Nothing goes to plan

So great to see Lainie and Terry after a long time, catching up on what our mutual sailing friends are – or are not – doing. We camp beside them for a few days in the CMCA bush camp.

Charleville is a kooky little town with a Hotel charismatically called the ‘The Corones.’ It also has a penchant for oddball signs

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The town of Charleville is charming however, which only makes it worse when it becomes Ted’s turn to crick his back (well, why couldn’t you lift a 25kilo generator with a twist?) – visits to the physio made it possible to get to know the town.

After a week Ted is still walking like an eighty year old, so we’re off to Emerald and spend a week there with a chiropractor. Less said the better

Barcaldine is on our way to North Queensland, and, back half fixed, this is our next stop:

Driving between these remote towns it is getting drier and drier, with more and more ant-hills. They must have had a competition, as hundreds of them are now donning party hats. (no, didn’t get a photo).

We reach Lara Wetlands, a large Artesian pond, four kilometres in circumference, fed by spouting Artesian waters. The waters, full of dead trees, have provided homes for thousands of birds and it has become a drawcard for bird watchers. The pond where the almost boiling water spouts provides a hot spa bath, great for recovering backs. We go there twice a day and can hardly drag ourselves away.

We do finally drag ourselves away to another ‘cattle’ station (no cattle, fences fallen down)outside Longreach – the drought has really not gone away here and we camp in a desert – fantastic experience – there’s nothing to stop the wind, so the middle of the night sees us up taking in the awning – just like being on the boat again!

So now we’re off to Longreach, Windton, Richmond and Hughendon, before making for the Atherton Tableland. We’re a couple of week’s late, but what’s new?

Watch this space – who knows if the plan will happen as planned? None have so far…