No posts for nearly 2 months, and now 2 in just over a week. Lets just say those Tuross people stirred us up!

Townsville Trip

I had 3 days in lieu owed to me  and last week seemed like a good time to take some time off.  So after making up our minds on Tuesday morning and getting approval from work, we headed off on Wednesday morning for our first trip in the CRV.

Headed north for 105km through Capella to Clermont ,and then another 380km of nothing till Charters Towers. At least the speed limit is 110 for most of the “nothing”. Charters Towers seems a nice older town- it has some fine examples of late 18th century architecture.

Charters Towers Post Office and old Bank of NSW buildings - both 1890s vintage.

Another 130km got us into Townsville. We found an old Queenslander that has been set up as a B & B and booked ourselves in for 4 nights. Lovely breakfasts with a big plate of the freshest tropical fruits you could ever imagine.

Castle Hill lookout, with Magnetic Island in the background

Right in the centre of Townsville Castle Hill gives magnicent views over Townsville and across to Magnetic Island which is 8km off the coast. Jan had a sore ankle so we left going to Maggy, as the locals call the island, for another time.

Selection of views from Castle Hill

We did the usual tourist things – a bit of shopping and a bit of sightseeing.

Magnetic Island ferry on its way through the Townsville Port

Enjoyed lunch one day at a place called Fishermans Landing – a rustic cafe right on the river bank on the dunes behind Balgal Beach.

Fishermans Landing and Balgal Beach - north of Townsville.

And the surprise ending

After the long drive back to Emerald all we wanted to do was unpack and relax. Just as I was unpacking the back of the CRV I got a bit of a start to see “that” Tuross couple, Di and Peter, walking towards me.

It turned out that Di had done a bit of sneeky planning by ringing my boss and the caravan park to organise a couple of nights with us before they continue their jaunt around Queensland. Good thing she did ring as our last minute plans to trip off could have spoilt the surprise.

It was great to catch up with them both and topped off a long due break for us.

Far be it for me to bow to peer group pressure, but a very pushy couple from Tuross Head (no names) reckon the bread must be well and truly stale by now (first photo in my last post to this blog) . So just for Di and Peter, here is an overdue update.

Port Macquarie for a week

Workmate Marc and I went to Port  Macquarie for an intense week of training in IP telephone systems. Drove to Rocky, flew to Sydney and then another flight on to Port Macquarie. We shared a lovely 2 bedroom studio right on the river foreshore. Trip home was a drag – flew to Sydney, then to Brisbane, then to Rocky, then the 3 hour drive back to Emerald.

The view of the foreshore from the balcony of our unit at Port Macquarie. Oh, that's Marc blocking the view.

Mystery Ride

Back in July I participated in a “mystery” ride. Some 40+ riders set out from Rockhampton on the Saturday morning. The 8 Emerald riders meet up with them at Dingo. We all then headed north up the beef road, refuelled at Middlemount and onto Nebo for lunch. Just a short ride towards the coast for our overnight stop at the Retreat Hotel. A good night was had by all even though it got a bit cold.

The next morning the Rocky group headed for Mackay and trundled back home down the coast. The Emerald group headed inland to Moranbah and Clermont on the way home.

Another Honda

I’d been on the look out for another car – something a bit more comfortable to get about in, given our closest reasonable size town is 300km away and all the roads around here are far from smooth. Finally found something we are happy with – a 2003 Honda CRV. Lots of room for a smallish car and excellent economy. Suzi is currently collecting dust in the boss’s yard. Came in handy for my workmate Aaron who borrowed  it while his car was off the road.

Honda no.2 joins our fleet - this one has 4 more wheels than no.1

Longreach

As part of my work I had to do communications audits of 7 banks in our area. North to Clermont, Middlemount and Dysart, south to Springsure, east to Blackwater, west to  Longreach and here in Emerald. I organised the Longreach job for a Monday and took Jan out there for the weekend so we could have a look around.

Bogantungan range - 100km west of Emerald

Barcaldine is 3hrs drive west of Emerald passing through a range at Boguntungan. Longreach is an hour further inland. What a waste of public money the Barcaldine “tree of knowledge” memorial is. I’m told they spent over $10M on this and I have just learnt they are about to spend another $2M repairing it. Seems they used green timber and it has shrunk (doh ! ) and is in danger of spearing unsuspecting tourists. Meanwhile Barcky residents are still waiting for a small retirement village after 10+ years of chook raffles, etc.

Tree of Knowledge monument Barcaldine - a monument to gross Government idiocy

Jan revisited her childhood at Ilfracombe where there is a display of old farm machinery that stretches for 1km along the road reserve thru town. Here’s a shot for her Dad, showing her back on a grey fergy – only about 50 years since her last try.  Least this time she didn’t hit the gate.

Jan back on a grey fergy for the 2nd time in 50 years. Just ask her Dad about the first time.

A wander through Longreach’s Stockmans Hall of fame is a day well spent.

I also enjoyed the Qantas museum – Jan wasn’t keen and did a bit of retail therapy instead. Not much else to report from Longreach.

Jumbo - up close they are not so big

Collage of the trip out – Alpha and Barcaldine area.

Collage of Ilfracombe farm machinery along road reserve

Farm girl Jan reminiscing

Collage of Longreach’s main attractions

Longreach Stockmans Hall of Fame and Qantas Museum