Safe travels Phillip

My folks are up that way in a group of 3 4x4's towing caravans ... They part of the grey army that escape the cold winters for the warm top end // currently they are heading for the back of the Queensland

Pics would be great

Mike

OK progress report and thanks for the good wishes.

We didn't stop at the Macquarie Marsh because there was no Marsh and no birds from the specially built lookout.

Ironically we saw 2 Brolgas in a lagoon nearly to the Mitchell Highway.

We skipped Willie Resort and continued to Bourke, Mitchell caravan park, close to tranport, about 5 metres from the highway.

Its bloody freezing, with about 15C in the sun during the day and now about 10C.

Only prob so far is with my old Campomatic, where the kitchen catches decided not to. A bit of filing with the rat tail and looks OK.

Tomorrow we plan somewhere near Quilpie,so maybe no next G.
Not many photos so far butr we have it on board.
Regards Philip A
BTW first tank was 17.2 L per 100 up the Golden highway into the gale.

Second looks better.

Well here we are at Toompine Pub about 90Kmsouth of Quilpie and I have signal without the car antenna. We have had signal virtually all the way from Bourke and then on short cuts from Cunnamulla to Toompine, which is ONLY a pub.
I will soon have to believe Telstra's propaganda.

Had about my worst camping night at Bourke in Mitchell Caravan park. I didn't know that the Kamileroi Hwy is a MAJOR road train route from Queensland and a truck passed about every 10 minutes all night.

The temp was 1.6C at 8AM with several degrees of frost on the car.
Luckily we had power and ran the fan heater all night.

Lots of wildlife on the way Emus by the dozen, kangas by the score, piggies running everywhere, and evidence of floods at every channel, but only a couple of water crossings.

Tomorrow we are aiming for Bedourie.

Its not really practical to bush camp as the gidgee has been eaten up to cow level everywhere and you would have to get a kilometer from the road not to be seen. And there are lots of burned stumps.
So here we are, along with 38 goats, 5 alpacas, 2 donkeys, 1 camel, about 5 kelpies,blueies, and a Tenterfield terrier who was left by a traveller!

Its a great place. Not much to look at but a donation requested for the RFDS , power and a shower/toilet.
Regards Philip A

Your crackin some kays ... You must really hate the cold

I can tell you Bedourie is nothing special...........



Mrs ho har

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Land Rovers
6 run
6 don't
4 guests

PhilipA
Good to see you are doing the Plenty--- NOW
I am leaving south East Qld in 3 weeks time for the Alice. Please keep us posted --- Call into a cafe in Alice and do a post about the road conditions
I think it will be a grerat drive
Colrospeake

Next time you're looking for somewhere to stay in the Bourke area, try Byrock Pub - 80km east of Bourke (less than an hour), has a range of accommodation at reasonable rates and great tucker.

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Roger



"Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it."

I'll be leaving with the family within the next few days to head back up to Derby. Been back in Perth for just on 12 months now and still can't seem to get the place out of the system, so we're off again for another 3 months (which will quite possibly turn into 12 once again) Keep an eye out for the silver V8 D1 on LPG when you get there and say g'day if you see me. Cheers, Glen.

Thanks all.
Well here we are in Boulia at the cravan park which is good. bush camped last night 1/2 way between Windorah and Bedourie by driving off road at Carbine creek. Only one truck went past all night at about 7.30PM.

The old blind bloke still owns the servo in Windorah and asks customers how much on the pump. He is a wizz with the credit card machine.
The road between Windorah and Bedourie is dirt most of the way but excellent.

Bedourie impressed us as a tidy little town though we were regaled about the stupidity of trying to break wild camels by a somewhat inebriated dusky gentleman. greta public toilets and bbq area, but the camp ground didn't look too crash hot.

The road from Bedourie to Boulia was not so good although the map suggested otherwise.

I have spoken top a couple of people who have done the Plenty in the last couple of days and they say the Donahue is good having just been graded , but the next 100K of the Plenty are bad, then OK.

One guy did the GRR last week and said it was really good and the graders still on it, and the Tanami is reported good.

Next report will be Alice.

All going well so far although I was stoopid and left the storage box on the camper open.Filled it with stones/dust and lost my sponge . The LH rear wheel of the camper had about 2inches of dust inside when I got to Bedourie, because the wind was in that direction.

I wonder who the stupid pom was that put the channel on top of the tailgate. Wonderful in England I suppose for channeling the water away , but neatly dumps a cup of dust inside every time the tailgate is opened.

Regards Philip A

Don't forget lots of pics Phillip!

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Life's way too short, so get out there and enjoy