Wrap-up and Reflections

What a fantastic trip; we finally got to the Gulf of Carpentaria, Red Centre and the Big Rock. Despite it being mid-winter, it didn’t stop us from doing anything, well maybe the odd ride or three.  So, we have vowed never to go south again during winter or school holidays; we said this last time we were in the south so are obviously slow learners. Some people function really well in cold weather, but as we discovered, we are not two of those. It was a shame that Mark and Sue were not able to continue the trip with us as they would have really enjoyed the places we visited and the things we did there. 

The main thing we came away with from this trip is that we need a slightly larger van; one with a fitted grey water tank, in-built washing machine and a properly installed gas heater. And, in the truck we need to fit a 200l water tank or bladder. No point in being cold, lacking water, or not being able to wash one’s clothes when and where you want to. So, it’s caravan shopping for us over the next few months. Hopefully someone will make a decent offer on our van so we don’t lose too much money by trading it in.

 Another thing we learned is that the nomadic Australian holiday lifestyle is well and truly up and running again, probably due to all the unrest around the world. So, we will indeed go back to planning more, but not everything. With the new van, we should be able to free camp a lot more, but when we do want/need to be in a city/town, we will ensure we plan for it. 

A day after arriving home we learned of the passing of our dear friend and Wendy’s ‘Aussie Mum’, Jenny Fotheringham from pancreatic cancer. So very sad as Jen was a real gem of a person and we are going to miss her. RIP Jen. 

Day 66: Sat 28 Jul – Jandowae to Home

Drive: 323km; Total towed: 9232km; Grand total: 10 394km

5 – 25 deg C 

It was a fresher than expected start to the day with quite a lot of fog on the road. It soon cleared though and the temperatures sky-rocketed! 

We were on the road earlier than usual, just after 7:30am as we (read Greg) were really itching to get home now that we were so close. And no, we didn't encounter any wayward kangaroos or any other animal trying to commit suicide with/on our truck or van. The road had not improved overnight so it was a slow first 40km odd. It then got a lot better and then a little worse.  

Our only stop today was at Wondai for a brew and a walk around the markets (you just never know what you may find!). Greg had a steak and kidney pie and Wendy had a vanilla slice. Whilst the slice was not the best in that the pastry was very tough, it was quite tasty. Greg's pie did not have much kidney. The coffee was quite ordinary as well, but it was hot, well warm'ish anyway. We had a wander through the markets and Wendy could not help buying a pair of earrings - one side is a Big Mac and the other a serve of large fries. She always tries to wear something different at her pharmacy conference so hopefully these will provoke some earnest conversations. 

We arrived home (our real home) just after 12:30pm to a good-looking yard. Our neighbours and good friends, Terry and Leandra, had done a really good job of looking after the place. The irrigation had failed in the last week or so, and upon investigation by Greg was easily fixed by simply plugging the pump at the dam back into the power; a critter had obviously tripped over it and unplugged it. Or, perhaps, it was a human with ill intent? No real damage done, so that was good. 

Then began the task of unpacking the van. It took the best part of the afternoon to get the food and clothes out. Cleaning comes later.  

Being a Saturday, it was pub night. Instead of going to Torbo we all (G&Y and M&S) went to Burrum Heads as we knew Torbo would have been packed - there was a rodeo at the Torbanlea Racetrack. Burrum Heads pub was pretty packed as well however, we got in pretty early so were not concerned. Wendy had a steak to make up for her disappointment at Nindigully, and Greg had a chicken caesar salad complete with those stinky little fishes. A good night was had by all and we were home by 8pm and in bed not long after. 

And, so ends another trip in the caravan. 

Really? We hadn't noticed

Another Dingo, not as big, Wondai

Wondai - Charlotte the Emu apparently wandered into town and was adopted. She died in 2014

Diarama in the Wondai Wood Shed

Wondai

Hippo Farm on our return

Day 65: Fri 27 Jul – Nindigully Pub to Jandowae

8 (4) - 25 deg C, definitely warmer 

Drive: 482km; Total towed: 8909km 

After core stretches and exercises and a quick breakfast we were on the road a smidge after 8am, our SDT. We went through St George but it was still too early for mornos, so continued until we reached Surat, a town both of us have heard of but never visited, or maybe have visited but so longer ago neither of us remember it. As we approached the main street, we saw a fantastically restored traditional QLD building so decided we just needed to stop right there. We stopped opposite the Shire Hall from which a painter was just finishing up. We decided to come back after he’d left before photographing the building as deserved to be photographed on its own.  

We had mornos at the Timber Crate, obviously a new cafe in town and we were not disappointed. Greg had a pumpkin and spinach muffin and Wendy had a carrot cake, together with a coffee. We then had a wander through the Cobb & Co Changing Station Museum which was very well done. It was in this museum we learned where the term of 'corduroys' came from. It relates to when pine saplings were laid down to enable a coach to negotiate the surface without becoming bogged. This term is often confused with 'corrugations' which are naturally made obstacles. 

We passed through Roma (stopped for a refuel) and had lunch in Miles whilst parked outside the Miles District Hospital, a weird place to have lunch. We made our way to Chinchilla and then to Brigalow where we turned left to Jandowae. If we thought the road thus far had been very ordinary ("you need to try very hard to make a road this bad" was Greg's comment), then it was to become very, very ordinary, and very fast too. We were re-thinking our decision to come this way, but it did become a bit better after we turned right. 

We arrived at the Jandowae Caravan Park only to be told they had no vacancies until Tuesday (the park is full of huge on-site vans obviously for miners or such like). Well, today is Friday. So, Wendy knew there was a Showgrounds in town so we made our way there and there was only one other caravan present. We picked our spot, set up, put our $ in an envelope (the lady was supposed to be here at 4:30pm to collect the money but had not arrived by 5pm) in the door of the van. As we were leaving the grounds for a walk, the lady drove in, so we told her where the $ were and she was very appreciative and gave us an information circular of Jandowae. 

We walked the main street and one back and saw a few pubs, an old school, the post office, memorial hall and the Big Dingo (wasn't that impressive). The sunset was also quite good.

Surat - Cobb & Co dining for coach passengers if they chose to

Our spot at Jandowae Showgrounds

A Cobb & Co scale model

An original Cobb & Co coach at Surat

Greg trying to buy something at the old shop in the museum at Surat

Surat Gallery - Cows in the meadow

Fox 7 Child

Surat

Dulacca

Jandowae

Jandowae

Jandowae State School 1899

Old shearers quarters and a windmill at Jandowae

Jandowae

Jandowae

Jandowae

Jandowae Memorial Hall and Cenotaph

The Big Dingo at Jandowae

Sunset at Jandowae

Jandowae RSL Clocktower "Lest we forget"

Jandowae

Jandowae - full moon tonight

  

Day 64: Thu 26 Jul – Coonabarabran to Nindigully Pub

0 (probably much lower) - 24 deg C

Drive: 415km; Total towed: 8427km 

The beginning of week 10 on the road. The temperature app didn't really prepare us for what seemed to be a lot colder. So up we got and went for a quick walk (quick in two ways - short in km, and quick to get warm) uptown and back. On our return to the van we saw that it really was cold - a stalagmite and stalactite forming from the leak on the water inlet hose on the van that reversed into us last night (see photo).

We left Coonabarabran just before 9am and stopped at the same spot on the Narrabri Creek (from the Namoi River) we stopped at a few years ago. Greg was keen to be on the road again, so we took our brews to go. We stopped again at Moree for fuel and then Mungindi for lunch. This was at a fantastic free camp which had toilets and showers and a playground for the kiddies. There were a fair few patrons and a few lunch-timers as well. 

It was then only 40 odd km to Thallon which we had heard of on the TV - the pub has just been bought by a conglomerate of ex-Thallon'ites who were distressed about the plight of their town. Whilst we didn't stay here overnight, we did visit the Silo Mural which was very nice. We also saw the Wombat statue - a tribute to the Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat which is allegedly making a comeback. He is quite cute. On one side he has been adorned with climbing pegs for the kids to be able to climb up onto his back. 

Our final stop for the day - Nindigully Pub – was another 33km away. We had heard such great stories about this place and the pub and its food that we thought we should come and give it a go. As with all free-camps, there are those that are very selfish and will do anything to deter you from parking next to them. Never mind, we found a good spot under a largely leafless gum and made it our home. We were both really looking forward to having a decent feed and had been starving ourselves! Because we were so hungry, we decided to go over about 5:15pm, have a pre-dinner drink and then order dinner. No real wine to speak of, so we had a beer each and then ordered our dinner at 5:35pm (can only order after 5:30pm). We both ordered the 400g rump (all their steaks are 400g), cooked medium/rare, one with vege, the other with salad. We were second in the queue and after 40 minutes and others receiving their meals before us, Greg went to find out what was happening. He heard the 'chef' talking to a mate that he had recently applied for a position at KFC which should have rung immediate alarm bells. When we did eventually receive our meals, the steaks were rather large, in fact plate-size. However, they almost minute-steak thickness and therefore incapable of being cooked to order. Subsequently, both were cooked to the consistency of biltong (beef jerkey). We were both so hungry by this stage that we had half and then decided that was enough. The chips and salad/vege were really good though. Wendy complained to the 'chef' who immediately offered to cook another couple, but we had had enough by this stage and politely declined. So, not a great end to what was otherwise a good day. 

Neilson Park Coonabarabran

Mornos stop at Narrabri

Silo art at Thallon

Outside the pub at Nindigully

Nindigully Pub kitchen

Nindigully Pub outdoor dining

Icicles this morning at Coonabarabran

Lucnh at Mungindi

Harry the Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat

Thallon Cenotaph

Nindigully Pub

Our spot at Nindigully Pub free camp

A sign at Nindigully Pub

Nindigully Pub was home to the Boomerang Cafe in the 1998 filming pf Paperback Hero

Moonie River at Nindigully Pub

Nindigully Pub bar

Our meals, looks can be very deceiving