SUNDAY 17 JANUARY   TOOWOOMBA TO STANTHORPE   145kms

We got up at 8.10. No great urgency, since we were not going far, but we were away at 9.40, after a calm and unhurried pack up. We are getting so good!

It was a most pleasant drive south from Toowoomba. Between there and Warwick, the country was attractive cropping land, with views of hills and ranges all round. At Warwick we crossed the Condamine River – the name reminiscent of the poetry of Banjo Paterson.

After Warwick, the country became less “downs” like and more hilly. There was much less cropping and more grazing. At some stage we must have moved into what is known as the Granite Belt; if landuse is a guide, then about at Warwick. As the name suggests, this is an area where granite dominates the landforms and soil types.

Once we passed the junction with the Cunningham Highway, 13kms north of Stanthorpe, there were lots of semis on the road. This is the main inland and southern route.

We found the Top of the Town Caravan Park easily, located as its name suggests, on a hill on the northern edge of town. It is a Big 4 park, and only $12.60 a night, after discount, plus the seventh night free  – so we booked in for a week. This will help the budget nicely. It seems an adequate park. There are lots of backpackers staying here, in bunkroom type arrangements, working picking fruit and vegetables in the area. The caravan park has a little bus to run them around.

We were in and set up before lunch – an easy move.

After lunch, drove down to have a look at the town – quiet, as one would expect on a Sunday, but we were able to see where the supermarket and Post Office are.

The Quart Pot Creek – wonderful name – flows through the centre of town. We parked nearby and went for a walk on paths along its very well landscaped banks.

There is a real crispness in the air, here, an edge of chill. It is quite pleasant not to have the humidity. Stanthorpe is really high up – 811m above sea level, which is about a hundred metres more than Toowoomba. They can have snow here in winter!

The Qld/NSW border comes very close to the edge of town , then veers off a bit, and one crosses into NSW about 40kms south of here.

John had chilli flavoured sausages for tea, with eggs. I had salad.

Phoned K with our location.

John has seen a notice up in the park about harvest workers, and thinks we should register as fruit pickers – thinking we might make enough money to pay for a solar panel, and not have to fund it from invested money. I am dubious about harvest work – suspect it could be rather hard work for fairly low returns!

We need the doona on the bed tonight – first time for ages.