The Outback

Way out west where the rain don't fall............................

I'll sing you the desert, where black men sailed 

Waterhole to water, where white men failed

Taking the Kidman Way north

See the face of dreamers, forgotten souls                 

Hear the voice of cattlemen, crackle in the coals      
Maybe we will learn what's written in the sand

A thousand generations living off the land
I'll sing you the waters running through the town
Wildflowers and Wattles when it settles down
The Outback is impossible, forever and it's free
No way can I find an end to what it means to me.
                                      John Williamson (Gunya album)

Everyone loves Cairns
They come from near and far
But way out west where the dust is red

Dry riverbed art

You'll find a shining star.

We left the coast for a change of pace
The back road we did take
From Charters Towers to the Lynd Junction
We drove without a break.

At Fletcher Creek we set up camp
The surrounds was our reward
Road trains rumbled and cattle chewed
Where Ludwig Leichardt explored.
                                                                                                                              
Further west  to Hughenden
Where skies are wide and blue
Just out of town, at Porcupine Gorge
For a sense of deja vu.

Peace and quiet, not a soul in sight
We climbed down to the river
To soak weary feet and contemplate
This land, surely does deliver.

Longreach, Winton and back block camps 
A red and dusty road
Southward down to Thargomindah
Where the land opens wide to explode.

The Adventure Way will take you east
Through dry lakes and opal towns
Where houses don't matter, just a simple life
As smiles replace your frowns.
                                         Shirley.

Charters Towers, Greenvale, Fletcher Creek, Hughenden, Porcupine Gorge, Longreach, Winton, Stonehenge, Jundah, Toompine, Quilpie, Windorah, Thargomindah, Yowah.

Neighbours at Fletcher Creek

Road Trains at Fletcher Creek

Waterhole at gorge

Camp at Porcupine Gorge

                                                       

Spinifix Grass Bladensburg National Park

Aborigines forced to leap to their death from Skull Rock

     

Gidgee borders the road

Life and Death

                          





             

Horses wander freely at Greenvale

Apostle birds by camp at Bladensburg

                                           

Longreach locals

Coalfield

Road to Toompine

Quilpie in the distance

Sunrise

Quilpie caravan park

Electricity at Thargomindah

Thargomindah dry river

Camp on the Cooper

Stonehenge Pub

Jundah Caravan Park

Yowah Opal Museum

Yowah dunny




Ah yes, twas a good trip................

Hey, it's Christmas

There's a storm across the valley, clouds are rollin' in
The afternoon is heavy on your shoulders.

Snowy with annexe

There's a truck out on the four lane, a mile or more away    
The whining of its' wheels just makes it colder.

Hey it's good to be back home again
Sometimes this old farm feels like a long lost friend
Hey it's good to be back home again.
John Denver and others




Once upon a time Snowy went to Queensland. He loved going to Queensland because he always had new adventures.
But one day, when the sun was shining and the birds were singing and everything was perfect, something bad happened. Snowy was carefree and cruising down the highway, when suddenly, BUMP, he had an accident.
Snowy did not see two big obstacles on the road until it was too late.
Oh dear. Snowy ran out of puff. He was injured.
Snowy was very sad. He was sent to a mechanic who shook his head and said, "I cannot fix it because I don't have the tools."
So they sent Snowy away to another mechanic who put Snowy in a corner ad forgot about him....

.......................Fast forward.....................................

Earlier blogs tell the story. Snowy still does not understand why it took him 4 months to get home. Neither do Bill and Shirley. 
After being half fixed in Toowoomba, Snowy was shipped to Melbourne where his gas tank was finally restored. "Thank you" to Arthur in Frankston who worked with speed and understanding. It was Arthur who kept in contact with us and finally was able to tell us when it was okay to drive Snowy home.

Hey Mr Insurance Man, I'm still waiting to hear from you. 

But, we're happy now as we have Snowy home for Christmas.

4 months!
4 months!
4 months!

Letter to Insurance Ombudsman on its way.

There's blue skies across the city, sunshine beating down
The afternoon crickets are all singing
The turkey's in the oven, the beer is on the ice
Christmas in Melbourne is swinging.

Hey it's good to back home again
Sometimes this old town feels like a long lost friend
Hey, it's good to be back home again.


        MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM SNOWY AND BILL AND SHIRLEY