Freedom

 On a dark and gloomy afternoon, early in July, we made our bid for freedom......

We headed west hoping to get more daylight hours and to get as far away from Brisbane as possible, (Sorry Jess, it was great to see you but time to go)

With the heater repaired late on Monday afternoon, and the weather not playing the game, so we couldn't get charge into our battery system, we made the call to leave and drive until sunset, which got us as far as Maclagan. (Just East of Dalby).

A quick overnighter in a roadside rest area, and another big day on the road on Wednesday got us just East of Cunnamulla. This was actually a great spot, we found some tracks off the back of a roadside stop in the middle of nowhere and camped out in the bush, it was so peaceful and what we enjoy doing, a pity it was too cold for a campfire.

There are so many feral goats along this way, I keep thinking of O'Sheas Goat Curry, Mmmm

Thursday was an easy drive into Cunnamulla, a surprising little find. So much history here, and such a neat and cared for town. It is situated on the banks of the Warrego River, a Cobb & Co stop from back in the mid 1800s, and inspiration to the song "The Cunnamulla Fellow".

                                             

The Original Blacksmith site turned into Metal Works                The Cunnamulla Saddlery

Railway Station

with a permanent Brass band playing

                                                              The Robber's Tree

            The unfortunate robber, who didn't manage to steal anything, but he did accidently shoot and wound someone, hid up this once lush tree. The man he wounded pleaded for leniency, but alas it wasn't to be and he was hung 10 weeks later. He was the last man hung in Qld for Robbery under arms. 

We left Cunnamulla and crossed the Qld border, hopefully the last time for a while.

So relieved to be out of Qld we camped beside a roadhouse just inside NSW for the night, but must have been so pre-occupied with getting out of Qld guess who forgot to secure a cupboard.???

                                                                     Oops!!!!!

Les was in his element as heavy mining gear was stopped there also, memories from his previous working life.

With rain expected for the next couple of days, we did another first for this trip, we have booked into a powered caravan park site in Bourke. 

But not before another one of Les' toys had to pass us.

Still in Brisbane

 We feel as if we are in the movie "The Perfect Storm", 

We saw the clear skies and a way out, and then.........

The heater that was meant to be here on Wednesday, still hasn't arrived, well, after some searching we have found it in a warehouse in Caboolture waiting to be delivered to our gas fitter, so at least its now in the same state.

On top of the heater both Les and I have been sick this week, just a cold that cant be shaken, but what do you expect when you live in a refrigerator?

So not our best week, pretty shit really. 

Talking about shit, did a couple of stealth toilet cassette dump runs😄.

We did complete another task this week, had to find water and actually found a paid water filling depot just a couple of KM down the road so that was a first and @$1 for 143litres of good drinking water it isn't a bad system.  (And actually easy to use, lets face it, if we can manage it most people should be able to)

The highlight of my week was having a video chat with family and friends celebrating a certain birthday,💝 Happy Birthday Cheryl.

Looking forward to a better week ahead so stay tuned.........

Back In Bris-vegas

 Yes it has been cold.

How Cold??

Bloody Freezing, -2 down at Glen Innes, but still here to tell the tale.

We spent Monday doing a bit of house keeping and touristy things.

Went for a drive out to the Australian Standing Stones, a small replica of Stone Henge but full of interesting information, like how to read the stones, know when the winter and summer soltice is, also had a human sun dial, which of course we tried out and was correct pretty much to the minute, well definitely within 5.

From Glen Innes we travelled North to Tenterfield, and crossing the border into Qld at Wallagarra, an ancient railway station, with either side on the border, the 2 states have different rail gauges as well as different verandah designs, (Weird).

Our last night before heading into Brisbane was out at a pub, Sandy Creek Hotel, just out of Warwick.

They take in rescues animals and the camp yard was full of their orphaned farm animals, it was all rather quirky but fun.

It was here that our caravan gas heater decided to die. Now we really know what cold is.

Tried everything we could think of to get the thing going again but to no avail.

Added to the list for the Caravan people to look at when they do the front window, in the meantime we have stocked up on blankets, and are having early nights as its too cold to stay up in 4 degrees in a tin box.

Whilst waiting on news of the van, we enjoyed a hot coffee, and also another first for both of us- 

A shop at Aldi, OMG, it is so cheap, well most things anyway, Liptons tea bags (100 pack $3.49) they are up to $7 at coles, bought a few of their meat packs and trying that, along with some chocolate biscuits, to go with the cups of tea, of course.

We are no longer Aldi virgins.

As for news on the van, we now have a front window again, 

YAY.. but as for the heater, that still isn't working, after discussions with the manufacturer they have decided the unit is faulty and are going to swap it out. Looks like we are here for another week waiting on a new heater🤞.

Instead of travelling back to Tully Memorial that night, we were recommended a Farm Stay just around the corner from where our repairs were being carried out.

This place, Westcloud Farm Stay, was incredible, massive space to park up, camp kitchen and endless hot showers, all for $20/night.  Our highlight of the night was bumping into Derek & Sue from Just Vanning It, youtubers that we have been following for a few years now. We didn't embarrass ourselves by asking for any photos, just a bit of a chat,  @justvanningit. I wonder if we will feature in their next You tube episode????

Now back at Tully to be closer to Jess for a few days, so yes once again she gets a free roast dinner😋

She has brought over an apple pie to have for dessert, so I call that fair.

Bucket List Destination Fulfilled

 Finally moved on from our little paradise on Wednesday, hadn't meant to stay that long but the car needed some maintenance issues sorted at Goondiwindi Toyota, which gave Les and I another day to wander around the town.

                                

                                 

And a look in Custom's house Museum and the levy walk, but definitely ready to move on by the time we got the car back. (Which turned out to be a dirty injector and was cleaned under warranty)

We crossed the border into NSW on Wednesday, finally left Qld. But wait for it, we re-entered Qld later that day to make a stop at the famous Nindigully Pub. This spot has been on our bucket list for a while and we didn't realise how close we were to it whilst at Goondi.  A free camp along the Moonie River across the road (more like a paddock) from the pub. Nindigully, apart from being famous for its Truckies Burgers (5.5kg of meat),  also lays claim to holding the oldest continuous pub licence in Qld (since 1864). And finally for the Australian film buffs, it is the set to that Hugh Jackman film, Paperback Hero.

We joined in for Happy Hour drinks on Thursday and stayed for much longer than anticipated chatting to fellow travellers around the huge fire pit in the beer garden, a great time had by all and well worth the stop.

From here we plan to make a huge loop back into Brisbane for hopefully the final repairs on the van window.

So once again across the border into NSW we go, this time at Hebel, before making our way to Lightning Ridge, famous for its black opals and hot artesian spa baths.

Passing the silo art at Thalon

(Here's an idea for the girls' paint days.)

Camped just out of town at "Stanley" the Big Emu.

Moving on from There we pass through Walgett, another free camp just out of Moree at Gum Flat Reserve, before coming into Glen Innes on Sunday.

Gum Flat Reserve

Found a nice free camp just North of the town, have met a couple of locals already, "crazy cat woman", Not really, she was a lovely lady, volunteer for Animal Welfare Association, a fellow camper apparently reported a dumped kitten here last night so she was on the hunt.  She did find it but found herself in a bit of a mess caught in brambles and such in the creek and needed a hand rescuing the poor animal.

A bit worried about camping here, not for feral cats but apparently going down to -3 tonight. Sheep Grazier warning out, and according to "Cat Lady" might snow.

Hopefully we haven't frozen and can still report our tales next week.

                              

                                                       Beardy Waters Camp - Glen Innes