Time to go home........

Waking up on Tuesday morning we decided it was time to say farewell to Birdsville.  Most of the people had left by now and even our coffee van was there no more.  If that wasn’t a sign I don’t know what was!  We hitched up and filled the water tanks  in readiness for a few days on the road as we make our way back towards civilization.  This track on the Birdsville Common was to prove a much better surface than the road from Birdsville to Betoota.

The road out of town was sealed for a few km but it wasn’t long before the unsealed section became quiet rough and very dusty.  I guess the amount of traffic it has carried over the last few weeks has had a big impact.  I’m so glad we waited a couple of days to let the crowds go out first as I could not imagine travelling this road with hordes of people.  You could not see in front at all when someone passed.  

We drove on stopping just outside of Betoota to have a look at another of the Dreamtime Sculptures.  The sign tells us that ‘This artwork is the ‘Dreamtime Serpent' travelling on Mithika Country.  It is making pathways connecting the river systems in the Channel Country of the Diamantina Shire.  The Serpent is created with all the different types of gravel and gibbers that are found throughout the shire’.  

A little further on we turned into Betoota to find a spot for lunch.  The town sign says population 0.  The only building here is a pub which has been renovated inside and out but was forced to close as it didn’t have a food license yet.  Such a shame in the peak race season.  Not sure what will happen now.  We found a spot beside a waterhole and ate our lunch then we continued on to Windorah where we stayed overnight beside Cooper Creek.

I’m happy to report that the road from Betoota to Windorah improved greatly and other than the dust it was a much easier drive than the morning.  It took a solid hour to get most of the dust out of the van on our arrival.  No matter how much you think you have sealed everything it still gets in!

The next morning we woke to discover that yesterday’s dust has had a devastating effect on Bill.  We hope it is only a bad dose of hay fever and not a head cold that may take days to pass.  He decided we would leave anyway and we drove back into Windorah to pick up some bread at the Outback Shop.  $7.20 for a frozen loaf is the most I have ever paid but given there’s no Coles or IGA just down the road I thought why not!  We even got a good cup of coffee over the road at The Sandhill Grill.

Back on the road again and we discovered that Bill was getting worse not better so we decided to stop at the next rest area and hope he improves for tomorrow.  We have stayed here at Tenham Rest Area before as we’ve come across from Quilpie.  It is a large space with clean toilets and bins so here’s hoping it does the trick and we can move on again tomorrow.

Nope, it seems that it’s not hay fever but a nasty head cold, as it’s still no better it looks like another day in our wonderful rest area.  It could be worse, this has one of the cleanest rest area loos we have found on our travels.  Let’s hope tomorrow is a better day.

Waking on Friday Bill was a bit better and decided he would try and drive into Quilpie.  If we had to stop again there were a couple more rest areas along the way.  We made it in and booked into a Caravan Park for a couple of days so he can rest and recover for the last two weeks of our trip.

But wait there’s more.... he’s shared! And now I too have this damn cold.  Hopefully we won’t be out of action too long.

After we arrived and set up we popped into town to get a bit of shopping and bought a couple of books at the library.  They sell second hand books and give the money to the RFDS.  Along the street we found another sculpture.  The wool bale sheep are a new addition since we were here last.

Waking up the next morning we were still not well enough to drive anywhere so decided that as Saturday in Quilpie was Show day we would go and have a look and spent a couple of hours in the morning watching a number of activities.  We saw kids on Camel rides, the Best Behaved Pet and the Dog with the Waggiest Tail Award.  We watched the 'Fabulous Lemon Drops' entertaining the kids - no, the Wiggles don’t have to worry about competition!  

Bill kept the ladies at the CWA stall entertained as he tried to choose what to buy.  I would not agree to his ‘just one of everything’ option.  He decided on a Lemon Apricot Fruit Slice and a Date Loaf.  He also bought a ticket in a shopping voucher raffle being drawn later that day.

As the Pavilion was not opening until 12.30pm we took ourselves home for lunch and a rest before returning later in the afternoon and seeing all the entries from the locals and school kids.  

One of the large entries was a display of letters from the kids saying thank you to the RFDS, Flight Angels, SES and The Burrumbuttock Hay Runners who had delivered much needed hay in January this year.  As always there was a cooking section, fruit and vegetable section, flower arrangement, photography, sewing and quilting.  

We left soon after having had a good look around and not long after we had arrived home Bill got a phone call telling him he had just won a $100 voucher from the Butcher.  I guess we are going shopping before we leave on Monday morning.

The next morning we were feeling better than we had for a few days so went into town for a coffee and then we had a look at the three museums located near the information centre.

The Quilpie Shire Museum is an interactive space which proudly displays the history and hardships of the early pioneers.  Opal mining, cattle barons developing the outback, native flora and fauna and many stories from early settlers make this an interesting place to visit.

 Cute sculptures in the courtyard encourage you to sit and relax as you take a break for a moment.  Next door is the Military History Museum which features photos, memorabilia and literature loaned or donated by families of local war heroes.

On the other side of the information centre is the Quilpie Shire Rail Museum.  This tells the story of how Quilpie became the ‘End of Line’ when the rail line was never extended further west due to war time sacrifices.  The rail line from Charleville to Quilpie began construction in 1911 was officially opened in 1917.  

Next door in Mural Park we found the wonderful artwork by Cheryl Pratt depicting Quilpie through the years.  About 10 panels tell the story but there is only room for one photo here though.  From here we drove down to the airport where we had a look at the Amy Johnson Landing site.  In 1930 Amy Johnson flew from England to Australia attempting to break the world record of 16 days set by Bert Hinkler.  While she did did not achieve this she was the first woman to fly solo to Australia.  

After landing in Darwin she was meant to fly onto Brisbane via Charleville however her map was outdated and showed the rail ended there.  Of course we know it had been extended to Quilpie so that is where she landed.  She refueled and then continued on to Charleville then Brisbane.  This little mini museum is not quite up to the standard of the others but it was interesting to see the route she took.

Later that afternoon we took ourselves off to the Bowling Club and enjoyed a couple hours of air conditioning and a delicious meal for dinner.  All in all a lovely day and we are both feeling almost normal again.

Time to say farewell to Quilpie the next morning but first we had to spend our voucher at the  Butcher.  It was a bit of a challenge as we had to fit whatever we chose into the Caravan freezer which was already half full.  We did manage and soon after it was put away and we were ready to head off.  

We did stop for a quick look at the lovely little timber church before we drove out of town.  The stained glass window in the front of Saint Matthews Church caught my eye as we were getting in the car and I thought it was worth a quick look. From here we drove to Cunnamulla passing through Toompine and Eulo.  After stopping for a coffee at our favourite cafe in town we made our way out to Bowra where we will stay for three nights.  

Bill got up early as he does here at Bowra and went out to see what he could find.  Unfortunately the wind was blowing wildly and it continued for most of the day.  That together with all the dust that was being blown around made for a fairly unpleasant day but he did manage to get a few good shots anyway.  That night the wind died away and we had the heater on for the first time in a couple of weeks. 

 

Another early start for Bill and a much more pleasant day all round.  He had a productive morning at a small waterhole he had found yesterday.  The Varied Triller was just one of a good variety that came in to start the day with a drink.

We drove into town a bit later to have coffee and get some bread and on the way home stopped to have a look at the evaporation ponds.  It was very picturesque but not very rewarding bird wise.  

Back at home we had lunch and then drove out to Gumholes north and south.  Along the way we found some cute little Budgerigars.   

The property is very much drier than it was when we were here in May.  With very little rainfall since then I guess it’s what you would expect.  The downside is that there were burrs everywhere and flies by the zillions!  

Another early morning but this time we decided not to wander but to pack up and leave before the flies came out.  We achieved this and drove into town where we had breakfast at Gidgee Bean Cafe before heading further south.

We stopped for the day at the boat ramp in North Bourke and camped beside a very low Darling River.  It looks like there has been very little or no rain here since we passed through here earlier this year.

Waking the next morning in Bourke we decided that we would just drive straight home form here.  As we have travelled these routes many times before we may as well be at home getting ready for a busy October.  Bill’s not to keen on the forecast for next week though!

We left after grabbing a coffee in town and so began two big days on the road.  We drove to Narromine where we stayed in a Caravan Park overnight.  Along the way we stopped at Nyngan for lunch.  The wall art here shows a productive garden.  Right now it is so dry throughout this whole area of Central and Western NSW with many localities out of water and some due to run out in 2020 according to the local paper we read over lunch.

As we drove from Nyngan to Narromine we encountered another huge dust storm.  There is just nothing on the ground to keep the sand anchored so the wind just picks it up and it just hangs in the air.  Arriving a bit later at the Caravan park we set up and spent a very warm and windy night inside out of the dust.

The next morning we woke to a scene that looked like something out of this world.  The wind had blown all night and the whole landscape was hidden from view behind the dust in the air.  We left here and drove across to Parkes hoping we would come out of it soon but it was the same there as well.  

We had a quick coffee in the very quirky Kombi Cafe and then hit the road again towards Cowra.  We passed the little town of Eugowra where there were many murals on the old buildings.  From Cowra we drove to Young where we stopped for lunch and then scooted straight down the highway to The Rock where we spent our last night out.  The dust in the air only cleared a short while before arriving and at last the wind had stopped here too.  

The last 100 or so km we had started to see crops and after many km of bare earth during the last 3 days it was good to see some growth at last.  Hopefully they have had enough rain in these areas to be successful this season.

The sun was shining the next morning as we woke and got ready to drive the rest of the way home.  We stopped a few km down the road for a coffee at Culcairn.  Unfortunately the shops at The Rock were not open early.  From here we enjoyed a lovely green and bright yellow, with Canola crops, landscape as we continued on into Victoria.  

We arrived home at 12.30 4 months and 4 days after we had left.  Not long after we were doing the usual unpacking and settling in things.  A surprise visit by Judy and Peter as they passed by on their walk was lovely and a little bit later we enjoyed a coffee and a catch up with Wilma and Gordon.  Lots to catch up on as they too had been away.

And so after travelling more than 13,000 km it is time to spend a couple of days at home and reacquaint ourselves with Euroa once more.  For now though it's time for bed.

until next time........