Day 1 -
Brisbane to
MitchellWell folks, this series of
blogs (2013.2) finds me on my second trip to Western Queensland this year. Having enjoyed my volunteer work at the
Australian Age of Dinosaurs,
Winton about 6 months ago, I stuck my neck out and arranged to perform 2 weeks volunteer work at the
Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame (ASHOF) Museum at
Longreach. The Curator was keen to have someone catalogue a range of photographic material and other assistance, so I agreed.
Marie and I visited the ASHOF a couple of years ago, and a half day touring the facility was really not enough. As you have found from previous
blogs, I come from the bush, and am fascinated by our outback history. I certainly hope to find time to more fully explore the facility this time, buy some more quality outback gear, and maybe indulge in an outback show or two. I will also donate a copy of my father's biography "LR Cattleman" of his father - i.e. my grandfather - who worked on a number of Queensland and Northern Territory pastoral stations, including Barkly Downs and Headingly.
So, I packed up my Camper Trailer, having had it and the Prado serviced after the last trip; and after detailed planning, I'm on my way again. Plans included a quickish trip over two and a half days, do my work, and then meander back, visiting a number of Queensland country towns I hadn't been to before.
The trip up will include planned overnight stays at
http://www.exploroz.com/Places/76929/QLD/Neil_Turner_Weir.aspx , two and half kilometres north west of
Mitchell. The weir was highly recommended to me by a buddy (Gidday BribieKim) who was here some months ago. The ExplorOz site, and similar sites, write highly of the independent camping area, with the caveat that campers must be totally self-sufficient.
![No sneaking up on me in the middle of the night!]()
No sneaking up on me in the middle of the night!
My planned stop tomorrow night will be the
http://www.exploroz.com/Places/71442/QLD/Oma_Waterhole.aspx. I love this
campground just West Sou West of the lovely town of
Isisford. I enjoyed my stay there during my last trip, even though I was a little spooked by my unannounced beastly visitors in the middle of the night! and it will be a chance to have a shower after two days on the road! The (now) $3. 00 for a overnight stay will be worth it, if you can find a council officer on the weekend!
My last leg will be to the
http://www.longreachtouristpark.com.au. My stay in
Longreach will be for the two weeks, but, (a) it is hopefully walking distance to the ASHOF, and (b) the little Jayco doesn't offer much in security, especially when free or independent camping, so for peace of mind, the Park it is.
Well after a 10 hour day, here I am just NorthWest of
Mitchell on the Maranoa River.
An inordinate amount of roadworks on the
Warrego Hwy. A seriously blown tyre just out of Jondaryn, etc. etc. delayed my arrival by a few hours. I bought two new tyres in
Dalby to replace the one blown on the
Warrego Highway near Jondaryn, and the other second-hand tyre I got in
Charleville last trip. The wrecked one I had bought second hand in
Windorah last trip. Thankfully, the
Windorah second-hand tyre made it from
Windorah back to
Brisbane, including the Cunningham Highway. I'd hate to think of the consequences of the tyre shredding down the Range! Really false economy, but I had little choice at the time. All good now, I hope! At least I had a nice lunch of calamari and chips in the Coffee Club,
Dalby, and a good coffee, while I was waiting.
Not that I intended to stay there, the
Major Mitchell Caravan Park was seemingly overflowing with caravanners. Slightly concerned, I went about 3km out of town and found the
Neil Turner Weir. Reasonably fully occupied, but still with plenty of camping spots, I found a good site looking over the Weir. I know travelling caravanners like to find good
camp spots early afternoon, for that reason.
![Sunset on Neil Turner Weir, Maranoa River]()
Sunset on Neil Turner Weir, Maranoa River
![Neil Turner Weir, Mitchell]()
Neil Turner Weir, Mitchell
Finding a spot close to the water, I set up
camp there. Very pleasant it was, and would be lovely for a few days, like some of the other caravanner's I spoke to, but not this trip.
Camp fires are allowed.