Travelling Pete Update

---

At my last update, I was at Barcaldine on Friday 23rd July, about to move onto Longreach. Not a long leg, only a bit over 107ms. Again there was nothing remarkable about the scenery, the countryside is very flat with mainly grass broken up by small clumps of trees and shrubs.

However there was a lot of south bound traffic the other way suggesting that some of the "Southern Grey Nomads" variety are starting the trip home and reached Longreach without any great adventures.

I was booked in for 2 nights, and settled at a very large Tourist Park by about midday, so walked about 1.5 kms to the QANTAS Founders Museum and aircraft display. Very impressive (including the prices charged!). The museum cost was only $15 and very good value. Spent about 2 hours or more checking out the dispaly and the history of Qantas. However if I wanted to also walk through the very first 747 that Qantas flew, or an even older 707, or an even older Super Costallation or an even older DC3, the cost shot up to over $87.

I guess except for the Constallation, having actually flown in all the other aircraft types, I could see little point in the extra cost, so just looked at the aircraft from a distance. They actually don't let the non paying public too close either, but I did enjoy the Museum very much.

The caravan park is by far the biggest yet, over 270 sites and cabins, even had a licenced "Woolsheed" open from 4pm to 9 pm (Tea from 6pm) and a C&W singer after 6pm every night. The tea was really a good pub menu, all very well done.

In addition, they had a small tame performing Cockatoo show, put on by an old bushie, backed up by the Park Manager displaying a handfull of snakes and talking about them. Didn't stretch the intelligence too much but was a pleasant little show. Another "Gold Coin" function.

Had a few good chats with people over a beer or two, both nights at the Woolshed. I'm starting to realise a significant portion of the people I've talked to so far are all farmers or ex farmers, they have some interesting stories to tell, and a different outlook on life.

The next day, Saturday 24th, I spent at the Australian Stockmans Hall Of Fame. This is a truly amazing set up, over 7 major galleries, as well as an art display. It is far too much to really describe in any detail here, but it is much more than just the history of the area. It is very much an amalgum of many rural areas across Australia, and there is a strong emphasis on the original explorers, pioneer families and dynasties, intermixed with life stories and histories of "ordinary" man and women, who lived and died in these pioneering times.

The artifacts on dispaly were awesome and very well done. As good a standard in many ways as our National war Memorial in Canberra. In fact, not to put too fine a point on it, it probably is the definitive National Civilian Memorial to the pioneers of Australia.

Mind you, after 2 days absorbing all this culture and knowledge, I was quite exhausted so I was hoping the next few days would be a bit of a change in pace.

I'm going to stop the story here for a while, as another C&W singer (female this time), is about to start a 5 pm session at the Tourist park I'm in at present. Present being Wednesday 28th July in Cloncurry.

By the way, when I reached here yesterday I had,

Driven, 2,352 kms, been already 16 nights into the journey, and just starting to get used to the real actual size of Australia, and how few there really is of us, trying to fill this vast continent. Also of course, apart from The Grey Nomads, and adventurous souls like myself, there is definately many sides to, and life styles, to be enjoyed in this great country.

I think I am blessed to be seeing a side I have only read or heard about before.

If I've any energy later, I'll take you Waltzing Matilda, through Winton which is the next town to tell you about, otherwise i'll bring you up to date tomorrow.

"Travelling Pete"

---

Comments

[Mary Cork]

Pete, This is awesome. I am absorbing every word and can't wait for the next installment. I was thinking about your transport issue once you set up. Have you thought about buying one of those little motor scooters ? I think they are reasonably safe and would probably stow away easily in the motorhome. Mary