Outback Queensland road trip Day 19 Miles to Goondiwindi

 

 

By the numbers

 

244kms from Miles

2 hours 28 drive

10.71 km walking

13.900 steps

 

It has started to get chilly as we head towards the coast even though I thought we had crossed the Great Dividing Range, we just hadn’t gotten even close to doing that just yet. That is on the trip home as we head to the coast. It did rain overnight, but it was dry the next day so that was actually a good thing as we don’t need wet roads. We had to get fuel before we left Miles and I washed the windscreen again as it had gotten dirty.

 

We had a pretty straight forward drive ahead of us as we headed towards Moonie and down to Goondiwindi. Phone service cut out as we were going along and the GPS was behaving for the time being. We passed through the town of The Gums and the rest area sign was saying the servo was open between 7am and 7pm. I had not seen a time on those signs before and I thought it was unusual. There was a sign I had missed which said ‘Are we there yet?’, but I was hoping for more like it and they had vanished as they had started. I was just happy to sit there and try to take photos as we went as there were interesting things to look at.

 

It didn’t seem to take that long to get to Goondiwindi, and we headed into the information centre to find out more about the area and the roads we would be taking to get home The Information centre was also the library and there was a display about a local race horse that had a bit of a personality. The horse was called Gunsynd and there were bits about the life of the horse including about the last race it was in as well. It seemed to be one well respected animal at the time who thrived on the attention from the punters. There was also a song about the Goondiwindi Grey. Around the same area there seemed to be a rodeo or something like it hall of fame, but I didn’t look much into that one. We ended up with the maps we were after, and there was a sculpture festival that we had seen something about that we wanted to go see. When we found it we went looking around and then a family with obnoxious teen brats started throwing rocks at some of the metal sculptures. They wonder why others don’t like them these days. Still that didn’t stay for long, maybe they had hear what I was saying or maybe not.

 

Afterwards we went to get a bite to eat and then we were able to check into the pub we are staying in. I later found a nearby motel that had vacancy so we probably didn’t need to be staying above the pub. Our door is the keypad and not an actual key. At least we could sort out the bill and go from there. Once checked in I went for a walk along the Levee bank and to see what I could find in town I felt good going for a nice wander as I do need the walk. I found a memorial to the horse, and there seems to be quite a few things in town named after Gunsynd including a motel. It was a good walk for a couple of hours before I returned to the room and get some food. I think I like going for afternoon walks at some of the places we stayed at overnight as you see something.

 

Tomorrow is the last leg of the journey and on the way home we will hopefully see some silo art along the way. We are going to head towards Texas and out through Tenterfield, although hopefully that will happen and we don’t get sent in strange directions by the GPS. The end of a trip will be interesting and to get back into the swing of things once we are back at home.

Outback Queensland road trip Day 18 Heading to Miles from Springsure

 

 

By the numbers

1 smoke alarm

3,607 kms driving so far

475kms driving today

4.57 kms walking

 

The morning started early and the weather had changed since we had moved onto the Great Dividing range as it was colder at night as I sitting outside uploading my blog while listening to some of the State of Origin. Outside was where I could get signal from the wifi so I was there for a little bit. It was cool enough in the morning that I needed a light jumper on. While I was looking at my phone the smoke alarm started blaring about Fire and evacuation. Mum learnt that the steamy shower set the alarm off and I had to open windows and the front door. The whole motel was linked to the same alarm system. One goes off they all go off. Once it was no longer steamy the alarms stopped.

 

The route we were going to take was out towards Rolleston, down to Roma and to Miles. It was around 4 or 5 hours that it would take us. We did see if there were alternative routes for the GPS to take and it only wanted to go in the one direction. We knew of others that could get us to Miles, but we follow the directions the computer gives. The driving and the countryside was nice since it was a nice day. There were occasions when we got stuck behind a truck that had to slow down going up a hill, but we were allowed to pass, which was good. There were plenty of birdlife on the side of the road especially crows that seem to play chicken just wander to the side of the road as you are coming.

 

We had to stop in Roma at the Big rig info centre to get a coffee and have a break. A toasted sanga was what the doctor ordered before we went the next 100 or so kms to the town of Miles where we would be staying the night before heading to Goondiwindi. Before we went to the accommodation, I was dropped off at the Miles Historical Village, a tourist attraction that had replicas of original buildings that would make a town. Also so that I could spend enough time there to look around before it closed as I might not see everything before it closed for the day. The buildings all revolved around their purpose as to what was inside like the bank had the old pound notes, coins and organised like they would be before any of the modern conveniences were around. You got more a visual feel of everything from the village and if you were familiar with half the objects from other museums then you might know what they are. Nearly all the objects related to Miles like information about the people who served in WW1 and what was happening in the area during WW2 as well with the military and preparedness for being the last line of defence. The little bit about where Miles was located and where the Artesian Basin was location in regards to the town and an explanation on how early settlers survived in the area after finding water in the area. It was interesting looking at the different rocks in the Lapidary room, though I had to keep moving before the village closed, though I did miss the shell room as a glance told me what it was and wasn’t about the ANZACs. I could never do that place any justice though and would one day go back for another wander and see if they have added to it.

 

I finished my exploring before they closed up for the day. I found it interesting wandering around looking at the displays though I felt they needed more information, but that was me. They must be on a good thing if they have been there since the 1970s and were expanding. You just about need the full day to be there. It was starting to get cooler and darker too when I got to the motel room and it looked good where we are staying. A wander to a pub for a meal and then back to the room to relax was just what the doctor ordered.

 

So far we have done 3607kms driving on this trip around Queensland and have not seen the whole state. Around 200 or so kms driving has been done on the same roads to get to some destinations like between Winton and Ilfracombe, and the same with Roma to Miles. You don’t need to go on the same roads to get anywhere. Done so much distance without leaving the state and some of the roads were interesting. Time is the milit to everything and that is running out.

Outback Queensland road trip Day 17 Barcaldine to Springsure

 

 

By the numbers

 

4 hours driving

377 kms

10.70kms walking

13,610 steps

 

The day started with the sounds of a windmill that was creaking in the wind all night, but then again that’s what they do. For what we paid we had a room for the night and that is all we can ask for in the long run. We found some food and decided to head off without a coffee. That will become important later on. We were heading on a 4 hour drive towards Springsure, but we put the first stop as Jericho as they would have a rest stop and coffee.

On the drive to Jericho, we avoided running over a living snake that in length covered pretty much the whole lane from white paint to the middle markers. The vehicle behind us avoided the snake too. We didn’t check to see what sort it was. While we made it to Jericho without any issues, I went for a wander while mum checked out the loos. The Post office and the Information centre were really the same building with a partition for the office. I bought the coffees and it was self serve machine as you just hit the button and the one you want comes out. I give the driver her flat white before I hit the button for my long black and the machine rumbles and them switches off. One of the ladies tries to fix the machine as it does a self clean and then tries again. It turns off, I decide to have a coke instead and find a coffee later on. I decide to have a quick look around town and find some murals including a free book library and outdoor cinema. We needed fuel so got service from one of the guys and I cleaned the windscreen of little splatters that came off a cattle truck. It looked better than it did before.

 

Then came another problem, the GPS wanted to send us to different routes other than the direct route to Emerald, and it even did the same with Alpha as it tried to send us back the way we had come. Neither of us could work out why the GPS was doing this. Eventually it worked itself out and we made the drive out to Alpha on the main road. We were wanting to go through Emerald as I wanted to see the Big Easel in the town. Between Alpha and Emerald there were Anti fatigue trivia signs that we had not seen elsewhere. When we got into Emerald, we stopped at the Easel and then headed into town to find a coffee shop. We are in luck as its nearly time for them to close and we get a toasted sanga and a coffee. A short break from the drive before we head off into Springsure. We had stopped near a pub and went for a wander down near the library to find a coffee shop so it was worth it.

 

The drive into Springsure was interesting as we came across hills and they were interesting. The one closest to town has the name of Virgin Rock. The pub we are staying at tonight was actually open so we didn’t need to phone around to see what was happening. We were able to check in and get into our motel room without a problem. We dropped the stuff off and I then went off for a walk. There was a little historic village I wanted to see. I passed something that was similar, but I later realised I had walked past it as the map wasn’t showing its true location. I seen a sign for something else interesting and realise it was 10kms away. Too far and not doing that walk. I had to stop off at the supermarket for some supplies before heading back. We have three more days left of driving to get home. Tomorrow its Miles and then on Friday it is Goondiwindi before making the trek back home. At least we have the afternoons to go for a walk to look around the area.