27 September

Having a lovely week as 'curator' of the Art Gallery. Lots of interesting conversations. Met some more Grey Nomads from the website as well.
Also found a wonder place for a massage. Had a very sore hip for a few days so went to 'Evoke'  here in Longreach and had an amazing massage including hot stones and some manipulation. Yvonne certainly knows her stuff and is trained in so many different techniques. Most impressed - AND can get a rebate on the health fund! All they need here now is an Osteopath to come to work here even just part time - heaps of work available and Yvonne has a room available for one as well. I do like this town. I have been invited round for a swim - and to be shown exercises to help my back - and can come for a swim any time. (They drink beer and rum :) ) Country towns and country hospitality - like NZ all those years ago.
 Going to the Busby Maru concert on the front steps here tomorrow night. There is a sausage sizzle as well so dont need to cook dinner. Looking forward to the concert as I have heard him on the radio and like his work.

Busy Times

Well - been to an art exhibition launch and a book launch in the past 3 days! Met John Morrison and his lovely partner, and though I cant justify spending the money on originals  I did buy a couple of prints. Thought I had a sale for one of his paintings but the couple differed as to which one they wanted. Ah well! (P.S. - they drove 40km turned around and came back to buy one of the expensive ones just before the place closed - YES! One happy artist, and his partner came to let me know specially!)

Then today we had Bim Aitkinson in the gallery with his book 'Sitting on the Fence' about life in the Ravenshoe area so that will be interesting reading,  (yes - I bought one and had it signed!) - and had an invitation from the author himself that he will be my tour guide if I ever get back up there again. Could be interesting.

Getting hot now! I think I might have to work every day just so I can stay cool in the Gallery. Had a day off yesterday and being in the van - or anywhere outside is not much fun in 39 degree heat! At least the evenings are cool enough to sleep still. Pity there are no power points or taps at the back of the hall where I could park in the shade. Had dinner at the Steak Bar one night  - a short walk past the car park. Yummy - and no need to drive so had a few wines. I now understand why red wine is kept in the fridge here - a whole new meaning to the words 'serve at room temperature.' Mulled wine is not so nice without the snow.

Met another Grey Nomad from the wesite today. Lovely to swap stories with like minded people. John came here and had coffee with me, then we had lunch courtesy of the book launch - good timing I say:)

So - as from tomorrow I am officially the 'person in charge' for the rest of the week - but I feel a large sign saying 'I KNOW NOTHING' on my back - or maybe the desk - may save people  asking me questions I cannot answer.  But then why stop a flow of conversation before it even starts!

SHOF

Had 4 days volunteering at the Hall of Fame art gallery. Gone from scanning photos to cataloguing them onto EHive - museum database. Some wonderful old portraits done today. All posed with 'scenery' and the best clothes on - just lovely. What a shame they were not dated - same with all the artesian bores I did - no dates, but at least they had information re name, depth, & gals p.day.

John Morrison is featured in the Gallery now - what a stunning artist. He has also done a series of 8 paintings for the Longreach 125 year Celebration happening from now for a month. I would so love to buy one but not much room to hang it in the van.

Lovely  cool working conditions - I really notice the heat when I get outside but at least it is a dry heat. Very friendly staff also.

Busy little birds building nests under the eaves. So hard to get a photo of them.

16 Sep Longreach

Ground to a halt this weekend - getting over a cold I think. Dont need to plan where to go next so did very little of anything. Slept, read, washing, computer catch-up -  and fighting ants again. Was suddenly over-run last night it seems - I havent seen any for days. Covered the electric jug of all things - inside and out - weird. Was outside with a torch spraying anything that moved. Not easy to sleep knowing there are so many around - and only tiny ones too! Got ant sand today - will be putting heaps around the van when I shift!
 Dinner at a restaurant tonight for a change.
A few big spots of rain this evening, and a big clap of thunder..... might be one of those 'dry' storms.
Moving tomorrow to start 'work' so hope any rain is over by then.

14 Sept - Longreach

Cool morning so on the road by 8am. Lovely drive – mostly in top gear. No wind, almost no traffic, but many drivers in utes giving me a wave – that was nice. I do like the creamy-tan coloured seal on the roads – pleasant change from black. Lots more of the orange flowering trees, (silky Oaks? No maybe Fernleaf Grevillia) a little purple shrub, then out on to the flood plains again. Only scattered low trees there.

Barcaldine – well – what an ugly wooden structure I thought as I got into town. Upon closer inspection changed my mind. It covers the labour movement tree  'Tree of Knowledge’ I think (now dead) and there are dozens of pieces of wood hanging down that move in the breeze like a giant set of chimes. Lovely sound.

4 pubs in 2 blocks – thirsty place.

Illfracombe - one side of the road has dozens of old tractors, trucks etc all painted and lining the length of the town1 didnt stop. 

Ilfracombe - a small town with a very long line of old trucks, tractors, and other machinery right along the main road. Well cared for it seems - painted and tidy, but didnt stop.

You will need to tip your head sideways to see the wood chimes properly......

Fuelled up and on to Longreach. Called into the SHF and found the Curator, down in the Art Gallery. Bit stressed but settled when he realised I was here to help him. Hundreds of photos to be scanned and catalogued, then eventually put on the internet. Have booked in to the Tourist park for 3 nights in the meantime and will move to the SHF on Monday. Can park around the back and use the showers there!!!!

Then had a panic attack. Went online to tell Centrelink I had not earned any wages again this fortnight – couldn’t get in to the site. Last time that happened they cancelled the pension, so found the local office and shot in to sort it. Wont ring them – cost me $35 last time to wait 40 min for an answer to my phone call! It seems that since I have retired as of 30 June this year that I don’t have to report to them anymore. Relief. Don’t have to make sure I have internet connection on the due dates! Best of all there were NO queues in the office – I was the only customer. They also gave me an info sheet about claiming for caravan park rent assistance if I spend time there. Chatted to the lovely ladies in there about ‘grey nomads’ and their driving ‘skills’ – and serious lack thereof!

Wandered the streets in Longreach for a while. Definitely a country town. Real cowboys, and Jillaroos, clothing shops with ‘sensible’ country clothes, and best of all – a stage coach with 4 horses came into town. That looks like a fun ride. No Coles or Woolies but found the IGA.

Will do the tourist thing for a couple of days then move to the hall on Monday.

13 Sept - Emerald to Jericho

13/9

Finished the blog last night – took about 5 hours!

Did the washing – will hang it up when I stop today. Saw this really cool 'caravan-boat' at the CP. Front folds up when travelling - and can be a boat as well.

Left around 10am. Fuelled up. Couldn’t get in to the pump so pulled out and went around behind another van – some woman came rushing over to tell me they had been waiting for ages and would I back out – nah – 2 pumps there so just carried on. Her man obviously hadn’t realised he could have come in where I went – and by then the other pump he wanted was free anyway!

 Lovely drive again but getting seriously hot now! All the windows open while driving. Good road to Anakie then narrow with rough edges to Alpha, and wide again to Jericho. Came over the Drummond Range 550m, and also the Greast Divide again at 440m. Dry reasonable flat country and some hills. Distinctive lack of big mining trucks also! Had lunch at Alpha then  to the free camp beside the river at Jericho #342. Lovely spot and so cool under the trees. The water truck has been around to dmpen the roads. Already chatted to a couple of solo women, a Kiwi lady, Dutch couple.... very  friendly at these free camps. Must keep an eye on the weather here – wont be able to get out if it rains – ground turns to bog I am told. Big pelican busy fishing on the river.

 Goat races as Balcaldine on Saturday but had intended being in Longreach tomorrow. Started thinking a campervan would be a good thing now???? Had a look in 3 of them here at the camp. Would I fit in?

Had a panic for a while - email from Google saying my blog was a spam! Had to do a bit of verification for them - at least I am back on line now.  

Still dont know why I keep seeing these strange trees but I suspect there is a bug that causes the odd growth. Often see those hanging bits dead as well.