300km pushing north as we traverse what will be known as carnage way. Every 50-100 meters there is a dead roo, emu or something undistinguishable spread over the tarmac. Probably twice the distance travelled as we swerved around them all. You never know how big the critter is (or was) as it is covered with ravenous carnivorous birds, which only fly off when you are close. Could make a good horror movie?
A mid morning coffee break at Augathella, home to the meat ants. The ants are apparently very ferocious little critters and if you put a cow carcass on the nest it will be down to bone in 2 weeks. It is also the name of the local rugby team.
On the way in we were met by a very large herd of cattle - 2000- that were being driven (as in drovers) to Hay. They had been on the road for 4 months - a long way to go before they get to the "long paddock".
The town is very neat and trim with garden beds down the Main Street. Its claim to fame is being the central home for the 1950s movie Smiley, with Chips Rafferty - never heard of it, never seen it.
Onwards to Tambo, another neat town (they all seem to take great pride in appearance), with a lunch stop by the Tambo Dam, then a quick look at the "Tambo Teddies" where the smallest bear started at $60. Tell 'em they're dreamin...........From there further north we struck what must be the worst road in QLD? It had more bumps and jumps that the mad mouse roller coaster at Luna Park. Some times we thought we were going to take off. Even halving the speed did nothing to help 100k of crap road basically. There are a lot of roadworks happening and it appears they are trying to improve the surface.
Arrived at Blackall and we are undecided whether to spend two nights or one. A relaxing soak in the artesian hot springs was beneficially to mind and body, roast dinner and damper with billy tea at the park oven will top the night off.
A drive around the town the next morning as there was no rush to move us on - the inevitable black stump (every town seems to have one), petrified logs and then to the wool scour where wool was cleaned washed and packed for export.It has been restored to the last working model in Australia, powered by steam as it was in the late 1800's - and the tour guide knew his stuff as he used to work there before it closed in 1976. Now all our wool goes overseas for processing and cleaning.
On the way in we were met by a very large herd of cattle - 2000- that were being driven (as in drovers) to Hay. They had been on the road for 4 months - a long way to go before they get to the "long paddock".
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| Drovers |
Onwards to Tambo, another neat town (they all seem to take great pride in appearance), with a lunch stop by the Tambo Dam, then a quick look at the "Tambo Teddies" where the smallest bear started at $60. Tell 'em they're dreamin...........From there further north we struck what must be the worst road in QLD? It had more bumps and jumps that the mad mouse roller coaster at Luna Park. Some times we thought we were going to take off. Even halving the speed did nothing to help 100k of crap road basically. There are a lot of roadworks happening and it appears they are trying to improve the surface.
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| Blackall Artesian soak |
A drive around the town the next morning as there was no rush to move us on - the inevitable black stump (every town seems to have one), petrified logs and then to the wool scour where wool was cleaned washed and packed for export.It has been restored to the last working model in Australia, powered by steam as it was in the late 1800's - and the tour guide knew his stuff as he used to work there before it closed in 1976. Now all our wool goes overseas for processing and cleaning.
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