Set off on Tuesday, 13 April, 2021 for a far north Queensland adventure with my friend Kirsty.
And, as you know by now, all roads lead to Goomeri. However, after we set up camp for the night on the usual cattle farm there, we heard the extremely disappointing news that the bakery now opens only from Thursdays to Sundays and this was Tuesday. Blast!!!
So the next day we took off, cakeless, to a lovely free camp on the river at Moura stopping along the way to view the silo art at Three Moons.
After Moura, we headed to Lake Maraboon.
However, as we were going along, the strip along the front of the bonnet that holds the windscreen washer thingies, came loose. We stopped at the next town, and pulled into a little mechanics. I had had the bonnet resprayed before I left Bribie as the paint was sunburnt, and the mechanic told me that they had broken the clips on the panel and painted over the broken bits and didn’t bother trying to do anything about it. Was I fuming? You could say that. Anyway, he did a “patch up” and told me to get to a panel beater in Emerald to have it clipped properly.
Along the way we stopped at the park in Rolleston for coffee.
As far as Lake Maraboon goes – Nothing much to say about that and wouldn’t bother staying there again.
Went in to Emerald the next day to a lovely panel beater who, although he didn’t have the right clips, fixed the front for me as best he could. Took about 45 minutes or so and he didn’t want to charge me. Now that’s country service. I gave him a $50 to have a beer anyway. Great bloke!
Now with the car fixed, we continued on to Aramac to do the Sculpture Trail. Spent that night behind the fabulous Aramac pub and had a great steak, wine and chats with the locals.
The Sculpture Trail starts in Aramac and basically forms a triangle of roads roughly 220km long. The first 60 or so kilometres is sealed but its dirt and creek crossings for the rest of the way.
The sculptures were done by a local artist who was looking for a way to exhibit her work. The local cattle stations have allowed them to be displayed on their properties.
We had intended to spend the night along the way at Lake Dunn
but Kirsty had a really bad case of hay fever (diagnosed by Dr Lynne) and needed to get to a chemist quite quickly, so we kept going to Hughenden.
The last 38ks on the Aramac/Torrens Creek road were awful! Wash outs, corrugations, holes and we drove most of the way on the verge which, while not great, was at least ok.
Arrived in Hughenden on Saturday evening. Too late for the chemist and, of course, everything was shut on Sunday so we had a rest and another night in Hughenden.
Monday morning we ambled on to Porcupine Gorge.
We had booked a site in the national Park but it was covered in ants’ nests. We needed to change our booking online but – no range. The ranger told us to head back down the road a bit to try for reception. We drove and drove but – no reception. So – we just kept driving.
Stopped at Richmond for 2 nights and did …. nothing .. except talk to the Apostle birds. The Richmond CP is beside a lovely big lake and the bird life was prolific. It came over a bit cloudy and we asked the caretaker if it might rain. His reply, “The only thing that rains around here is cocky shit” and he was right. Ask Kirsty about her tent.
Spent the next night at wonderful Julia Creek
where it actually did rain .. thankfully not much cos I was parked on black soil.
And now tonight we’re staying behind the Burke and Will’s Roadhouse. Had a really lovely drive here. Lots of wildflowers out after the rain. Was beautiful.
Going for a drink now at the Roadhouse. Kirsty’s put lipstick on. Tart!!