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?”

Day 1: Gatton to Roma

Well we finally got away at about 9am after saying our good-byes.

Had morning tea at Chinchilla, lunch in a rest area at Dulacca and arrived in Roma at about 3:30pm. Staying at Villa Big 4 Holiday Park - $28 for the night after we got our Big 4 member discount. We have drive through sites so that's good - we are not planning on going out tonight.

Some photos attached of when we left in the morning. The Quinns were there to dream about going (actually collecting a vehicle) and Mike is living at home and lookingt after the house (he asked if we would tie some party balloons to the letter box on the way out!!!!)

All for Day 1.

It's all done and dusted!!!

The time has come! The van is packed and we have said our good-byes. I've had the last three weeks to prepare and I know I will have forgotten something but not sure yet what it will be???

Doug & Sue arrived at lunch time today. Tomorrow we only have a 4.5 hour drive to Roma so we won't get up too early. There is rain coming in from the west so I hope that doesn't get in our way.

My next comments will be the real thing from on the road!

Five sleeps to go!!!

What have I been doing today?

Downloaded an ABC audio series off the Net called “Crossing the Nullabor”. Sounds good.

Cleaned out the spare fridge and freezer and turned them off – Mick won’t need them (I hope!).

Day of cleaning – cleaned the car inside and out (car-wash handy), and also washed the van – external, at home (while it was raining).

Did final backup of laptops – will leave a copy at home and take another copy with me.

Unloaded the pod so I could get it onto the car roof racks (then once I get it up there, will have to refill it.)

Been to chemist to fill prescriptions and pay account.

Been to vet to get dog flea/heartworm stuff.

Exciting stuff............

Wheel Nuts & More!!!

Last couple of days have been flat strap at the business end of getting ready.

The caravan wheel nuts were an issue - I knew they were done up last with an air gun as I had tried to loosen them in the past to check the bearings and no go.....

Well, today I was not going to give in - I had to get a butane gas gun onto each wheel nut (I kid you not!), heat the nut up then apply the wheel wrench quickly while it was hot and expanded in the hope that it would undo. I ended up removing all the little suckers but not without a fight. I had thought about towing the van into the local tyre joint, but after advice that they might shear off the bolts with the force of the air gun. I decided to use manual force. (I've sprayed them with WD40 to make it easier next time...........

What's left to do? - Mow the yard, round-up the weeds, pack clothes, pack food, clean the van and car,then bye bye.............

Ten Sleeps to Go!

Had a busy couple of days doing all the little things  which are very time consuming - sorting out games, stationery, pots & pans, tools, nuts/bolts/rivets/washers, etc.
I went through every square inch of the van removing things we would not need (Thank god Lorelle was not home!).

I'm very happy with our auxiliary battery and new Waeco fridge - after charging the battery on the week-end, I plugged the fridge in to see how long it would run on the auxiliary battery - after 40 hours I turned it off!!!  It was still going strong.  I bought a thermometer for the fridge today - it's one of the older models and doesn't show the temperature - it does now!

The other thing done today - I picked up the bracket I had made for the rear bumper bar for the additional caravan spare wheel. Works a treat. I've also wrapped up a couple of spare shockies and strapped them to the same bracket so they are not taking up valuable space inside the caravan.

Another Day

Today I pottered around after a busy day in Brissy yesterday.


Nothing major done, however I managed to work out a place for the auxiliary battery. It is now well secured on the floor of the back seats over the hump. Will get in the way if we have 3 in the back seats but can't see that happening. I also have the flexibility of being able to put it in the "back back" if necessary.

Also bought some table leg stoppers which fit perfectly over our two water outlet pipes - may come in handy if we do any dirt road travel, but I'm hoping there won't be much of that.

Tomorrow I hope to check out our water - hoses, etc.