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.

Outback Queensland road trip Day 16 Barcaldine here we come

 

 

By the numbers

286 kms driving

3 hours driving

8.09 kms walking

 

The day started with a visit to the bakery and finding they have toasted sandwiches and I grabbed that and a sausage roll. I found the sandwich was bacon and egg cut into quarters. A worthy breakfast before leaving Winton. It has been a nice journey so far, but it is now time to head towards home as there are other commitments awaiting us both. Today the drive will take us to the town of Barcaldine.

 

The road towards Longreach as we found was pretty guys with caravans heading towards Winton or further on, although there is an opal festival on later in the week. That is kinda funny as last week the town had a film festival so it seems to be a busy time in the area. It wasn’t just one or two caravans that we were being passed by it was groups in a conga line. It was interesting watching as there had been few vehicles when we were coming in, although that could be due to the roads we were travelling on. Maybe people had better ideas than us? By the time we went past Ilfracombe, I was on roads that we had not been on before and it wasn’t that long before we arrived at Barcaldine. I had hit phone service and there had been no message about where we were staying in the town so it was leaning either way.

 

We had to stop anyway in town to use the loo and then get some lunch. For something to do and fill in time before going to check in, both mum and I went for a wander through a museum by the name of the Australian Workers Heritage centre. This place was interesting as it had the clone of the Tree of Knowledge that died after being poisoned in the early 2000s. This tree is known as the Young ‘un. The museum starts with the story of the 1891 shearers strike and the 15 people who were arrested in the aftermath of the strike. Near all of them were sent to St Helena Island for around 2 years. That is located in Moreton Bay. The group also inspired a Henry Lawson song. I found it interesting that Brisbane was where the lotto balls were once made and had some of the machines on display. The big tend seemed to also have tourist information about some of the towns like Winton, Rockhampton and Longreach. While it was interesting that there was plenty about the Labor politicians as it focused mainly on Queensland since it was the state we were in. There were even a little about the voting boxes that were used in the past. The time was slowly ticking away and the museum closes around 3pm and we wandered out before that time even though we hadn’t seen everything, but it was interesting especially when there were different mailboxes with Australia Post.

 

We arrived at our accommodation and the doors were shut. We were staying in a pub and it wasn’t open. I was getting worried that the booking hadn’t gone through. I basically looked around and then rang the number that I got from Google as the number outside the building wasn’t connected. We were let into the building once the owner came out to see us. We were asked if we had booked with Booking or direct and I said direct with them. I much prefer booking direct as the business gets 100% of the money. We were given the key and we had shared bathroom and toilets, which was suitable for tonight. We had basic rooms without a fridge so it could have been worse and no booking. We were upstairs and the hotel was a heritage type one with a little bit of history.

 

Once I had settled in I went for a walk around town. I would be back by the time it was ready for food to be ordered, though that seemed to be between 6pm and 730pm so it could either become busy like in Winton or be quiet. I followed some of the heritage signs and came across the old court house that was still being used as a court house, a Queensland government building now being used by the SES, a radio station that is now the movie theatre, although there were a few buildings that had burnt down several times and replaced. The Tree of Knowledge location in front of the train station was fenced off as they are apparently doing some work there and there is also some info panels about the Labor party movement, the shearers strike and the aftermath. Further along the street there was a Barcaldine mural that had been painted and a monument of a working windmill to a bore. The windmill works when the wind blows it moves and you can hear the creaking as it does.

 

I went back for a meal and I was early for once as I was going to visit the cemetery and decided against doing that. I should relax and not go rushing off. Tomorrow our next destination is the town of Springsure. That is something like a 4 hour drive and we might have quick stops in towns like Emerald.