Cunnamulla to Lara Wetlands……….

We decided that we would go to Charleville and stay for a few nights to let Bill’s eye heal properly.  We stopped on the way in and made lunch at a lovely big park where there was a lot of new landscaping work being done.  I loved the gorgeous Brolga sculpture in the garden there.  Soon after we drove through town and found a home at the Bush Camping Ground.  Owned by the CMCA this is a self contained campground and is a great place to stay while exploring Charleville.  Didn’t like the forecast though as the cold spell is continuing and the overnight temperature is 2 deg.   Brrrr!!

The heater was on as we thawed out the next morning and we soon left to find coffee in town.  We found a fabulous cafe called Charlottes Nest and that was our go to for the next few mornings.  After a look around the shops we returned to the Graham Andrews Park and checked out The Big Red Seat. No amount of research tells me anything about this other than the fact it was one of Qld’s Big Things of which there are about 18 on the list and growing.  

While trying to find out about the chair yesterday I had discovered that the park was also home to The Vortex Canons.  So we returned agin the next morning to see these.  The sun was shining but at minus 1 earlier it was still freezing.  These canons were brought here by Clement Wragge in 1902 to break the terrible drought at that time.  Used all over Europe to break up hail in the vineyards it was thought they could shoot the clouds here and make it rain.  It didn’t work but the drought did break soon after. Wragge went on to become the senior meteorologist in NSW.

After lunch we went out to see the Cosmos Centre.  The interactive displays there were fun and informative and next time we might brave the weather and book into the night sky viewing but with a zero deg forecast that wasn’t going to be tonight.

On our way to visit the RFDS Visitor Centre we found the WW11 Secret Base.  Apparently a large number of US Personnel were stationed here in secret.  As this was part of a tag along tour we’ll have to wait until next time to check that out.  The RFDS Centre was very interesting and we enjoyed our visit there.  They certainly had some challenges to face in the very early years.

The next morning was even colder and our heater struggled to warm up but with temp dropping to minus 2 I’m really not surprised.  We packed up and after a final coffee we were back on the road again.  Hopefully this cold snap will end soon.  We did come in search of warmer weather!

Our lunch stop was at the little township of Augathella where we found a new painted water tower.  Another very bright artwork depicting local scenes.  Sheep, Wool, Cattle, Galahs, Emus and Sunsets all featured though it was a challenging one to photograph.

After lunch we continued on to Tambo where we stayed the night in one of the caravan parks there.  That night we walked across to see the big event in town.  Ben’s Chicken Races were well advertised and we decided to go and have a look.  It was the funniest thing I have seen for a long time.  Held at the The Royal Carrangarra Hotel these 8 chickens dyed with food colour are auctioned off to race which raises money for charity.  A remote control car with feed on the top is then sent around the ‘racetrack’ and the chickens are off and running.  Not always in the right direction.  The winning chicken wins its ‘owner’ half the money and the other goes to Little Windmills, a charity helping sick children.  Tonight’s race raised $345 for them.

After the race we changed venues and had a delicious dinner at the Tambo Tavern down the road.  The Lamb Shanks were so good.  It was a great fun night but we were soon back home with the heater cranked.  The next morning was a little warmer but not much, we had a walk along the street but only Tambo Teddies was open.  The wooden sculpture of Potorooooooo was a bit quirky.  He was a famous 18th Century thoroughbred racehorse who won over 30 races.  Made by Pip Reardon it took over 50-60 hours to make, weighs over 300 kg and was constructed from wood picked up locally. 

From here we drove to Blackall where we stopped for lunch then continued on to Barcaldine.  On the way though we saw a sign for Lara Wetlands and thought why not!  We have never been here before so in we went.  Wow, what a beautiful place to stay.  Our two nights changed to four and even then it was hard to leave.  A well run campground around a natural lake, lots of birds, a thermal pool, showers and toilets available if you want them and beautiful sunsets.  What more could we want.

Bill spent his days happily taking photos of the birds that were there.  The little Black Tailed Native Hens kept us amused for hours as they all had babies and they spent their whole time running around to feed them.  As you walked around the lake different groups had bigger chicks so obviously they had been having a very successful breeding season.  

We found two different Dotterels as we walked around and I must say the say The Red-Kneed Dotterel looked so much better dressed than the Black-Fronted Dotterel.  They were both lovely and very obliging when it came to having their photos taken.

It was very hard to leave this lovely place but after four days of sunshine and birds it was time to pack up and move on again.  Next time we are up this way I’m sure we won’t be driving past.

until next time…….

Time to go bush again………

The time had well and truly come to get back on the road again.  With perfect timing the sun had shone in the morning making it easier to pack up than if it had been raining.  Soon we were all hooked up and leaving a much soggier park than when we arrived.  They will certainly have some maintenance work to do on some of the sights damaged by heavy vans.

We headed out of suburbia and made our way straight up to Dalby.  Our usual spot at Bowenville was still closed due to the rains so it was the Dalby Caravan Park for us.  On arrival we set up and had a walk into town along Myall Creek where we found the cute little ’Dalby Dude’.  One major downside of all this rain was the abundance of mosquitoes and it seemed that here they were big enough to carry you away.  No point covering up as they just bit right through the clothes.

The next morning we stopped for coffee at The Urban Paddock before hitting the road again.  A quick stop for lunch at Moonie where I had a chuckle at the poem on the wall.  Moonie Madness.  Then it was onto Westall where we camped for the night.  The next day saw a quick stop at St George, where the Balonne River was the highest we had ever seen it, before continuing on to Bollon where we stayed the night at Wallam Creek.  Leaving the next morning we made our way into Cunnamulla where we were two days early for our booking at Bowra.  

The drive in from Dalby was really lovely as we had lush green paddocks beside us most of the way.  The rain this year has certainly been welcomed up here as they have been in drought for the last 13 years.  There was still alot of water lying along the roadside and many paddocks looked like lakes still.  The dams were all full.  Arriving in Cunnamulla mid afternoon we found a home at the Warrego River Caravan Park.  We had never been here before and what a little gem this is.  Spotless bathrooms and beautiful gardens with large secluded drive thru sights.  Just the place to relax in the sun after our 6 days in the rain.

Bill got up early and went for a walk with his camera.  Wrens, Finches, Honeyeaters, Red Winged Parrots and Spotted Bowerbirds were the order of the day.  In town a bit later in the day we found some gorgeous wall art in a lane way.  This was done by Samantha Meurant, a local artist, who owned and worked from this shop.  We met her the next day and she is an absolute delightful young lady.

It rained during the night on and off but cleared in the morning.  The wind continued all day getting stronger as the afternoon wore on.  Seems like we are in the grip of a big cold front and are in for a very long cold spell.  We packed up and headed out first of all to Alan Tannock weir.  We had a couple of hours to kill and found the Warrego River running fast and the weir spilling over.  From here we drove the few km through town to find our new home at Bowra.  On arrival we checked in, set up but no birds today as the wind was blowing a gale, gusting and cold.  Bird call in the old shearing shed that night was freezing.

And so began our seven day stay here at Bowra.  Bill came and went with his camera returning with a smile sometimes and other times not so happy.  With all the rain there were many tracks closed and the birds much more spread out as there was water everywhere.  Still it was fun and we did find lots to keep him busy.  Meeting up with 21 Emus one morning gave him a bit of a surprise.

We also caught up with  Marilyn who was staying there for the week as well.  It rained on the last two days we were there so all the roads were closed again other than the main track to the gate so we had to go to town of course.  Time for coffee and bread at the bakery.  While having a walk around we found this lovely artwork in front of the Medical Centre.  It was done by a local indigenous artist and is called 5 Fires depicting the five groups of people in this area.

As always Cunnamulla is a busy little town each day with dozens of caravans coming and going.  Watching from the bakery it is just a constant stream and you wonder where they are all going.  This year the fuel price has been unbelievable and we watched fascinated as people filled up each day at $229.09 and on the last day it jumped to $235.09.  Just over the railway line it was $214.09 where we got ours.  Don’t know if they didn’t know about the other one or didn’t care.  We did!

Finally our week was over and it was time to pack up and head off again.  At this point we really didn’t have a plan other than just to find somewhere warmer.  But there was a little hitch as Bill had woken up with what seemed like an infection in his eye.  In town he stopped by the Medical Centre and was able to get an appointment later that afternoon so we stayed another night in Cunnamulla lucky to be able to get a site out at Warrego again.  He saw the Dr that afternoon and was diagnosed with Conjunctivitis so drops for the next few days.  Easing a bit overnight Bill was happy to drive on the next morning and so we said farewell to Cunnamulla for another year.  So now all we need to do is make a decision - which way.

until next time……