Emerald

We travelled to Emerald and stayed for three days, the first time we had been near to a shopping centre for a few weeks. We actually saw a Big W and a Woolworths besides Millers and Coles etc.

There is not a lot to do there so we just veged out for a while and took a few photos.

Large Goya copy Painting in the park (if you look closely you can see Stephen at the base in the middle)

This was the local Gaol

This was an early church

All these buildings have been moved to the park area next to the information office in Emerald.

Longreach

We drove from Winton to Longreach and what a difference a couple of hours make, this is a thriving community with tourism as one of it's leading attractions. We went and took photos of the "Stockmans Hall of Fame" and Qantas museum but we really went there to do the river cruise on the Thompson River. The cruise was magnificent. We went down the river and then they turned round and we headed back into the sunset so everyone could take photos, then we had a three course meal on the banks of the river (white table cloths and lanterns) and also two men singing bush songs and reciting bush poetry. We had a great time. 

We also visited a friend of my daughters that used to work with her and is now living in Longreach.

Qantas museum

Stockman's Hall of Fame

Statue at the front

Brolgas that inhabit the caravan park

A Coolibah Tree

Travelling down the river

Travelling back up the river towards the sunset

The other tour people use a paddle boat - we were on one like the city cats in brisbane

the entertainment (they wrote most of their own songs)

 We only stayed three nights in Longreach and are now at Emerald where we are staying for another three nights.  We keep meeting people who we have met before at other camps and it is like seeing old friends as they go different ways to us and we discuss all they have seen and what we have seen.
We are really missing everyone especially our grandsons Owen and Jack but we did talk to them last night on Skype and it wont be long before we are back with them.

Winton

We drove from Mount Isa to Boulia,  stopping at Djarra for lunch in the Roadhouse and then carrying on we intended to stop at Boulia overnight but it was desolate and we couldn't see any signs for the caravan park so we carried on to Winton. It was a long day - we didn't arrive at Winton until 7pm it was almost dark and we just got settled in and had beans on toast for dinner then went to bed absolutely shattered. We won't be doing that again in a hurry.

The caravan park was ok but Winton seems to be a dying town unless you go there during muster times or specail festival times. There doesn't seem to be a lot to do as by the time you reach there you have seen all the fossils and done all the fossicking you want to do. So we just veged out for a day.

Entrance to the Matilda Country Tourist Park at Winton

Looking at the same building from the inside of the park

our site

one of the inhabitants of the park - a monitor lizard

One of the older buildings on the main street of Winton

Looking down the main street of Winton

Part of Arno's wall

Arno's wall from Arno's park

Another section of the wall, check out the sewing machine on the top of the wall

 This wall is made from all old pieces of equipment taken from the town dump and set in concrete by a gentleman call Arno - very ingenious

This is the musical fence which can be played with pieces of rubber tubing or metal tubing depending on what sound you want to make. There is also a drum kit made out of old peices of tin and other items for you to play.

Lake Moondarra - Mount Isa

This is one of the most beautiful spots in Mount Isa and the Lake and Dam are over 400 sq miles and

it has at least 2 islands in it. It has a lovely recreational area which has bouys to stop boats from coming too near to the edge so that children can swim in it and there are fishing spots, covered table areas and BBQ's. We had a great time and stayed all day.

Lake Moondarra foreshore

another view of the foreshore

Looking across to one of the islands

covered picnic areas

Stephen weighing up fishing options

View from the lookout at the Dam wall

View from lookout showing two of the islands

another view from the lookout

Mount Isa

We travelled to Mt Isa to stay with friends for a few days and what a lovely time we had. Alison didn't let me cook one main meal while we were there and she made some beautiful food for us. Unfortunately we only had one complete day with Russell as he had to work. He works four on four off for the mine company.Still we enjoyed our time there and visited some unusual places as you will be able to see from the photos.

Inside the visitor information centre

The visitor Information centre

The underground hospital - next to the main hospital

This was an escape hatch in case the tunnels were blocked

A cupboard still full of crockery for use in the underground hospital

Beds in the tunnels

One of the old patients - no only kidding

A human skeleton used for training purposes

A tent house - Solid roof and frame the rest was canvas

View from the lookout towards Mount Isa

Another view from the lookout

Cloncurry

We left Richmond and headed towards Julia Creek, we were intending to stay there but decided to press on to Cloncurry. We stayed at the Discovery Holiday park, large drive through sites , clean amenities and lots of purposely built units for the miners. It had rained the night before and they had a thunder storm so the first night was quite cool but the next day made up for this. We are staying here for three days and then travelling to Mt Isa.

The Caravan Park entrance

Another shot of the entrance

 We visited the John Flynn memorial centre which has all the historyof the Royal Flying Doctor Service and exhibitions of the early radios and an art gallery

Me listening to an actual broadcast from a station asking for help from the Flying Doctor Service

The next day we visited the visitor information centre which houses a small outside museum

  of old farm equipment

An old Ambulance

Traction engine

Steam engine

The view looking towards Cloncurry from the lookout

Cloncurry Dam

Another view of the Dam