Every Picture Tells a Story

moon rocks @ Richmond

Richmond

Well, we've been to Richmond in Victoria and to Richmond in Tassie, been near Richmond in SA and now we're in Richmond, Queensland.
About half way between Townsville and Mt.Isa and situated on the edge of Queenslands, longest river, the Flinders, lies this peaceful little town, now the dinosaur capital of Australia. A couple of nice and quiet days here as we take another good look around the town. The main employer here would have to be the Shire. The rumbling of road trains comes and goes as often as the trains are heard coming and going although the road trains are more frequent. Not sure how many double decks of cattle on three trailers and the trucks seemed to follow constantly the other day. Yesterday, the Victorian Variety bash came into town. About 85 cars and about 320 people  had the town booked out.Dinner at the local hall last night and brekky at the Primary school this morning. We went up to wave them off and they all looked as if they were having a ball. Finishes in 2 days on Hamilton Island for another year.
Outside temp about 34C here today and this is about average. Makes the afternoon very lazy. Moon rocks abound here as well. Photos to come of those. They were formed in the ocean, similarly to forming of a snowball and once again unique to this area.

Every Picture Tell a Story

Winton, Hughenden and on to Richmond

The return journey from Winton to Hughenden again, was uneventful. Some 220 klms of undulating but mostly flat territory with the odd scattering of kangaroo road kill and not a lot of anything else. I must say though, that the Flinders Poppy, a nice pink flower, grows prolifically around Hughenden and is only found in this area. A refuel at Hughenden, a lunch stop at the nearby Lions driver reviver area and we were on our way to Richmond. More undulating, more flat, more uneventful.........

At Richmonds Kronosaurus Korner, our three place ticket admission got us into their dinosaur display as well. Well, when you think that you may have seen it all, another new chapter begins. Kron was a huge marine reptile that breathed air and was a terror in the sea. Their teeth were 30cm long and two thirds of that was embedded in their jaws, so the rest were used for biting, holding and ripping. Kron was bigger than  T-Rex and thats saying something. But wait theres more. Pliosaurs were also found in this area. Two brothers Ievers, found the beak of one while rounding up cattle, in a river bank.One bro kicked what he thought was a stick, which actually broke the snout off and upon further examination, they could see there were teeth in this piece of jaw. This has turned out to be the most complete skeleton of this type of dinosaur in the world. Since then about three others have been found in the area in various states of disrepair.The KK interpretive centre is also the tourist info and so we asked about directions to the local fossicking site. About 12 klms out of town, an open area on both sides of the road, well sign posted to indicate fossil digging area 1 and 2. After about 1/2 hour we returned to town with a piece of rock that I had split open with my trusty Geology pick and revealed what looked like a piece of petrified wood. back to KK for an opinion, and that disproved the wood theory in fact it was a fish bone, probably from the skull area of a fish that hasn't seen daylight in 110-115million years. A great day out. Plesiorsaurs and Ichthyosaurs were also in the area and it doesn't stop there. Research is well under way to find others in the area. The concept is a little difficult. Most of this area was a huge inland sea covered by about 40-50 metres of water, this eventually drained into the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Great Australian Bight revealing the dry seabed and great artesian water basin we now have.

Every Picture Tells A Story

Waltzing our matildas at Winton

The trip from Hughenden to Winton was not the most exciting trip that we have ever done, none the less we made it even though we lost three glasses in transit. The road was ROUGH and the rough patches, rises in the road followed immediately by a dip in the road, come up without notice.

Anyway, settled in at the Pelican caravan park and lo and behold another Scenic Vega Captains Deck about two doors up. Unfortunately the owners were not around that we could see and left early this morning so never did catch up with them.

Spent the rest of the day at the Waltzing Matilda centre, Corfield and Fitzmaurice centre and out for tea to Tattersalls hotel. WM centre was great, a huge display of the history of the song and its origins that were here at Winton. The CF centre, once a large drapery store, is now a craft shop, and dinosaur centre. Samples of fossils from the area and beyond and a scale model of the Muttaburrasaurus that we had met earlier. The three attractions pass also let us into the Open Air theatre that is well known in Winton. Unfortunately for us it's on a Wednesday night..Missed by THAT much..

Today started earlier than usual, we were out of here by 8.00am to refuel take our lunch and water to the lark Quarry about 110klms south of here. 50% gravel and 50% bitumen, but a good gravel road just the same. The quarry is the site of the worlds only dinosaur stampede. This is quite amazing to think that these things, big and small, roamed the area. When you hear the story, it's no wonder there aren't more places like this. Australia must have been crawling with them. Footprints recording the stampede show different sizes of dinosaurs running here and there from the big one on two feet that would have been about 5mtrs tll and similar to T-Rex but not quite as tall. These could run at about 30klm/hr so would outrun this little black duck, let me tell you..The spinifex walk around the centre afterwards was great also. Upon our return, one of the guys showed me a phot of a small death adder that he had just taken on the same walk, about 2 feet off the path..YIKES.. Lunch on the return to town at a Jump Up parking bay.Off to Age of Dinosaurs about 20 klms out of town, 1ok bitumen 10klms gravel.Another fascinating place. These people have really got their acts together. This place lets you touch the ACTUAL dinosaur bones that they have dug up, restored from stone and placed there on exhibition. Entertaining tour guides made it all the better. The exhibits (mostly) show the actual bones/remains from the diggings instead of being locked away in some museum collection somewhere distant from where they were found. These black soil plains are covered in thousands more dinosaurs as well. This centre has found about a dozen NEW dinosaurs in the last fifteen years. These have never been recorded anywhere else in the world before. Thats a BIGGY..

Every Picture Tells a Story

To Hughenden

Light misty rain as we packed up this morning, strange, nothing on the radar for that one. Fuelled the night before, so only have to pack up and get going. Warnings of stories about Road Trains are confronting to say the least, so we shall see.These huge trucks weigh up to 150 tonnes and cruise at 110klm/h. on narrow roads where they DEMAND right of way and usually get it.  forecast is for 34c and possible thunder storms. After an hour or so, a fatigue break at white Mountaion lookout, on the top of the Great Dividing Range. We had already passed a sign that said this area was the catchment for Lake Eyre..WOW..Arrived in Hughenden and thought the local bakers would be good for lunch. Large hording on edge of town advertised his reputation which made the anticipation even better. In town was a different story, the Baker is closed (due to medical reasons) the butcher is closed, so I don't hold a lot of hope for the candle stick maker. Fliders information centre is where we met the Mutterburrasaurus. The replica of a dinosaur dug up at Muttaburra, a small town within this dinosaur triangle. made up of Hughenden, Winton and Richmond all with their very own exhibits of dinosaur relics dug from their own areas. fascinating enough for us to buy the full package and head off to Winton tomorrow.

Charters Towers

We bought  cd from the tourist info place in town that gives you an audio tour of the local area. It was $15- well spent. Place the cd in the incar player and push play and follow the instructions and map they also give you, pausing cd when told. A great tour that covered all the local history including a gold battery, parks with commemorative plaques therein and also historic buildings with their story, great value. Other towns could take a leaf from the Charters towers book. Return the cd for a $10- refund. Is that good or what?

Day 2 here and we caught up with our WA friends Ivan and Chris. A walk around the shops, slightly disappointing from the fact that all Opp shops seem to close at 1.00pm. We had to do lunch first of course...Anyway we are heading off tomorrow to Hughenden and the dinosaur trail.

Every picture tells a Story

Taylors Beach

Lovely stay at Taylors Beach. Nice people in the park, both owners and residents. Very helpful as well. Hints and tips on fishing, where and when to gather bait, borrow my bait pump if you like. Tides aren't much good! The problem is that there isn't very much room between the tides at the moment and high tide is eary evening or very early morning. Makes it difficult especially without a boat. Still there are plenty of fish being caught. My score is one bream. we were given a nice Silver Trevally that I cooked on the Weber. The midges have taken their toll once again.While I was filleting our bream the other night at about 6.15-6.30, they attacked me with a vengeance on my left elbow and behind both knees and down my legs.
Day trips to Halifax, Lucinda and out to Dungeness was an eye opener. Quite a resort at Dungeness and an extensive boat launching ramp and mooring facility there as well. We overheard a couple of bloke,s who were loading there boats, conversation about whales offshore today. Apparently they are quite often seen off the end of the sugar wharf at Lucinda.Day trip to Wallaman falls was quite spectacular.

Moving on towards  Charters Towers. We are going to check out a couple of free camps along the beach before Townsville as that is when we leave the coast and turn West inland to the gold town of the "Towers." During the gold rush 1870-99 there was a Stock exchange here and the town was known as the "World" as there was anything you could possibly want available here, why go anywhere else?

Townsville to Taylors Beach

An easy drive fromTownsville to Taylors Beach under normal circumstances, however, my health has caught up with me and I am suffering the first cold that either of us have had since being on the road. Perhaps we should have stayed another night in Townsville. my recollection of the journey to Taylors Beach is vague, I do remember being overtaken by two blokes who then slowed to 80..... Anyway, we are here now. This is where Marg's Mum and Dad used to come each year with his brother and sister in law. They left Swan Hill about the Queens birthday and got home at about Cup day. The journey North being quicker than the return journey, to escape the cold.

A days recovery, tucked up in bed with my blanket on for the day has worked a treat. Now Marg. is crook with it. Tried the walk along the beach to the "Sticks" where I caught  a nice Queenfish last time and wrestled with a hawks bill turtle for about an hour as well. Fish today NIL. The fresh seafood place in Lucinda used to sell bug tails but do no longer. freshly cooked prawns, tigers, at a very reasonable price is the go. Marg. recovering but we need to restock our supply of cold and flu material and do some shopping so off to Ingham. A nice place that was established by Italian migrants who chose to plant cane.The rest is history. Cane is growing on both sides of the road and the cane mills are belching smoke like there is no tomorrow.Cane trains lines, criss cross the back roads and not all have wig wags, so caution is well advertised on hordings on all roads of the area. Lunch in town before exploriong Forest Beach where there is supposed to be a free camp. Power and water available adjacent to the Hotel ($) area looks nice but not worth leaving our present location. while parked in town, Marg saw this Red Tailed Cockatoo, BONUS..

Bowen to Townsville

Not a great distance between these two towns but a HUGE difference in size.We chose to stay at a park on the seashore called Rowes Bay caravan park and we had been told that they don't take bookings on any sites. as per our information, we arrived at about 3.00pm and were offered a non powered site for the night at more than what we would have expected to pay.The next morning, right on cue, a phone call from the office with our powered site number. The night before, as we were setting up we recognised another VIC number plate next to us. Turned our to be Ken & Marilyn from Korumburra, and I was at secondary school with them both.

After shifting around the corner and once again setting up, we decided to have a look around. Big city with two Defence Force bases here they being army and air force.We found a large shopping centre that hasn't been open all that long. gotta a long way to go but getting there and of course, no shortage of people. the guy who recommended Rowes Bay had also told us of the deal at the casino, join up and you get a meal for nothing. A meal voucher is issued together with a five dollar match and play voucher for use on the tables.The meal voucher can be used in any of their restaurants as well and we chose to have lunch in Spin bistro and were very pleased with the meal. An afternoon drive up Castle Hill to the number of different lookouts from this well known local landmark.Next morning a quick look at the local map to find the Commonwealth War Graves cemeteryand we were off again. A distant cousin, Aubrey, died during WW2 on Thursday Island. He was a member of the RAAF and it was a land based accident where a falling tree had killed him. We found his headstone.Also found a sparky who specialised in car audio as well as other things. He had a replacement cord to connect the cruiser and the caravan camera

Every Picture Tells a Story

Pruned by Nature

Hydeaway Bayto Bowenwood

We left Hydeaway Bay waved off by the camps manager and moved on to Bowen. This is where the recent movie Australia was filmed, hence the title of todays Blog...A visit to the tourist information booth is always helpful. These people, mostly volunteers, are enthusiastic and knowlegeable about the local area. After pointing out the pertinent landmarks around town including the location of our caravan park,our help suggested that we put our names down at the local yacht club this afternoon. You may be able to get on a yacht and take part in a race this afternoon, just take a couple of beers and some money to shout the Captain after the race.Thought about it for a while and decidedto give it a go, so off to the yacht club to register.Got on the boat Naut-I-Lass Too after meeting skipper/owner Neville, crew Gary and another Shane. Off we set. We were the largest boat at 40' and so had to start last. We beat across the bay to the first bouy and tacked across the bay to the next mark, jibing and tacking as we went.When we reached the furthest mark, turned on the down wind leg and we had already overtaken two boats when the skipper said, time for a beer.A further twenty minutes or so before we were back into it again, tacking, jibing etc to finish fourth. Skipper let me take the wheel as we headed back to Port while the sails were furled.Do you like my nautical terms? A pleasant day on the briney was followed an equally pleasant time for presentations back at the fully licensed yacht club.We had witnessed a collision between two of the yachts at the windward mark and this lead to a little more jocularity at the club. The invitation is open to anyone who would like to take part in one of these races, register at the yacht club on Saturday afternoon by about 2.15 and have a great day out sailing.
There are some magnificent beaches around Bowen some of which are award winning. The Sunday market is held alongside Queens Beach and is quite extensive. A great market. The variety of different nationalities arouind Bowen sees a great variety of different vegetables on sale at the market. Your usual craft, clothing and junk stalls and a couple beside each other on stands selling ..Him-Omelletes and Her-Waffles.

Bowen bakery has award winning pies, Fellowes Fish and Chips was reasonably priced and lovely fish and Joachims bakery have just won prizes for their sourdough and apple pies. We bought 500grms of cooked tiger prawns from Arabon seafoods and really enjoyed Bowen.

Midge Point to Hydeaway Bay

We left Midge point and travelled North with our W.A. friends and another couple Peter and Janice followed us as well. All leaving camp at the same time rather than travelling together, if you know what I mean. Pete and Janice left us at Proserpine and we shopped in preparation for Hydeaway bay. We had heard that there are no shops there. While in proserpine, we could see that the mill had started up and thats a significant in this heavily sugar growing area. The sugar crop has been affected by the rain as has the tourist industry. Moved on to Hydeaway bay and settled in. Great atmosphere here, fire pit, quiet park and lots of fisherman.Next day Ivan (WA) asked us to join them on an exploring trip. This isn't gonna take long, but it did.After lunch we went to Monte's resort which is only a couple of klms away and it was there for drinkies. On to Eco resort and another drink, outlook at both of these places is outstanding. Azure blue seas backed by smoky blue islands and topped by whiter than white beaches. The road goes a little further than Eco, a boom gate stops any further progress as it is a private residence. Small rough tracks towards the beach reveals fishing and swimming spots along the coast.Next day another exploratory trip to Dingo beach. There is a pub there and another settlement, but the pub is the only business there. Outlook across a stretch of shaded sand once again to a brilliant white  beach with those smoky blue islands in the background. This time we had the coral trout fish and chips for lunch and it was great. Met Mark at the fire who claims he has a Seniors escort service.... he is about our age and it's wide loads. Next day off to Airlie beach. Hydeaway bay was described to us as Airlie without the backpackers. Yeah, well thats about right. The years since we were here has seen a dramatic change to tourism as well as Airlie. The backpacker market is well catered for here and the Grey nomad not so well. Cannon Vale was more to our liking with a bit more variety of shopping and not that "surfie" clientele...Probably the same reason we don't feel all that comfortable in Lorne any more. Shute harbour used to be the departure point for all the island ferries, quickcat services etc. That has changed and what used to be a thriving departure point, is no more. Island cruises leave from Abel point, Airlie beach and thats about to change again after someone has spent a gazillion dollars on the development of new Port Airlie where the cruise boats will depart from in the future.  Day ended by going back to Proserpine and home.At a meeting with our WA friends it was decided that lunch at Eco resort was appropriate and delicious as this would see them depart tomorrow. The ten days we have been together has been great fun, we have seen a lot, tasted a lot and laughed a lot. We have decided to stay on for another two nights. This has given me a chance to explore some of the great beaches, wet a line in the vague hope of catching a feed and chilling in this great area. The lack of mobile service and Internet as well has been a bit of a problem for me as I like to be able to source info when and where I like it but we are realising more and more the vastness and also the remoteness of this wonderful country.