20190518 Qld Stonehenge

20190518 Another town that backs onto the Mitchell River with the Johnston Range as the back drop and the beginning of the channel country through the Barcoo Shire. I’m not sure what I’m expecting from this town but just the name “Stonehenge” sounds interesting as we continue our drive along this straight stretch of road.

Arriving at Stonehenge we parked up and walked to the pub for a beer as we do that Aussie wave trying to keep the flies from nose diving into your nostrils, talk about annoying bloody creatures. Over a cold ale we chat to the barmaid who had Desie’s interest at “Yabbies” and the creek is in abundance.

Sit boo boo, now look into his eye, now spit at him, good boy.😅😆

Bronco Branding is a Rodeo and Stonehenge has hosted several Australian Championships in the comp, at least 4 champions calling Stonehenge home and once again we’re in the wright place but at the wrong time.

An old windmill overlooking the town at the information centre.

Dinner at the pub tonight and thank god the flies have gone to bed but then out comes the mosquitoes and OMG, there’s thousands, Des and I head back to the van to put on some jeans and spray.  We got chatting with some guys playing pool who told us about the Red Claw in the river and showed us one sitting in a tank, if that's the size there catching at the river Des will certainly be throwing in a pot or eight.

19-05-2019 Des is up early to get his pots ready for his 1k walk to the river and I opted to say back this time and read my book in bed.

We were told the water levels in the Thompson will drop quickly and in a few kilometres this river will merge with the Barcoo to become Cooper’s Creek.

The remanets of cyclone Trevor had reached the outback and filling the river channels to capacity, we were told the farmers should have enough water to last till Christmas. This shows just how rapped the water is flowing which is great to see, for this town usually have 320 fine days a year with an annually rainfall of around 300mm.

A few hours later we return and I can always tell if he's scored due to the silly grin on his face, yep he's a happy chappy.

On our return this sign caught our interest.
How about we change it to 
“HIT THE KIDS NOT THE SKIDS”
I’m kidding.😏

Now this should bring back memories, not that I went to school much but who could forget these old desks.

Who could forget the outhouse, I can still remember that smell of phenyl that mum would use to keep the smell at bay, I don’t like their chances after Des has finished his business though? 

20-05-2019 The walks back and forth is getting a bit much for the old boy and as he’s catching close to 100 per day so we decided to pack up and camp at the river which we would have normally done  if it wasn’t for these bloody annoying flies.

Our sunset if only we could have a fire and sit outside it would be perfect.

He’s happy when catching Red Claw and it gives us a break from each other, or more like I have a break, Mr have a chat, never shuts up.😅

Here are just a few of the larger ones he's caught so far.

At around 15 inches and some of the largest Des has ever caught.

22-05-2019 After two day of catching Red Claw and fighting off the flies, our freezer is now overflowing so it was time to leave, besides I think around 400 is a good catch don’t you. We head back to town for a shower and stay the night and maybe have a few drinks with some campers.

The locals we certainly correct when they said the river will drop quickly, we went to check our last pots and couldn’t believe how much it had dropped over night.

I decided to walk back and test out my creative eye, which I don’t really have, but a boat in the outback bush I thought was different.

I love the rustic look of the water tanks in this towns surrounding beauty in the middle of nowhere.

Then here come's Des putting along the dirt road, yep, the things he'll do for red claw.

Wondering the back streets of Stonehenge when I spotted the old drums and they sure do make for a great photo.

Check out the dish

😅😆

The Royal Flying Doctor’s Service is in town, the doctors complete a clinical session at the community centre before taking to the sky, what a cool job flying from one town to the next.

Wild Flowers of the Outback.