Advertisement
We're Off
Day 1 of the great adventure.
Everyone lined up to go including Ryan, Erin and Noah, who are taking Hartner's van to Roma for them. This is it! We're off on our long planned and awaited around Australia trip. Sunday 13th May 2012.
Sue and I (Jim) have teamed up with our long time (very long time) friends - Alan and Jane Leckie and Wayne and Gaile Hartner on this adventure. Well there were some hiccups before we started as Wayne and Gaile returned to NZ to attend their brother-in-law's funeral. As this was their first caravanning experience we got Ryan and Erin (and Noah) to drive their Caravan for the first few days to Roma.
Our first day was to Jondaryan (219km) - just west of Toowoomba where we stayed at the "Woolshed" Caravan Park. A very nice basic park with "Drive Through" sites.
The day didn't start off well for us as - firstly we blew a fuse on the just installed LOUD horn on the ute. Then the trailer plug came out and we didn't have trailer brakes. Then forgot to put bonnet down after checking on horn. Finally got going and met others at base of Toowoomba Range for a pie and coke. Alan had relied on GPS and missed turn-off to Logan Motorway and although he was ahead
of us - arrived there after Ryan and us. Steep climb up the ranges was a bit of a struggle for ute with an all up weight of 7.4 Tonnes. Alan's rig weighed in at 6.4Tonne with Wayne's 6.0Tonne. Their 100 Series Turbo Deisel Landcruisers pulled away from my V8 Turbo with ease. But then I was pulling a lot more.
So the first day was a little eventful. That evening Alan fired up his BBQ and we had Kerbabs for dinner.
Monday 14th May 2012. Today we travelled to Roma (323km). I reckon that we got stopped at every Roadworks site between Miles and Roma - there would have been about 20 sites. We checked into the Roma Caravan Park where we had stayed 14 years ago. A later check of fuel consumption showed that we used 22 l/100km to Roma. Mainly due to heavy climb up the Toowoomba Range and the stop start of the Roadworks. On Tuesday Ryan and Erin (and Noah) returned home with the Hartner's Landcruiser.
Tuesday and Wednesday was spent exploring the Roma shops buying stuff we don't need.
Duncan and Liz also joined us with their 5th wheeler
Blackall Dinner
And "entertainment"!!! on Monday after also having some dramas of their own with their GMC. Thanks to the efforts of a nice farmer they got out of trouble and managed to sort out the fuel airlock.
Roma was freezing every night at minus 3 deg. The diesel heater got a work out and was great.
Thursday 17th May 2012 Last night the Hartners arrived after flying back from NZ in the morning, then driving out to Roma via St George. A bit of a mix up with the GPS caused an extra 200 km. No more correspondence will be entered into on this subject.
Today we had a short drive to Augathella (270km approx) where we stayed at a basic caravan park at a Servo. Roads are still very rough. We have settled into travelling at 90 kph - which is comfortable.
Friday 18th May 2012 Today we had a short drive to Blackall and another caravan park. This one offered a camp cooked roast and damper and golden syrup. The was also an entertainer who sung songs and gave us a run down on the history of Waltzing Matilda. This park had nice grassy sites
- which is our preference. During the day we explored the town and had a beer in the old hotel where I had stayed at 25 years ago when I came out here to inspect a section of the road to Barcaldine.
Saturday 19th May 2012 Longreach was our destination today after having a coffee at Barcaldine and some photos aroung the tree of knowledge. What an amazing structure they have built around the now dead tree. Locals were not too pleased at government spending so much on the sculpture though.
After a short stop at Ilfracombe for a beer at the hotel where we had had lunch on our last trip in 1998 it was on to Longreach and the caravan partk that Anthony's boss had owned for some time. How different was that - what a lot of improvements since then. However it did not have the same atmosphere. Saturday night we went to the "Woolshed" for some drinks and a meal.
Sunday we went to the Stockmans Hall of Fame. Had a package deal of Museum entry, Stockmans show and Lunch for $45 each. (Pensioner Rates). We had been to Museum previously and
was not as we had remembered (this seems to be a common theme) but the Stockman's show was fantastic. Luke thoroughly entained us with his wit and horsemanship not to mention his skill with the other animals - camel, bullock team and dogs. Well worth the entry fee. The lunch was a hamburger, chips and drink.
Monday we went to the Qantas Musem and did some more shopping. I spent some of my birthday money on another whip - made from kangaroo hide. Similar ones were $300 to $400 at Stockmans Hall of Fame and $250 in shops. We went to Cobb and Co for morning coffee - that was an interesting place, with stage coach rides and a whip maker. Guess where I bought a whip for half price?
While in Longreach Alan was asked if he wanted to sell the Sahara. He obviously had to say no. He also had it serviced and the Toyota people there thought that it was in excellent condition.
Tuesday 22nd May 2012 Time to leave Longreach and head further north and into some warmer weather. Duncan and Liz travelled with us to Winton for the day and leaving
Barcaldine
Tree of Knowledge. Replacing original tree which has died. their 5th wheeler at Longreach. We said our goodbyes and promised to meet them in Victoria or South Australia when we get aroung there.
It was our intention to stay at the Blue healer hotel caravan park at Kynuna - but while the pub was interesting and the beer cold the park was a bit dusty, so we pressed on to the Walkabout Creef Hotel at MacKinlay (Crocodile Dundee fame) where their caravan park was closed for renovations. Many places up here have closed for renovations - and this is the tourist season!!!!! Well press on once more to our first free camp about 60 km south of Cloncurry. A very large Truck and Traveller rest area with toilets. By the time the sun went down there would have been more that 20 caravans here.
Todays journey would have been the longest we have done but also the easiest. Long straight stretches, slightly undulating - easy to travel at 90kph and no gear changes in the 5 speed V8.
We are planning where we will be for State of Origin tomorrow night.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.117s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 6; qc: 44; dbt: 0.0442s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
val ngarotata
non-member comment
envying you already
Hey guys so nice to read your travels so far and know you will all have such fun & lots of laughs along the way - take care & keep us posted