Outback Queensland road trip Day 7: Windorah to Longreach

 

By the numbers

17 litres left in tank on reaching Longreach

More cars than yesterday

5kms walking

No actual Stonehenge

 

The day started early in Windorah as we had to be out of the room by 10am sharp though we had breakfast and were up around 7am and leaving by around 9am. We headed out of town with the intention of heading towards Jundah and then onto Longreach. At this stage we didn’t have phone service still and we would be on the road for around 3 or so hours. The cars GPS was confused and giving us directions. Just out of Windorah we encountered the roadworks that we had gone through and we went through the bypass to the road so it wasn’t that bad and the best part was that it had dried out or else we could get stuck. Not far down the road we encountered a large road runner type bird called an Australian Bustard. We slowed down and stopped for it as it slowly walked off the road. It was an interesting bird and I think it was keeping an eye on us. There were also more Wedge tailed Eagles including one that just stood its ground as we went past and didn’t fly off.

 

Between Windorah and Jundah there were at least 5 cars with two passing us and some going in the other direction. At least we were building up for that as we headed for Longreach. The scenery kept on changing from trees to plains and then back to trees. When we reached Jundah one of the vehicles that passed us had actually stopped there as I guess they were farm workers. A while up the road as the roads were still quite narrow with them widening for a little while calling themselves overtaking lanes. We had a pit stop in Stonehenge, which was a little bit off the highway. It was a very small town with a sign that said ‘Hit the skids, Not the kids’. I didn’t see any, but there was a pub and that was open. There wasn’t much to see in town and after a brief stop we kept on heading towards Longreach. When we were near Longreach the car sent a message to the GPS telling us we needed fuel and listed a few fuel stops, and then there were the beeping that we couldn’t work out until I realised the centre lane markers had appeared and the car was detecting those.

 

We did a lap around the outskirts of Longreach before we were dragged back into the town onto the main road heading out of town heading for Barcaldine. We were searching for our accommodation, which was near the Qantas museum and Stockman hall of fame. We were staying in some budged rooms and when we got down there was a sign directing us to check in at the Albert Motor Inn at the other end of the street. We go to reception and have a chat with the nice young lady who tells us we had actually booked through a third party and our rooms were more or less dongas with shared bathrooms and showers, not fully what was described by the 3^rd party website. You would have to think hostels instead of decent places to stay with a family member. She had complained about their tactics as high up as the CEO who laughed in her face and told her they can do what they like. It did explain the address for the website being in the US. I would have gotten a better rate when going to the legit website. It was explained they were barely legal as they charged fees on top. We were given the option of upgrading to a room in the motel as we are staying most of the week and we took it. Usually I am more careful with booking places and I was rushing due to the lack of accommodation in the area. I will learn for next time and a good thing to know about the websites being disguised as the legit locations.

 

Once we were in our room at the hotel, the best part is when we check in, we can do it by text and same with check out. The door codes are pin numbers so no need for keys. The best part is they have washing machine and dryers so I was able to get that done as I was at the point I needed more underwear. While the clothes were in the dryer I went for a wander across the road to the Qantas museum and out to the airport, which was really a big shed around the same size as the airport in Whangarei. I had to wander back pretty quickly as I knew the washing in the dryer would have long since finished. The walk in the path beside the main road is part of the botanic gardens with information so that should be interesting in itself. By the time I got back and sorted out the washing, it was time to get a meal at the RSL, which was a Sunday roast. Tomorrow night we have a table booked at a nearby restaurant that was recommended to us.