our travels

Saturday, 2 July 2022

TAKING A BREAK.

I’ve decided to take a break from the blog. The reason being is that we’ve been around this area quite a few times now, so, for me to keep recording these places is not necessary.

Plus it takes quite a bit of time to do these blogs.

So I will resume doing them when I get to another State other than QLD as hopefully we will find different places to discover.

Watch this space 🥰🥰. And stay safe ❤️

Friday, 1 July 2022

JERICHO Pt4

I needed to get some money out of the bank as this town only deals in cash 🤑

Lucky for me, the small Tourist Information place in town, is a Post Office, a Commonwealth Bank sub branch, a Library, a Stationary Shop…..and it sells lollies and a few other bits and pieces.

There is also another door that connects you to the tourist info stuff………

and in there was a display of the whole town……made out of clay!!

And so much more! The detail in that clay was amazing, and being that we have walked around this town so many times, we could identify the places!

We stood there for ages looking at it all. What a brilliant display.

It was handcrafted by Alice McLaughlan and local artists. There are 43 buildings and houses in total.

Outside of the Info Centre is a huge blackboard where you can leave a message or name.

Yep……Mr Ed wrote our name……glasses on folks 🤓🤓

Found it?

This is a small shed also near the info centre…..in the gardens….where they have their markets. We won’t be here for them unfortunately ………but we thought they were cheap enough prices.

So that’s another day gone. There’s a lot of people coming and going in the Showgrounds.

I went over to the toilet yesterday and was talking to a lady who was travelling on her own…..(about my age….so only young 🤭🤫)

She was travelling in a Nissan Urvan Camper…..(we started our travels in one of those)

Her camper was covered, and I mean absolutely covered…….couldn’t see a bit of paint…..covered with stickers of where she had travelled. Amazing!

We got talking, and she lives in Mildura!! She was such a nice lady…..she had bright pink hair with a rolled up cigarette in her mouth that was thinner than a match stick but wasn’t lit………she was trying her hardest to give up smoking and that was her way of cutting back as she couldn’t afford to put petrol in the car…..

Whatever works for her…..so the smokes had to go!

She goes away for six months……she’s on her way to Boulia QLD ……..for the very famous Camel Races they have every July.

It’s the Melbourne Cup of camel races!

Then she goes home and her husband then packs up and goes away in the camper for the next 6 months. Great way to live……..no arguments in that household 😊

I tell you…..you meet the most interesting people on the road, with lots of great stories. She had to go as she had a long way to travel, and you have to get there early for a good spot. She was fuelled up…..pension in the bank that morning…waving as she went out of the gate. Great lady!😂😂😂

And, Ed just found out that our next door neighbours here are friends with the bloke Ed bowls with at Tweed! They all come from Mt Gambier in South Aus…

Small country!

Stay safe❤️❤️

Thursday, 30 June 2022

JERICHO Pt3

We went for a walk this morning, as someone told us there was an airport.

They also added that there was no coffee shop or souvenir shop…..in fact there was nothing except a runway…..a port-a-loo…..and a windsock…🤣🤣🤣…but it was a nice walk on a tarred road….through the bush with lovely wattle trees in bloom and those strange looking termite mounds that are everywhere.

We were told the airport is mainly used by local farmers, or more importantly for

The Royal Flying Doctors, which is always good to know.

After there….we walked back past the Showgrounds and back into the “town”.

There is not much in the town, which is typical of a lot of small towns in the outback, as so many people have moved on. The shops that were here last time we visited have sadly closed their doors.

There is a cafe here, that sells a few groceries, and as you would expect, they are a bit expensive on some items, but that’s understandable given the price of fuel. It’s expensive in the main towns……..so we can’t complain.

I went in and asked the lady if she had any bread as I couldn’t see any on display. She said that she only had wholemeal or multigrain, but, if I could wait till tomorrow, there was a truck coming through who would be dropping off white bread, and she would be happy to put a loaf away for us. How nice was that….country hospitality 😂😊 she knew we were staying at the Showgrounds!

Opposite the pub is this picnic shelter. It’s Goanna’s at the bar waiting to be served their beers.

“The Spirit of the Outback” train leaves Roma Street station Brisbane and passes through all the country towns through to Longreach…..including here at Jericho.

Everyday we walk into Jericho and cross the railway tracks ……and yesterday we heard it coming. (It only comes twice a week)

So…..as you would…..we stood there and watched it go through our small town here…….and waved 👋👋….like fools…..but that’s what you do right? 🤣🤣🤦‍♀️

They waved back….😂👋👋

Ed cooked a lovely meal last night, as I burnt my fingers….using a glue gun, shit they burn those things….🔥🔥fifth degree burns I’m sure!

So I’m getting dinner cooked again tonight…..(fingers are much better 🤫🤫)I’m milking it…….🤣🤣

Stay safe ❤️❤️

Wednesday, 29 June 2022

JERICHO Pt 2

Jericho has a population of just over 200 people. It is situated on the banks of the Jordan River, south of Lake Galilee. It was originally settled when the railway line reached the banks of the Jordan River in 1885.

Along the Main Street, is Crystal Trumpeters. The structure was created by local historians to tell the story of how Joshua won the battle of Jericho.

Joshua is cleverly made from barbed wire.

Egyptian pillars…Passover

It’s been very well built, and tells a lovely story.

Even the toilets have been painted. 😊 and the local pub as well.

Love this painting.

Because of the rain coming, we have decided to stay put for a while…….at least until the rain has cleared. As I said, we are lucky we have a double concrete slab, so we will be more comfortable.

And who could complain about $6 @ night with power and water………spoilt….. have to be early though as they get snapped up very quickly. Thanks Jericho. ❤️

Stay safe ❤️❤️

Tuesday, 28 June 2022

JERICHO. QLD

Reluctantly we left our great campsite and the beautiful town of Blackall today.

We had such a lovely time, and thoroughly enjoyed every place we visited……and there was plenty see and do.

Today we travelled from Blackall and straight to Jericho. The lady in the tourist information place told us that the road between Blackall and Jericho had now been fully tarred……so if we wanted to bypass Barcaldine (which we did) …..it would be a lot quicker, and cheaper on fuel as it was only a 120km trip.

The road was really quiet which was surprising, it was a bit narrow in places but still wide enough that you could stay on the bitumen if there was a car coming.

We had no one wanting to pass us!😊

It was a nice drive. A lot of the road was unfenced and the scenery was really pretty.

We came to a roadside stop so pulled in for our usual coffee stop.

They even provided us with a Christmas Tree, including star,🌟 and new toilets.

We arrived at Jericho and headed straight to the Showgrounds and were lucky enough to snag a powered site with water and a double concrete slab!!

And at $6 @ night, that’s just so cheap. The toilets and showers are spotless, and we even have rotary clothes lines!! Bonus 😂

Our neighbours are all lovely, and we are not crowded in.

I don’t see a lot of Mr Havachat 😊😊….as he’s always helping someone out with solar etc..😂😂

We are expecting a lot of rain at the end of the week so it’s good to know we have a slab that’s high off the ground.

You can walk into the little town from the Showgrounds which is good as we will do that twice a day.

There’s also the river within walking distance, where you can also camp for $6 per night but that doesn’t have power.

So tomorrow we will go walking and exploring to see what Jericho has to offer.

Stay safe❤️

Monday, 27 June 2022

BLACKALL Pt 5

❤️❤️HAPPY 17th BIRTHDAY KIRRA 🍩🍩🍩LOVE YOU TO THE MOON & BACK❤️❤️

We are still here at the lovely town of Blackall. We are having such a lovely time and there’s just been so much to tick off our list. Best of all we keep finding different things to do.

Built in 1908, The Masonic Temple operated as such, until late 2016 when the Lodge closed.

The Building and contents were then purchased by Boyd Johnstone and Chris Kadel, two young men who are collectors of, and also deal in, fine art and antiques.

The Lodge also has a unique collection of antiques and art for sale.

So off we went for a cuppa.

It was another beautiful day and the gardens looked lovely.

Inside was like walking back in time. It was absolutely beautiful.

My Mum would have loved the China and Dad would have loved the gardens.

We had coffee and home made lavender scones, which we had never had before,

home made jam and cream….omg …..so nice.

Then we were asked if we wanted to have a look upstairs. I never knock back a stair climb in an old building or home. 😊

It was all about the Freemasons which was interesting.

Then back down the stairs that were very, very narrow treads. You really had to be careful.

We had such a lovely time looking around this beautiful building and having our scones and coffee.

** Not my photo but it was a lovely night shot.

It was just another beautiful day in this very interesting town.

Take care ❤️❤️

Sunday, 26 June 2022

BLACKALL Pt 4

Well another day, and another story to tell about this lovely town of Blackall.

Over the road from where we are camped, there’s a lovely place called Banks Park.

It’s a lovely park where families have picnics, they have markets there, and there’s a small stage with lights, so I’m assuming it might be where they have

Christmas Carols.

The gardens are so pretty with lots of different coloured Hibiscus.

But….also in this park, is where a lot of information boards tells us about the Circus.

It was on the banks of the Barcoo River here in Blackall that the Perry Brothers circus started in 1889.

A 12 year old Mary Ellen Atkins, who was working in a store in Blackall, went to a Perry Bros performance that would change her life.

Within 24 hours of that performance , she decided to run away and join the circus.

Six years later, she married the boss’s son, and the rest is history.

It’s an amazing story, and Ed and I got to read all about it in this park.

It’s such an interesting story! I hope they are big enough to be able to see as it’s worth the read if you can.

And look…..

JUMBO!!!!! (the one on the left 🐘🐘😉😉😂….aww, just kidding, I love him❤️)

There’s a shop in the Main Street that is dedicated to everything Circus, clothes, toys, and they even do workshops.

I think I keep saying this…..but it just blows me away the history, and stories, that come from these small towns. They are so interesting and this is why we love to travel.

We would never have known any of this.

Walking down the Main Street today, there was a door on the left that was open, but didn’t say what was inside. Well for me thats just an invitation to go through that door and have a look.