20250514 Qld to NSW Karara, Yelarbon, Coolatai to Warialda

20250514/20 After stocking up un supplies we then left for Karara where we stayed many times, its a nice ground beside a creek with very little water and a pub up the road. The rain came in so we settled in to see it out before heading to Yelarbon with the beautiful mural as you enter the town. Down the back of the town is a great camp across from the river, for 20 bucks a night you get power, showers and amenities.

Yalarbon, located halfway between Goondiwindi and Inglewood

20250520 Got supplies at Goondiwindi and left passing the wobbly boots hotel on our way to Coolatai to camp for a few days while we wait for Karan and Gary. Travelling along the Bruxner Way and there are certainly some rough patches at the moment, I’m thinking more bad than good but we made it in one piece, now to set up and wait the days out.

Once a great Australian Pub, “The Wobbly Boot Hotel” is located in the town of Boggabilla not far from the QLD and NSW boarder. The current concrete building was constructed in 1935 to replace a 12-room wooden hotel on the same site that was destroyed by fire in 1934, and now it’s seems it’s closed for good.

I mostly worked on my Spain blog and still have miles to go but it gives me something to do while Des circles around this tiny town. Later in the afternoon I’d shut my iPad down and grab a beer for a walk, we no this town like the back of our hand and the lemon trees that are all so full of ripe fruit that I’m itching to pick, not to mention the veggie patch in someone’s front yard that I would love to jump the fence to pick.

I found these old pumps in the back streets when walking this tiny town.

Karen and Gary arrived in their new rig and lucky for them there was a large space left so they pulled in and parked her up.

Exhausted they cracked a much needed beer after a 6 hour driver from the Redlands.

Later we walk to the local pub where Gary got to talking with the locale who knew his uncle from Warialda. We’ve eaten here a few times now and I must say the meals have always been the best, the lady behind the bar ever remembered us from our previous stays, you’ve been here before she said, I remember you from previous stays, we’re like one of the locals now. 

20250524 There first night out and there in trouble already, a camper who was trying to sleep last night knocked on their door when music was blaring, I don’t know how to turn it off said Gary, so the guy walked straight in and flicked a switched, just like that it was off. We packed up and left for Warialda to stock up on supplies then onto Gary’s cousin’s, Terry, who owns a property just out of town. 

First up we need a fire and Karen gives the new battery operated chainsaw a go, not bad for an old girl.

There he goes, Jack of all trades, Terry is his name and he’s a typical old farmer tinkering around in his sheds or on a grader or rounding up cattle, not to mention a collector of old wares.

The men go pig hunting while the women stay home and prepare dinner, gee, nothings changed.

Terry and Des dragged over a fire pit and we collected some wood then the boys go pig hunting with Des sitting in the back of the buggie only to returned empty handed. Des skinned his knee when hopped out of the buggy, his legs gave way and down he went, not only are they bad hunters but they’re also getting too old for back set driving.

We pulled up our chairs and grabbed a beer and sat around our fire waiting for some coals for our Jaffles. We had a lovely night enjoying a good old yarn with Terry about the history of the town and when the Maher’s owned the local pub. Des cooked the Jaffles were a great success as usual.

20250515 Just another day on the farm as Terry starts up his grader and heads-up the dirt road to dig out a trench while we wonder the grounds browsing at all of Terry’s old wares and machinery dating way back, the things some people collect.

Des struggles to lift this huge?

I have no idea how Terry finds anything in this shed but he seems to know where everything is.

Now this is what I call cleaver, check out this old rake he’s turned into a spinner hanger.

This is just some of the machinery scattered around the yard.

Every tractor in these sheds work and the batteries are charged constantly, I don’t know how he does it.

This is just one of many Listers Terry collects, this is a medium-speed, single-cylinder engine, often used for various applications like powering pumps, generators, and other equipment. These engines are known for their durability and reliability, contributing to their enduring popularity.

Simpson & Son gyrator washing machine, which was made in Australia, with a gyrator speed of 60 ocs/min, and uses petrol, now this I have never seen.

The old homestead still stands on wobbly stumps, it’s sad to see these once beautiful Queenslands fall to pieces. 

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