LEODESTRAVELOZZ

20210730 Here we are once again travelling along the Landsborough Highway heading to Blackall, home to Blade shearer Jack Howe who put Blackall on the map in 1892, when he set a world record by shearing 321 sheep in seven hours and 40 minutes, but Blackall has now inherited a fibreglass elephant as a reminder to Blackall's early heritage. Donated by  Bob Perry, a descendant of the circus troupe that juggled its way into the district in the 1860s. The B sign as you enter Blackall coming from Barcaldine is a new community art project representing what it means to live in the Blackall region. It was the vision of two local women who collected photographs from locals and visitors. Camping on the Bacoo River in Blackall for the next few day where Des walks back and forth checking his pots and showing off his catch to fellow campers, while I spend my time at the Library trying to catch up on my blog, thanks to Optus who have no coverage in most of the outback. Every day this ch...

20210729 We've been through this town many times in the past but had never stopped at the old Wilshot Hotel, but as we parked across the road at the old railway station why not drop over for a drink and check it out, as we walked through the door my mouth instantly opened and out came the word, WOW! Look, I found myself a hot cowboy at the Wellshot bar, now all I have to do is get rid of the old fart I'm with. The Wellshot Hotel is a well travelled pub, when back in the 1900 it moved a number of times as it followed the railway west following the workers and money. It was relocated to each new location by either the railway or by bullock and cart until it found its final home in Ilfracombe in 1890. This is a bar were if you take your hat off you could loose it, the walls are lined with many hat left there by the country folk or a traveller passing through. There's been many a country bumkin pass through this old pub leaving behind their trusty old Akubra and let me tell you...

20210727 After leaving Winton we go in search of a new camp when I remembered a spot in the bush on the Darr River just before Longreach.  There was a few vans scatted through out the camp grounds but we found a spot on the river and next to Ken, a camper we meet. Once set up we searched the grounds and collected enough wood for a bon fire, as we do.  Ken, our neighbour makes his own walking sticks so this is Des trying it out but he looks more like he's dancing the two step. Every afternoon this crew would meet on the edge of the river with their rods hopping for a fish to jump on there line but I think the real reason was an excuse to have a beer. Our camp on the Darr River for the next few day. The Darr River, a great place to unwind, have a coldie and sit around a fire with fellow campers laughing at the many yarns to be told. Des and Cheryl lurking in the bush, well he's not fishing that much I'm sure of. 20210728 We wake to a lovey sunny winter's day as we watch K...

20210724 As we drive through this channel country heading towards Winton, my thoughts are on, what's ahead, and after travelling 362 km via State Route 62 it hits me, we have just covered some of the most spectacular land in our country. It may look barren but this is pasture country and much of the land is grazed. Out here there is a certain feeling of peacefulness and beauty that's captivating.  It's like stepping back in time to an untouched country where the only evidence is the foot print you left behind. A little house on the prairie, or it was once. A change in scenery as we approach the Lilleyvale Hills. The patched up one lane road, so much for those large expensive signs our government put up saying "The Federal Government Funding Better Roads" what a joke. Your job for the day is to head out to the   Developmental Road and watch the cow's graze and that's exactly what he's doing. The grass is always greener near the road but it's no fun ...

20210723 I would be happy to stay another day but Des is keen to move on, I guess there's not much to do, well there's actually nothing to do but gaze at the nothing and watch the cattle stroll in for a drink leaving behind there droppings as proof they dropped in.  What's ahead, we have no idea, but that's what makes travelling this country so special, the unknown.  All of a sudden my eye light up and I'm gazing at a 143-year-old hotel that's broken through the distant mirage we just came through. Mesmerized I jumped out of the van and there stands the Middleton Hotel and what is left of the town, WOW!. Inside I go and a beer was had then out came a new bottle of tequila, ya gonna have a tequila with me Scott said, now that could get dangerous, the last time I had a tequila was over 30 years ago in Mexico, so how could I knock that back. A lick, sip and a suck and down it goes, omg that was really smooth, I could go another one of those. I'm snapping away w...