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We headed north, over old territory, from Blackall to Barcaldine checking out a couple of camp spots on the way.
Arrived in Barcaldine just before lunch, did some shopping, had a pub lunch, and on to our old parking spot at the
Showgrounds. Ron, the caretaker, remembered us from our previous visit. Sue visited the doctor regarding a sore on her shin
which wasn't healing despite various treatments. The outcome of this was he suspected a skin cancer that would have to be
surgically removed. There was a two week wait if we wished to have it done in Barcaldine, so we said we would have it done
later.
From Barcaldine we headed east to Jericho where we had lunch in the somewhat rundown pub. Checked out the camp spot
at Jericho Creek Reserve. It looked OK, but we elected to go to Showgrounds where we had stayed before and power was
available. This spot used to free, but a charge of $10 a night now applies. We were the only ones there apart from the
same caretaker as was there on our previous visit. He uses a "voice box" to talk and we found him difficult to understand.
The next day we continued east, had a look around Alpha town, and onto Bougantungan where we had lunch. We had over
nighted here on a previous occasion and had looked up an elderly lady who Owen Hockley had visited a few years prior to his
passing. Owen was working there, many years ago, in the railway as a lad porter when there was a terrible rail accident to
the west of the town. The bridge had been washed away in a flood, and the train, unaware of this, crashed into the creek bed.
Memorials and details exist at the Bougantungan railway station.
We continued on to The Willows, a gem fossicking town. The dreaded "no camping" signs are on the road into, and
around, the town. The first caravan park was $20 per night, so we checked the other one which was $17 and stayed one night.
We were not impressed by The Willows and continued on to Anakie, another gem fossicking town, where we stayed in the caravan
park at $18 per night. We had visited this town back when we travelled around by car staying in motels etc. In this case the
motel/pub is right next door to the caravan park. We remembered having a nice steak meal in the pub on that previous
occasion, so we tried it out again. It was pleasing to find the steak up to our expectations.
The next day we continued into Emerald where I visited two tyre outlets looking for a couple of new tyres for the
motorhome. However, neither had the correct size in stock. We noted out usual discount fuel supplier had closed down, so
after refuelling at a different outlet, we continued onto Springsure. Shopping was attended to, and we made our way to the
Showgrounds where we were aware it was possible to camp. We had contacted Harry, VK4LE, via ham radio on the first evening we
were there. Harry came down for a visit the next day. There was a couple of "permaments" camped there, so after three nights
we headed towards Rolleston where we had vague ideas of stopping for the night. However, we seemed to make good time, so
continued on eastwards as far as the popular Dawson River camp spot.
During our stay, quite a bit of work was being done mainly along the river bank. I suspected this to be a prelude to
some special event being held at the weekend. Nothing happened, so it must have been just general maintainence. After four
nights we headed into Moura where we visited the dump point, found a convenient source of water in a park, then visited Mitre
10 and had our gas bottle refilled. For the last year or so, I have strongly suggesting to all and sundry, that they shop
around for gas. we have found prices can vary quite a few dollars in the one town. However, as sources in Moura seemed
somewhat limited, and coupled to the fact that we had always found Mitre 10 prices to be reasonable, I simply had the bottle
refilled without asking the price. Upon going to pay, the price came up at $36, far more than we had ever paid. The shop
assistant appeared somewhat embarrassed after I had mentioned I felt that $26 was an average price. She made further
enquires, but the $36 was the going price in that establishment! There was a tyre service almost next door, so we enquired
about the tyres we needed. They could be obtained overnight and the quote seemed reasonable, so we said to proceed.
We did some shopping in town, visited the town dump to dispose of the old engine oil from the last oil change, and
continued back to our camp spot on the Dawson River for another night. Things went as planned the next day with new tyres
being fitted on the front of the motorhome. The ones that came off were fitted to the trailer, as it was the trailer badly
needing some better tyres that really forced the whole exercise.
So, we left Moura continuing east, via Banana to Biloela where we initially visited the Info Centre at the Silo. We
were eager to find out if the "closed" camping at Callide Dam had been reopened, but inquires there revealed it had not. A
visit was made to the "gas place" as I was suspicious of the hose connecting the gas cylinder. A new one was purchased. We
were aware from a previous visit that there was signed caravan parking near the Info Centre in town, so we headed there.
This spot is quite convenient being opposite an auto parts place and a shopping centre with a Woolworths store. The main
street is also within easy walking distance across the other side of the highway. Enquires at that Info Centre regarding
overnight camp spots revealed a spot just east of the town and a "mud map" giving directions to Pelican Point on the
Callide Dam where They "thought" it would be OK to stay. So, we headed to the spot just east of town which proved to be,
as described,a grove of trees in what was an old playing field.
There was substantial rain during the night which we later learnt amounted to 50 mm. In the morning we noticed a
Land Cruiser drive up, and an official looking character emerge. This proved to be Graham, VK4RD, on his way home from work
when he noticed our vehicle. The only time he had seen the vehicle was back at the ham radio event at Clairview some six
months previously. He "stood by" with his Land cruiser just in case we had a problem driving out of the wet black soil area.
All went well and we followed him back to his place for a "cuppa" and a yarn.
Also, around this time, we were aware that Frank, VK4CAU, and Hazel were visiting relations near Thangool, which is
20 km south of Biloela. Various possibilities were discussed, and we decide to drive down to Thangool. They agreed to drive
into town and meet up. This gave us the opportunity to stay overnight at the sports complex at Thangool. It proved to be
quite a reasonable overnight spot, so we gave it a mention in our "travel notes", which describe camp spots amongst other
things.
Next day, it was back into Biloela where did some shopping, and continued out past the various Callide power stations
to Pelican Point. There was a "no camping" sign near the entrance which we decided to ignore on this occasion. The appears to
be miles of nice foreshore around the dam, but one story we heard was that it has been closed to camping for environmental
reasons. The dam is the source of water for the town.
Leaving the next day, we detoured via the dam wall. Here, there is an extensive area and recreational facilities, but
also the dreaded "no camping" sign. We continued on as far as Calliope which was a bit further than we had intended, but
there was no obvious overnight camping spot in that section. The popular camp spot on the river at Calliope is signed 48
hours maximum and we had heard that it is fairly strictly policed. So we spent the bulk of the afternoon parked on the
opposite side of the river near the "historical complex" and moved to the actual camp spot late in the day.
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