07 05/ 2007. We are finally over the border and into Queensland, and we are staying at the Top Tourist Caravan Park in Goondiwindi for about 4 days. The weather is quiet warm here and we will make good use of it, especially in the pool.
Goondiwindi sits at the junction of 5 major highways. It is located on the banks of the Macintyre River, on the Western Darling Downs which is the border of New South Wales and Queensland
Macintyre River at Goondiwindi
The name Goondiwindi comes from the Aboriginal word "Gonnawinna" which means the resting place of the birds.
"Gunndy" is most famous for the race horse Gunsynd: ' The Goondiwindi Grey' who won a lot of races. His great record is 54 starts for 29 wins, 7 seconds and 8 thirds for a total prize money of $280,445, and is the only horse that has won on every track on the eastern seaboard.
3 properties " Callandon, Umbercollie and Old Goodwindi " were all settled between 1838 - 1846. Food and Mail was bought in by Bullock Teams from Maitland in N.S.W. The Teamsters sometimes would have to wait months for a backload home which was mainly Wool, Grain and Timber.
The name Goondiwindi comes from the Aboriginal word "Gonnawinna" which means the resting place of the birds.
"Gunndy" is most famous for the race horse Gunsynd: ' The Goondiwindi Grey' who won a lot of races. His great record is 54 starts for 29 wins, 7 seconds and 8 thirds for a total prize money of $280,445, and is the only horse that has won on every track on the eastern seaboard.
3 properties " Callandon, Umbercollie and Old Goodwindi " were all settled between 1838 - 1846. Food and Mail was bought in by Bullock Teams from Maitland in N.S.W. The Teamsters sometimes would have to wait months for a backload home which was mainly Wool, Grain and Timber.
11/05/2007. Due to Auto Gas problems with our car we have had to change our plans of travelling along the Leichardt Way to Rocky, we are now going to Toowoomba instead to get the gas sorted out. We are staying at the Shady Rest Caravan Park in Pittsworth about 40km west of Toowoomba. This has turned out to be a nice surprise as Pittsworth is a great old QLD country town, with lots of Historic Buildings.
In the Pittsworth Shire there is a town called Mount Tyson, it is named after James Tyson (the last owner of Mount Tyson Station) who died in 1902. Mr Tyson was Australia's first Millionaire.
13/05/2007 Today is Mothers Day, and once again we are away and Sandra misses not having our Family around, but as always the Kids have rung to wish Sandra all the best for today, she is feeling much better now. Shane said "Mum you will have to go out and adopt a couple of kids for the day".
As luck would have it a young Korean Backpacker "Yun Sang" (Kelly) from the van next door came over to wish San a Happy Mothers Day as she is also missing her mum.
Sandra and Kelly.
14/05/2007. We drove over to Toowoomba today to get the gas sorted out, and it turned out that the gas shut off valve was cactus, so they put in a second hand valve ($25.00) and labour ($103.00) plus G.S.T. We will have to stay off road for a couple of nights to pay for that lot?.
In the Pittsworth Shire there is a town called Mount Tyson, it is named after James Tyson (the last owner of Mount Tyson Station) who died in 1902. Mr Tyson was Australia's first Millionaire.
13/05/2007 Today is Mothers Day, and once again we are away and Sandra misses not having our Family around, but as always the Kids have rung to wish Sandra all the best for today, she is feeling much better now. Shane said "Mum you will have to go out and adopt a couple of kids for the day".
As luck would have it a young Korean Backpacker "Yun Sang" (Kelly) from the van next door came over to wish San a Happy Mothers Day as she is also missing her mum.
Sandra and Kelly.
14/05/2007. We drove over to Toowoomba today to get the gas sorted out, and it turned out that the gas shut off valve was cactus, so they put in a second hand valve ($25.00) and labour ($103.00) plus G.S.T. We will have to stay off road for a couple of nights to pay for that lot?.
16/05/2007. We have said our goodbyes to Ruth and Rob the owners of happy rest who we got along really good with, and also Kelly and the rest of the backpackers (Koreans, Chinese, Japanese, Irish and some others we don't know where they have come from?.
We are now in Cecil Plains at the Apex Club Rest stop for a couple of days and then move on to another town "Dalby" about 40 kays away.
18/05/2007. After a short drive of about 45 km's we have arrived in Dalby, we are staying at the Dalby Showground. The price is right at $11 a night and that includes power, water, and hot showers, we rang the caretaker to get in and he said that there was a dummy lock on the gate, just go in pick out a site and make yourself comfortable, and I will call around later to collect the rent.
Our T.V. has carked it, so we drove into town to get a new one, as luck would have it there was a 2 day sale at Harvey Norman and the t.v we liked was $100 off, and with a little bit of haggling we were able to get another reduction of $60 so in the end we bought a great L.C.D. telly for only 450 bucks "great", I wont miss the League tonight. After the footy was over we retired to bed to be the only one's in this huge showground.
Last night was the first rain that we have seen for some time, but by morning Blue sky and the dust barely settled as we left for Chinchilla, "the Watermelon capital of OZ."
22/05/2007. On the way to Chinchilla we had smoko at Warra beside the Warrego Hwy, near where Ludwig Leichardt had a Campsite, what an interesting place is Warra, with old building's, a Great Country Pub, also the post office was a Minni museum,
The land is so flat out this way and the black soil is ideal to grow Cotton, Sorghum, Wheat and other grains.
We are now staying at the Chinchilla Mobile Park, I came here to watch the State of Origin because there was no reception out on the road, but it was a waste of time, Queensland won again the T.V. signal was lousy, next morning we met some Aboriginals who were camped behind us and it turns out that they came from Miller just down the road from our former home at Heckenberg, (what a small world.)
We are now in Cecil Plains at the Apex Club Rest stop for a couple of days and then move on to another town "Dalby" about 40 kays away.
18/05/2007. After a short drive of about 45 km's we have arrived in Dalby, we are staying at the Dalby Showground. The price is right at $11 a night and that includes power, water, and hot showers, we rang the caretaker to get in and he said that there was a dummy lock on the gate, just go in pick out a site and make yourself comfortable, and I will call around later to collect the rent.
Our T.V. has carked it, so we drove into town to get a new one, as luck would have it there was a 2 day sale at Harvey Norman and the t.v we liked was $100 off, and with a little bit of haggling we were able to get another reduction of $60 so in the end we bought a great L.C.D. telly for only 450 bucks "great", I wont miss the League tonight. After the footy was over we retired to bed to be the only one's in this huge showground.
Last night was the first rain that we have seen for some time, but by morning Blue sky and the dust barely settled as we left for Chinchilla, "the Watermelon capital of OZ."
22/05/2007. On the way to Chinchilla we had smoko at Warra beside the Warrego Hwy, near where Ludwig Leichardt had a Campsite, what an interesting place is Warra, with old building's, a Great Country Pub, also the post office was a Minni museum,
The land is so flat out this way and the black soil is ideal to grow Cotton, Sorghum, Wheat and other grains.
We are now staying at the Chinchilla Mobile Park, I came here to watch the State of Origin because there was no reception out on the road, but it was a waste of time, Queensland won again the T.V. signal was lousy, next morning we met some Aboriginals who were camped behind us and it turns out that they came from Miller just down the road from our former home at Heckenberg, (what a small world.)
24/05/2007. We have moved out of town and onto Chinchilla Weir only 8 km;s away, the Drought has spoilt this lovely spot as there is only a drop of water left in the river.
And once again there are some great characters that are traveling on the road, an old guy named Dick who has a pet Dingo named khoury that is very shy, and an Eccentric chap who is driving an old landcruiser and an even older fiberglass caravan, the whole lot cost him $1500. When he started the truck up next morning it made this horrible clanking noise and blew black smoke all over the camp as he left the rest area.
And once again there are some great characters that are traveling on the road, an old guy named Dick who has a pet Dingo named khoury that is very shy, and an Eccentric chap who is driving an old landcruiser and an even older fiberglass caravan, the whole lot cost him $1500. When he started the truck up next morning it made this horrible clanking noise and blew black smoke all over the camp as he left the rest area.
Dick & Khoury
There is free power out here that the Local Council has put on for the rest and relaxation for the traveling public, a maximum stay of 2 nights is most welcome, the council has done a Great job for the weary traveler.
The local Country Show is on today (Friday) and Sandra and I have rocked up to have a look at it, a real Carnival Atmosphere with a side show alley, cattle , sheep, equestrian events, stunt motor bike riders, chooks and all that the Country has to offer, plus great Dagwood Dogs and Chips, as only the these carnivals can make. "Its Great to be a Kid again"
Drought stricken Chinchilla Weir
26/05/2007. We have left Chinchilla and are now in Taroom on the Leichardt Way, for 2 -3 days?. On the way up we drove across the Great Dividing Range near a town called Guluguba, with only 1 store which sold petrol and general items it must be a lonely life for people out this way. About 10 minutes further on we stopped at Wondoan for morning tea, there was a flock of Brogla's in a field close by feeding on some sought of grain, and very a rare sight to see, a "Bustard" walking along side the road.
Back here in Taroom we have met old friends Julie & Jack that were up at Tiaro on the Mary River last year, they are such good company - we will have a ball. "Yogi" the caretaker came over to collect the rent he is an ex Rodeo Rider and a top guy, and we have also met another ex Rodeo rider John, and his friend Ursula from Germany. John was badly hurt when a Bull bucked him off in the Chute and then sat on him breaking his neck also goring him in the right leg leaving a big scar. They sure breed em tough up this way;
The local Country Show is on today (Friday) and Sandra and I have rocked up to have a look at it, a real Carnival Atmosphere with a side show alley, cattle , sheep, equestrian events, stunt motor bike riders, chooks and all that the Country has to offer, plus great Dagwood Dogs and Chips, as only the these carnivals can make. "Its Great to be a Kid again"
Drought stricken Chinchilla Weir
26/05/2007. We have left Chinchilla and are now in Taroom on the Leichardt Way, for 2 -3 days?. On the way up we drove across the Great Dividing Range near a town called Guluguba, with only 1 store which sold petrol and general items it must be a lonely life for people out this way. About 10 minutes further on we stopped at Wondoan for morning tea, there was a flock of Brogla's in a field close by feeding on some sought of grain, and very a rare sight to see, a "Bustard" walking along side the road.
Back here in Taroom we have met old friends Julie & Jack that were up at Tiaro on the Mary River last year, they are such good company - we will have a ball. "Yogi" the caretaker came over to collect the rent he is an ex Rodeo Rider and a top guy, and we have also met another ex Rodeo rider John, and his friend Ursula from Germany. John was badly hurt when a Bull bucked him off in the Chute and then sat on him breaking his neck also goring him in the right leg leaving a big scar. They sure breed em tough up this way;
29/05/2007. After 3 days at Taroom it was time to pack up and head towards Rocky. This part of the highway is very rough, we keep seeing sign's saying better roads for Queensland what a JOKE, we need a rest after only driving 94km and have decided to stop at Theodore we have camped at the Junction rest area by the Dawson River, this is another top place to stay at we may be here for 3 or 4 Days?
31/05/2007. San and I have decided to only spend 2 days in Theodore as we want to make up some time, We are now in the Dululu Rest area for 1 night, then on to Rocky tomorrow.
01/06/2007. The 1st day of winter and we are in Rockhampton with the temperature at 26 deg humidity 70 percent. I have set up camp and Sandra has done the washing, we then drove into town, exchanged our damaged Dream Pot and bought a 120amp Deep Cycle Battery, we should be able to stay off road a few extra days with the larger battery giving us more power.
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