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…….