BENARKIN

We left Marburg today, not before we had to go back into Lowood as we discovered late last night we had a flat tyre!

So Ed got out the compressor and pumped the tyre up again, and we made a dash into Lowood at 7.30 this morning to find we had picked up a roofing nail. 

Thirty dollars later....all done.....expensive nail!!!

So we have travelled north along the Brisbane Valley Highway, through Esk (which was named after the River Esk in Scotland and England...) and continued on through some nice little towns which is
also called the Somerset Region. 

This is an aerial photo (which I have nicked) showing Esk....with Lake Wivenhoe in flood in the background.

So on we travelled North after stopping in Esk for a cuppa, and turned on to the D'Aguilar Highway which winds its way through some pretty high mountains and national parks. 

We found a nice little stop over for the afternoon and night in a place called Benarkin on the edge of the Benarkin State Forest in the Blackbutt Range. 

Benarkin is an Aboriginal word meaning 'blackbutt' ......which is a common variety of local tree.

So these photos are of the place where we call "home" for today! 

As the sign says.....maximum stay is 20 hours only....still trying to work out what '50 units penalty'

means....... Hope it's not 50 lashes in the stocks !!!

In saying that.....there are a few people here that have been here longer than 20 hours....

Came across this little 'group' .......

Circle of life ???

Old loo's.....

New Loo's...... You can put in 2 dollars and get a hot shower.....or......if you want power to your caravan ....

We have plenty of both....having our own shower and toilet in the caravan.....and solar panels for our power on the roof which Ed installed himself...

And the general store ....which is huge inside, and must have been a goldmine back in the days, but there is not much stock left in the shop now, so I'm surprised it's still going. 

When we come into these old towns, and they provide facilities for us nomads, we always like to repay their kindness and help their economy by spending money in the town......whether it be diesel for the car, or groceries from the local shop. Every little bits helps.....although there wasn't much to buy in the shop.....so 'had' to buy some chocolate ! 

When we arrived...the lady in the shop said there was a storm coming...with hail......

But luckily it's just been a storm with no hail....it does so much damage to the cars and caravans! 

Not sure why this gate is here as there aren't any fences to go with it.....but just love taking random photos in the outback! 

So that's about it till next time........