Saturday 28th June 2014
We stayed at Longreach
Good morning Longreach! Thank you for the very mild 10 degree overnight temperature, for the clear blue and sunny warm skies. Sensational! We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast at 9.00am before heading into town. Having done the Cobb and Co coach ride and Stockman's Hall of Fame, we feel no desire to revisit so we enjoyed the simple life for a day.
Following our late breky we headed into town for a little look see arriving just after 1030 we didn't have long before the country lifestyle of shutting up shops was happening between 12 and 2 pm depending on the independent store owners.
I had promised myself an oilskin jacket, one I had seen in 2010 when I was here last; today I am a proud owner. I could spend far too much time and money at Kinnon and Co and RM Williams where Terry purchased a couple of shirts. We then proceeded to Mitre 10 looking for a brazier and I may say successfully.
Back at the camp ground this afternoon talking with others found out that the cut of gas bottle brazier came from a bloke in Jericho who carefully removes the valve, fills the remaining bottle with water to ensure there is no more gas before cutting its top and hey presto a recycled gas bottle brazier...sounds simple, I'm sure there is a lot more to it but we are not going to Jericho so we continue with our own.
One more essential ingredient needed was fire wood. Asking a local where one might purchase firewood gave the response head out by the river and find it and so we did. Much to Terry's frustration Nathan and I found nice long logs quite suitable just too big to fit our humble brazier so a negotiation to choose slightly smaller ones and put Nathan to work cutting them into brazier size pieces. Goes along with Terry's Quote of the Day "Cut your own wood and get warm twice" by Henry Ford.
A quiet afternoon enjoying the warm temperatures and planning our next stop. We always enjoy a late afternoon stroll around the van park checking out the rigs and spotting playful Kangaroos with Mum and Joey and a lone emu determined to chase the kangaroos off his paddock. An unbelievable and unforgettable sight, shame I didn't have my good camera to do the picture justice. It reminded me of that old John Williamson's song; gotta play that disc when we are back in the car. A flock of pink and grey galah's feeding on the hay around the camp grounds was also a highlight.
I am tired tonight the night feels cooler than last night but not at all uncomfortable. So where to tomorrow...our plan is to stop outside of Cloncurry at another free camp if its checks out ok we will stop otherwise we will continue to Cloncurry.
Temperature Min 10 degrees to 30 degrees, very pleasant.
Stayed Top Tourist Caravan Park
We are staying in Longreach today, to do a bit of retail therapy. We have been here before in 2010 and seen the Longreach Stockman's Hall of Fame, a must see for a view on Queensland Outback.
Anyway back to the shopping to support the local economy of course.
Photos
Longreach Caravan Park
