Day 73 Sunday Aug 17th 2014 Longreach to Blackall We had another cold night, but it is dry. The rain has moved on and is now battering the east coast. The road to Barcaldine is littered with dead kangaroos. Barky … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 73 – Barky & Blackall
Day 72 Saturday Aug 16th 2014 Longreach The rain has stopped leaving the park a sea of puddles. We visit the Qantas Founders Museum and spend five hours. ‘The Spirit of Australia’ could not be a more apt slogan to … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 72 – Qantas Founders Museum
Day 71 Friday Aug 15th 2014 Longreach We all bundle into the car and visit The Stockman’s Hall of Fame. It is an exceptional museum and an insight into the life of people on the land. It covers so many aspects of Australia’s history and it takes us half a day to see it all. It has rained steadily since last night. The red dust has turned to slippery, sticky mud. I can now see how the unmade roads around here quickly become impassable. Just turning around at the end of a residential street we churn up ruts in deep … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 71 – Rain, glorious rain
Day 70 Thursday Aug 14th 2014 Ilfracombe to Longreach We wake to a bright orange sunrise and the air smells of the bush. Within an hour the wind is howling from the east, dusty and unpleasant. We drive the grand … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 70 – Longreach
Day 69 Wednesday Aug 13th 2014 Ilfracombe There are clouds gathering and rain is forecast but the locals are reluctant to talk about it. They’re in the midst of the worst drought in 100 years. The town has an artesian … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 69 – The movable towns of Qld
Day 68 Tuesday Aug 12th 2014 Ilfracombe It is cool and quite windy. It blew all night long and the TV reception was pixelated and impossible, but we’re not here for the TV. Although some folks are, and we’ve seen people pack up and leave because they can’t get any tellie! The Ilfracombe Historical Society has garnered tractors, trucks and heavy machinery from properties all over the district. Each one has been painted up in the original colours with a plaque telling of its history. This, in an unusual way gives the history of the area from a farming perspective. … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 68 – The Machinery Mile
Day 67 Monday Aug 11th 2014 Winton to Ilfracombe The clouds haven’t been given back to us yet. The long straight road is flanked by the railway line and Mitchell grass to the horizon. The road is littered with kangaroo … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 67 – Ilfracombe
Day 66 Sunday August 10th 2014 Winton The Winton Hotel is the oldest in town and there are saddles hanging above the bar. From pack horse saddles to racing saddles. The bright yellow Australian Hotel is cheery with tables on … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 66 – Falling for Winton
Day 65 Saturday Aug 9th 2014 Winton Winton has a population of about 1000. The main street has replica heritage streetlamps and a centre strip of lawns and trees, even a water feature depicting the original town site of Pelican … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 65 – Winton, dinosaur country
Day 64 Friday Aug 8th 2014 Kynuna to Winton Our peaceful night was punctuated by the increasing then fading roar of road trains as they thundered through the night. By 6:30am the roadhouse is open for business again and trading … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 64 – Waltzing with Matilda in our hearts
