Left Townsville on Friday 18^th February and headed west. Not a long drive day in fact ended up at CHARTERS TOWERS for the night. Then off early the next morning for a longer drive (529 k) to CLERMONT. Parked under a tree at the very nice, HOODS LAGOON. Had a long walk around the water then back to the van. Hot day and a very hot night.

Off then in the morning for BARCALDINE, not a busy place normally but on a Sunday afternoon and in 40 degree heat nothing moved so we hid in the shade at the showgrounds. In the evening we went to the “Radio Theatre” to see a movie. It’s an old place with deck chair seats, wooden floor and no a/c! Saw the Disney cartoon movie “Tangled” and half way through they just stopped it in mid scene, turned on the lights so we could all buy from the snack bar. Then lights went on and we saw the end of the scene! Great night, theatre full of kids and it took us all back to the old days.

Radio Theatre

Then on the way back to the showground we stopped to look at the “Tree Of Knowledge” (where the Australian Labour Party was formed during the Shearers strike in the 1880’s). A magnificent sight. Sadly Tuppence the dog left his mark at the base of the tree!

Tree Of Knowledge

Then on to TAMBO the next day to buy another Tambo Teddy. This new lad is called Stockade Stuart; he’s a nice clean happy sort of chap. Welcome to the BIG Van Stuie.

Stockade Stuart

 Then off over the next few days towards NSW stopping at CHARLEVILLE, CUNNAMULLA (yes saw the Fella).  Some readers may not have any idea who the Cunnamulla fella is so I will explain briefly. “The Fella” is the figment of the imagination of Australian songwriter, Stan Coster (with a little help from Slim Dusty) describing a fictious character from the outback who encompasses everything good about the bush, told with a wry sense of humour.

 Then off to BOURKE, a town described as being in the real outback, hence the expression ‘Back of Bourke”. Must say we have found other places in Australia to be more outback then around here! Nice town for lunch by the old wharf on The Darling River. A few more bush stops as the trusty IVECO Winnebago heads into HILLSTON and beyond.


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