Day 2: Roma to Barcoo River (Sth of Blackall)

Left Roma at 8am this morning – it was quite cold after a few showers of rain yesterday.

Went through Mitchell, Muckadilla, Mungallala, Morven (we stopped at the markets where Lorelle bought a brooch, then we had morning tea), Augathella and Tambo. We stopped for lunch at Tambo beside the rest area on the south side of the town. Adjacent to the rest area is a small lake, probably measuring only 100 metres in diameter where I learnt to water-ski back in 1977 when I was teaching at Tambo. Across the road from the rest area was the house I lived in back in that year – Lorelle took a photo of the house and school. Certainly brought back some memories from when I was a 22 year old.
In the seventies, the area was based on sheep. Australia doesn’t ride on the sheep’s back like it used to and although merino sheep are still important we didn’t get the impression they were the life of the country in that part of Queensland as they used to be. We also stopped at the Tambo Teddy shop, but being Sunday, it was closed. Lorelle was disappointed. I told her we can always get one by mail order!!

After we left Tambo, we continued north to our overnight camping area which is where we are now – on the banks of the Barcoo in a rest area between 40 & 50 kilometres south of Blackall. No facilities except a table under a cover. It’s raining but I am sitting under the shelter shed typing. Tomorrow we head to Longreach where we are booked into a caravan park.

Fuel – not too bad – paid $1.55/L in Tambo. Fuel economy – 22L/100km. (Normally the Prado uses 13-14L per 100km.) At that rate, it will cost us $9,000 in fuel for the trip!!!

QUIP OF THE DAY: Say this quickly, “Have you met the funny fella from Augathella?”