Biloela and surrounds

Currently in Biloela which has brought to mind so many memories of such good friends, colleagues, neighbors and people met in the course of life and job who etched a place in our hearts permanently.  John and Christine Muller in particular had a huge impact on us as a couple and for us as a family, inviting and embracing us in their big family and extended mob.  Sadly we no longer have Geoff Gloria Don, Doris or Linda with us and each of them played a part in teaching us about life, giving, sharing, loving, hospitality being great neighbours and above all, love.

We were able to catch up with a few people, some by walking into shops, others by arrangements over Facebook or texts and through long term promises to meet and catch up.  We have spent precious time with Shaun Mai and their mates in Mareeba, Gail and Bruce in Emu Park, Bruce and Ev in Jambin and John and Chrissy in Thangool....with many old times reminisced and laughed about and those who have left us remembered.  We have caught up with Robyn Peters, Julie and Jim Watson and family.  We have spent some time yarning with Shane and Jake, and Jeffa and we have been invited for dinner by Jeffa to his house tonight!  It will be exciting to meet his family as Jeffa has been an adopted member of our since 1993!  Unbelievable to think that the girls are in high school!

Mareeba

Mareeba arrival

We started off with a plan to free camp at Archer Creek but saw it had changed a lot since the camp book notes and recommendations. Walked down to the river which was lovely but due to people not caring for the environment parking was limited to the top areas.  We had lunch there and decided to move on.  We arrived finally at Ravenshoe where a beautiful display was organized in the tourist bureau or information bay.  Unfortunately we left the step there!  Tried calling them but phone number in book does not answer and says it is not connected.  Anyway we decided 68 Kms was close enough to,surprise Shaun and arrive!  Met Mai, Tomas and Waka.

Charters Towers

Arrived in Charters Towers at 3.30.  They have lots of greenery on this visit so must have had some good rain and we passed many creeks on our way across with water in, but not flowing!  In Kalgoorlie we had Montgomery's store where you bought varieties of things and the money was sent by cable up to the cashier.  They used to have a store like that here in Charters so will have to see if I can find it.  Much of the history here is like Kalgoorlie although here ther are more beautiful queenslander homes and historic buildings. We also arrived at the White Mountain at the Great Dividing Range

Richmond

Richmond. We arrived today after travelling through Julia creek...which has created a special place with water for self contained RVs so that people will spend time in the town and spend their money. They have also provided bicycles so people can ride the one km to town to buy anything they require!  Looked like a lovely setting.  I wanted to stay here as we visited Richmond in 2003 with Chrissy and John Muller prior to our trip and the dinosaur finds on properties and the dinosaur museum is brilliant..one of the best I have seen for this kind of thing...but Albany Anzac center is awesome!

Anyway we have booked into the caravan park here right next to a purpose built recreation lake for locals, which is lovely if you discount the weed growth and smell and the old Catholic Church building next door is unique, like the hall in Baralaba but better! W will walk around the lake tonight as the pathway is lit for the whole circuit....too bloody hot at the moment!...so again enjoying having an air conditioned MH when navigating the countryside!

Due top owner loss in town we will visit the museum in the morning and will post pics when I get the chance and network availability.

Finke

Camped at Finke River.  We met a cyclist who obviously had been cycling for far too long...allegedly five years but he informed us he was South African by birth and the chosen one in genius aspects to meet, assist and be involved in political and warfare strategic plans from the age of five.  He told us he had met ...Hubbard, rather than Ron Hubbard, Saddam Hussain, the Beatles, Cream etc and had written music for them.  Sadly we needed to move up the hill to sleep for the night but concern for his welfare was an issue, especially as he also told tales of how people in different states such as WA wanted to incarcerate him in mental institutions.  We left him to entertain other campers as they arrived.  We Left headed for Alice after bacon and eggs. 

 Loved the mountains and rugged ranges we saw along the way but got to Alice which had very little info or suitable parking for vans and motorhomes and certainly no access to obtain information as to where to go, what would be interesting etc.  Unfortunately we found many first Australians who were aggressive and sitting around in main streets and outside stores just like Port Augusta and Kalgoorlie. We decided to move on and after we did a pit stop at the Capricorn line and met a family from Tannum Sands...kids are lucky they have Lea Ibell for their Principal!  They had travelled from Katanning of all places and Sonya was best friends with former Principal Peter Craig' s daughter!  

We have arrived at Ti Tree caravan a park, a gated community.  Clean and well organized  and we saw a van with Goomalling plates but SA car and trailer!!  Along the way saw a beautiful statue at a service Station.  There were also many high and unusual ant hills along the way.  We also saw a bearded dragon and a young dingo ran along the highway as we passed by on our tripping today.

The rock

Left Marryat Creek after a walk in the morning...am impressed I did a walk at least!  We headed off to Curtin Springs and as we travelled along we saw a huge mountain a bit like those in the Grand Canyon which we had never heard of ....Mt Connor......it was gigantic and am amazed it is not promoted as much as Uluru...it appears bigger...like Mt Augustus.

 Anyway we arrived at Ayres Rock and had to queue with many others to get in.  We booked into the  "field of light " display which is what I wanted to see and we were picked up by a tour bus ...along with three other pickups.  Of course there were people who were late each time coming and going!  Our tour cost $35 each ...we refrained from the degustation for $235 per head!  The Munroe art display was awesome to see but would have been better to see at sundown with Uluru in the background.  Sadly you cannot ever see the field of lights for free as it is set in a private entrance looking out on the rock from what I can gather! As it was a very short drive and we had to walk through it ourselves and kill time photographing etc until the time was up, I feel the money charged was over the top!  Am glad I got to see it though as I have had an interest in optic fibers sine the Biloela Snoezelen days!

Got up in the morning and Bart decided not to view the rock before sunrise.  instead

 he walked up and  viewed from the van lookout hill.

Well It is awesome to see and well worth the drive here to view such an Australian icon, best described by John Williamson's song, it's "Raining on the rock..".but no rain during our visit sadly!  Oooohh how could I forget...I saw a blue wren while travelling here and thought I was wrong only to discover there are many here due to the Acacias etc.  However must say that Mt Connor should be on everyone's agenda as it is an awesome sight as well.  You can get to go on a tour of it.  I think some of my pics turned out great!  Now we have done a viewing up close and personal we are now heading to Alice Springs.  Was disappointing to see so many tourists running up and down Uluru ...and dangerous!

Coober Pedy

Coober Pedy

 Stayed at the Oasis Caravan Park. Water a dollar for forty litres but cheaper across the road at a cost of twenty cents!  Like many caravan parks the toilets and showers are designed for size 6 men and women so getting in to the toilet and shower can be a gymnastic feat in itself and keeping your feet dry is also no mean feat!  Cheaper showers here for twenty cents for four minutes. Ceduna charged a dollar for five.  

Visited the museum saw some costly opals and met a lovely lady in the museum who taught a quick lessons in how opals are set and displayed.  She had a great sense of humor too!  Told us her partner worked in the pizza place so we went and had a small one for lunch. Cannot believe the number of mullock heaps surrounding the town.  Lots of the buildings remind me of Boulder.