FRIDAY 19 MAY RUBYVALE TO LONGREACH 409kms
The day did not look promising.
We packed up, hitched up and got away alright, in the rain and mud.
It was a pleasant enough drive back through the range country and on to Jericho, where we stopped again to eat lunch.
Stopped again, briefly, in Barcaldine, to have a look at the Tree of Knowledge. This ghost gum was supposed, during the 1890’s Shearers’ Strikes, to have been the site of meetings from which grew the ALP. It was right outside the railway station.
From there, we pressed on to Longreach, through mostly flat black soil and Mitchell grass country. The weather did not improve as we headed west.
Booked into the Gunnadoo Caravan Park, on the eastern edge of town, not far from the Stockmans Hall of Fame. Cost us $17 for a powered site. It seemed quite a slick operation and a fairly large park. Due to the day’s rain, it was rather muddy. We paid for two nights.
As we only expected to stay a couple of nights, did not bother to put out the awning. We did have a cement slab where we could put the table and chairs, if it was fine enough to do so.
Tea was stir fried vegetables and rice.
I phoned K and left a message as to where we are.
About 8.30pm, we got quite a fright, when a big jet plane flew over us – very low! Only then did we realize we were right by the airport – and right under the runway approach.
From Rubyvale to Longreach. Also shows the route when we went to Rockhampton.
This Adventurous Age 