The journey home…..

 We turned left and followed the road through Atherton and soon we had left the suburbs and were on our way for real.  A quick stop at Ravenshoe for bread we then kept driving to a favourite gravel pit in Minnamoolka.  This large space is becoming more popular and this time there were about six vans in overnight.  We arrived early as Bill wanted to tryout the new mobile aerial he had purchased so we can get internet in the bush.  Together with a six metre pole for it to be attached to it was a bit interesting watching him sorting it all out.  And the best bit is that it worked.  

Our journey from here took us through The Lynd then Hughenden where we stayed overnight at the Showgrounds there.  I was hoping to see The Flinders River with water in it after all the rain Qld had received but other than a couple of puddles it was not to be.  There was however a stunning new artwork on the water tower there.

Next stop was Winton and from there we drove on to Longreach arriving after lunch on Saturday.  We found everything closed but loved the interesting sculpture in the Main Street.  The work by John Underwood is called The Drovers but is also know as Around the Campfire.  It is one of approximately 50 artworks titled The Human Series which were commissioned in 1988 for the World Expo in Brisbane.  With no reason to stay we drove onto Stonehenge where we stayed overnight.  The land as we drove in was green and lush as all the rain throughout The Channel Country has been amazing.  Having a look through the information centre the next morning found some new artwork on the water tanks outside.

Our route from here took us through Jundah, Quilpie and Charleville on our way to Cunnamulla where we were going to stay at Bowra for another few days.  With so much rain here over the last few months all the tracks are closed to vehicles and you can only walk around the camping area.  And use the main track to go to the gate.  The rain has also brought out the flies and they are feral.  Fly nets were the fashion statement of everyone there this time.  A very different visit than normal but it was still fun and Bill did find some birds.

Leaving Cunnamulla the next day we drove to Cobar and camped at Glenhope Camp, a great little site on a farmers spare paddock.  And the daughter runs a coffee van there so a great find.  After some shopping in town the next morning we planned to go on to Lake Cargellgio but with all the rain the camps here were closed so we kept on going to Coleambally where we stayed at a community camp ground.  The temperature has been dropping constantly since we left FNQ and once again it was freezing.  Thank goodness for our heater.

Our first stop of the next day was Jerilderie where we had coffee at the bakery.  As we all know this is one of the places that Ned Kelly has made famous and I loved the sculpture of him made of old bread tins.  A short time later we crossed the Murray River at Cobram and were back in Victoria.  We arrived home at 12.15pm and have to say this is the first time we have come from Cunnamulla to home in three days.  It rained while we had lunch and 13 degrees was not a nice welcome home but it was good to be back.  It was a busy afternoon unpacking the van.

It was good to wake up in a house again though it was a bit chilly until the heaters got going.  We caught up with Judi and Peter for a coffee at Fare Enough and life was back to normal.

until next time…….