where the sharks, turtles and
many other fish swam overhead and next to us. Learnt lots of interesting things, but the seahorses we saw near the end, was about the best! Stopped at the supermarket to buy meat for a barbeque - our turn to cook for everyone tonight. Got lots of fruit for a platter afterwards.
Saturday was Richard’s birthday, his girls arrived last night, so all the kids wanted to play cards, so after several hours, we finally got hungry enough to eat, before changing to go bowling. Sunday was a lazy morning, a bit of washing and eventually got moving to see the market in Townsville. Some very different, but some very familiar things to see.
Monday came and it was time to move on. Richard & Di were fantastic to have us all that time, but they had the rest of the family coming to stay and we have to move on or get home later than intended. Kate finally got to ride on Colby, a lovely brown pony (sorry Di, didn’t ask what breed). She was rapt, couldn’t stop smiling. I’m sure she will remember for a long time. Kate befriended all the working dogs as well. I
think her favourite is Spook! Alex had a great time being able to drive the 4 wheeler - with Rod or Richard sitting next to him. They both had the same comment “With Alex there is only 1 speed - flat out!”
Into town to get fuel & a few groceries, had lunch at Brumby’s. Headed south, but only got as far as Proserpine - getting too late to reach Eungella Dam. Will look around Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour in the morning before heading west.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.103s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 7; qc: 46; dbt: 0.0672s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb