We've arrived at Barcaldine and staying out at lloyd Jones Weir and meet up with some travellers that we first met at Inskip point -they are also travelling to The outback festival at Winton which starts on the 20th Sept. It's starting to warm up the further we move West so hats and sunscreen are a must, and funnily enough it's just dawned on me that nearly everyone except us tourists of course are wearing long trousers - and it's because of the old Joe Blakes - at least if they get bitten it's only thier jeans.
heres a couple of Pics so far
Rob Denise & Mark at lloyd jones Weir - These ae seasoned bushies and they have been on the Road for four years.
At lloyd Jones Weir there is an honour box to make a donation for your stay. Grave in the background - close up to follow.
One of the more upmarket bush toilets
The grave.. He He!
The wandering country mistrels at Barcaldine show day
Meet Tex at the Barcaldine show!!!
Guess who that was trying on hat's and loving every moment of it?
We stayed just overnight at the weir and went to start the engine next day to find the dump tube on our turbo had broken and no one could help us as it was Show day off God help us! - so we limped onto Longreach and made a few calls on the way and found someone who would help to get it fixed.
On our way through we saw lots of small pieces of natural cotton just on the side of the road and before long we came to some roadworks and Lo and behold a cotton truck came through. I had never seen cotton in the raw before.
Bales of Cotton
Anyway we arrivwed and Hirst Mechanical services had a look and it would take four days to get the part unless we wanted to pay an extra $1000 to overnight the part - here in the country areas it just happens when it happens.
Peter the owner offered for us to park at his premises as this would save us paying for further accomodation - which suited us in fact there was another Motorhome waiting for servicing too so at least there was company.
Longreach is the home of the Stockmans hall of fame, it has the Qantas founders Museum and you are welcome to step aboard a Cobb and Co stagecoach for a ride or go for a sunset cruise on a Paddle Steamer - too much to choose from.
We went to the Qantas founders Museum, and for a ride on the old Cobb and Co stagecoach along one of it's original routes.
I slipped down the steps in the Motorhome and cracked my little toe!!! OMG I now have the greatest empathy for those who break toes - they are now strapped together for the next 5wks or so - bang goes my exercising.
Oh and Rob did buy an Akubra for real this time - but not the ten gallon size, he's now happy as he always wanted to be a cowboy :o)\
Always wanted to be a Cowboy with the Cobb and Co
McKinnons ran most of the tours in town and when we got back fron the Stage Coach ride we had Damper ( an Aussie traditon) and Tea
QANTAS it was'nt until I came to Longreach that I ever understood what Qantas meant.
Typical street scape here and by the way a Ringer is a roustabout.
18.9.11
Well after four days our part still has'nt arrived so Peter welds up the old one to enable us to get to Winton on time and we'll pick up the new one on the way back through - fingers crosed that it holds up!
Our new friends Bettina and geoff that we met in Tassie have arrived to join us for Winton
On to Winton in the next post
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