15/09/11
Today as we pack up in Roma we take the last leg of our journey and the odyssey ends. From now on we'll be spending time visiting family and friends before returning to the real world of school and work. We travelled from Roma to Jandowae where we will stay with Mick and Janice (Jude's daughter) and their 3 sons on a farm. From there we'll travel to Toowoomba, Brisbane and Gold Coast spending time with friends and family before our return.
We've had a wonderful time on this journey and have appreciated the opportunity to learn new things about ourselves and this amazing country we live in. To those who have followed us I hope you've enjoyed reading about our travels (hopefully a laugh as well), and I hope that it may inspire others to do the same.
The Campbells
PS - have spent 10 days on the farm now and had a great time helping Mick including planting, spraying, mustering cattle and general repairs.
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Monday, 19 September 2011
Day 158 - Another Day in Roma
14/09/11
Decided to stay another day in Roma and catch up on some more family history stuff. Spent some time roaming around the cemetery checking on passed rellies.
In the evening went to the night show at The Big Rig. An interesting display where the history of oil and gas exploration in the Roma area is told.
The Campbells
Decided to stay another day in Roma and catch up on some more family history stuff. Spent some time roaming around the cemetery checking on passed rellies.
In the evening went to the night show at The Big Rig. An interesting display where the history of oil and gas exploration in the Roma area is told.
The Campbells
Monday, 12 September 2011
Day 157 - Roma Cousins
13/09/11
Packed up camp and on the way out of town we stopped in to say goodbye to Floreen.
Then on the way put of Mitchell checked out some clever murals that have been painted on the pylons of the bridge - each describing some history of the area.
Passed through Amby then the tiny spot of Muckadilla then onto Roma.
Went straight to the Big Winch park to meet with Jude's other second cousins - this time from her mum's side. We had a lunch and a great chat with Vince, Jean and Thelma before finding our camp at the caravan park and settling for the night.
The Campbells
Packed up camp and on the way out of town we stopped in to say goodbye to Floreen.
Then on the way put of Mitchell checked out some clever murals that have been painted on the pylons of the bridge - each describing some history of the area.
Passed through Amby then the tiny spot of Muckadilla then onto Roma.
Went straight to the Big Winch park to meet with Jude's other second cousins - this time from her mum's side. We had a lunch and a great chat with Vince, Jean and Thelma before finding our camp at the caravan park and settling for the night.
The Campbells
Day 156 - Mitchell Cousins
12/09/11
Had another night at our campspot at Neil Turner Weir - quite a picturesqu spot with many others staying here as well spread over a large area.
Jude spent the afternoon with her third cousin in law (something like that anyway) Floreen who was born and bred here in Mitchell. They dragged Sean with them around a couple of cemeteries and found Jude's great grandfather and his brother's grave. I stayed back at the van and did some catching up.
Starting to feel the cold now as we continue further south - nice and chilly in the mornings but still nice days.
The Campbells
Had another night at our campspot at Neil Turner Weir - quite a picturesqu spot with many others staying here as well spread over a large area.
Jude spent the afternoon with her third cousin in law (something like that anyway) Floreen who was born and bred here in Mitchell. They dragged Sean with them around a couple of cemeteries and found Jude's great grandfather and his brother's grave. I stayed back at the van and did some catching up.
Starting to feel the cold now as we continue further south - nice and chilly in the mornings but still nice days.
The Campbells
Day 155 - Charleville to Mitchell
11/09/11
Went to church at Christian Oureach Centre Charleveille before leaving.
Next town is Morven - a sleepy little town with a few points of interest including this shack made entirely from old kerosene tins.
Next is Mungallala - a truly one pub town - only three houses otherwise. This also happens to be the limit for the triple trailers - there's a truck stop point with lots of single trailers parked.
Then onto Mitchell - we're staying at a camp ground 4km out of town where Rosie found another one like her and they had a blast.
The Campbells
Went to church at Christian Oureach Centre Charleveille before leaving.
Next town is Morven - a sleepy little town with a few points of interest including this shack made entirely from old kerosene tins.
Next is Mungallala - a truly one pub town - only three houses otherwise. This also happens to be the limit for the triple trailers - there's a truck stop point with lots of single trailers parked.
Then onto Mitchell - we're staying at a camp ground 4km out of town where Rosie found another one like her and they had a blast.
The Campbells
Sunday, 11 September 2011
Day 154 - Charleville
10/09/11
Today spent having a look around Charleville. Spent a couple of hours at the Cosmos Centre which began 20 years ago with one enthusiast and his backyard telescope to a serious observatory and tourist attraction. The centre has a series of very clever films and inter-active displays full of great information on varied subjects such as early astronomy, cosmology, Australian meteorites, and solar system. We decided to come back later tonight and participate in an observatory session at 9:15pm.
Then we went to have some late lunch in a lovely local park. One of the highlights is a series of rain making rockets/guns which were installed by a very optimistic mob in 1905 in the hope of bringing on rain. The idea was that the explosions form these devices would change the humidity in the air.
Doggie even had a go at the slide.
Then back to our camp.
Later that evening Sean and I headed back into town, along with Bob and Ellen (from Holland who were camped alongside us and going to the same session), went into our observatory session.
We had a 3/4 moon which was quite bright, however our hosts managed to find plenty of interesting stuff to look at, and finishing off the evening with a detailed look at the moon which was really cool. Arrived back to camp at 10.30pm only hitting one roo along the way.
The Campbells
Today spent having a look around Charleville. Spent a couple of hours at the Cosmos Centre which began 20 years ago with one enthusiast and his backyard telescope to a serious observatory and tourist attraction. The centre has a series of very clever films and inter-active displays full of great information on varied subjects such as early astronomy, cosmology, Australian meteorites, and solar system. We decided to come back later tonight and participate in an observatory session at 9:15pm.
Then we went to have some late lunch in a lovely local park. One of the highlights is a series of rain making rockets/guns which were installed by a very optimistic mob in 1905 in the hope of bringing on rain. The idea was that the explosions form these devices would change the humidity in the air.
Doggie even had a go at the slide.
Then back to our camp.
Later that evening Sean and I headed back into town, along with Bob and Ellen (from Holland who were camped alongside us and going to the same session), went into our observatory session.
We had a 3/4 moon which was quite bright, however our hosts managed to find plenty of interesting stuff to look at, and finishing off the evening with a detailed look at the moon which was really cool. Arrived back to camp at 10.30pm only hitting one roo along the way.
The Campbells
Day 153 - Blackall to Charleville
09/09/11
The place we stayed in town was an open grass area. We had our first rain for our trip so far overnight and decide to get out early cause our parking spot was on black soil - the kind that forms great muddy lumps when wet. We made it out OK but felt lucky we weren't there any longer - would have got very sticky.
The park has this great metal sculpture which is about 5m high.
Had a look around Blackall - first this building dedicated to the sheep industry and to Jack Howe and his shearing record - 281 sheep in just over 7 hours in 1890 - still hasn't been broken.
As with the other towns in the west - this one has some great old buildings.
Also common to these towns are the bores - this one steaming on a cold morning.
Blackall is also symbolic home of the Black Stump - although the stump itself is no longer black - but petrified.
Then on the stormy road next stop Tambo - a quick look at some of the old buildings then moving on.
Next Augathella - home of "Smiley" a character upon whom a movie was made in early 1970s. This town has cleverly taken on the theme of Meat Ants with this sculpture in the local park.
Finally we made it to our camp for the night just outside Charleville on a station - this colourful little van marking the way.
The Campbells
The place we stayed in town was an open grass area. We had our first rain for our trip so far overnight and decide to get out early cause our parking spot was on black soil - the kind that forms great muddy lumps when wet. We made it out OK but felt lucky we weren't there any longer - would have got very sticky.
The park has this great metal sculpture which is about 5m high.
Had a look around Blackall - first this building dedicated to the sheep industry and to Jack Howe and his shearing record - 281 sheep in just over 7 hours in 1890 - still hasn't been broken.
As with the other towns in the west - this one has some great old buildings.
Also common to these towns are the bores - this one steaming on a cold morning.
Blackall is also symbolic home of the Black Stump - although the stump itself is no longer black - but petrified.
Then on the stormy road next stop Tambo - a quick look at some of the old buildings then moving on.
Finally we made it to our camp for the night just outside Charleville on a station - this colourful little van marking the way.
The Campbells
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