QI Tour - Thargomindah to Cunnamulla (Day 29)

Reluctantly but sensibly, we made the grown up decision and realised not so much our limitations but that going forward with our plan to drive the 300 plus kms to Eromanga on the Natural Science Loop was placing us too close to where those limitation are these days. Too much risk.

So instead, we did something we hate doing and retraced our steps, 200kms back to Cunnamulla. I was quite nervous about the drive, because there were some narrow sections and questionable road edges on that path too but at least there was much less of them.

In the end, the drive was relatively easy and almost all the passing of other traffic happened on wider sections. Only once did we have to drop the left wheels onto the dirt but it was full of rock and provided stable footing. On another occasion, seeing traffic coming in both directions, I pulled over on a wide section to let them pass before we returned to the narrows I could see ahead.

Back at Eulo after 135kms, we had tea and discussed our future travels. This episode has convinced me that our "adventure" touring is over. Highways and good country roads from now on and our time towing is closer to ending than it has been since the beginning. Maybe another 7 years will do and one more long trip. A return to the Centre and the West are off the agenda for good now but perhaps a return to Tassie might be worthwhile.

The RFDS was in town, their plane parked on the gravel which makes up both the parking area and taxiways and runway. They fly into Eulo once a fortnight, offering GP services and on alternate fortnights, a physiotherapist or a podiatrist. Sue had a chat to them in the local hall.

As it was a few days ago, the Queen of Eulo Opal Centre was doing a good trade, with seven vans parked in the main (perhaps only) street. No one was at the Hotel.

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today's photos

The remaining 65kms to Cunnamulla were comfortable and we headed out to a new camp we hadn't tried before, The Warrego River Tourist Park, located right beside the Warrego just to the south of Cunnamulla. and it only took a short while to realise why it has such a good reputation. Just a one night stay and then off to Charleville and get the tour back on track. Lovely spot and Sue sat by the river and watched the abundant birdlife and a passing rowing team! We both enjoyed a sunset over the Warrego which was probably the best on tour so far.

Quensland Outback Tour - Town Tour & Museum

Lunch at Hotel Corones

We're still in Charleville ... in fact, finding it hard to leave. Everything we do is met with friendly people.

This morning we took the Heritage, Flood and Fire Tour, hosted by Graham Reid. We received an extensive run down on three floods in recent history (1990, 2010 & 2012) including their causes and consequences and what has been done to mitigate against further problems when the Warrego River bursts its banks. Graham was very knowledgeable used photographic evidence to great effect.

The final 45 minutes of the tour was a commentary of well know buildings put together by the local history society. As it played, Graham drove us to each point of interest. The thing which stood out was the high number of buildings which have been burned down over the history of Charleville, some of them such as pubs, several times!

This was a really good tour and great value at $10 a head.

After the tour, we visited the Historic House. Originally the residence for the manager and business quarters for the Queensland National Bank in 1889, it stayed that way for 53 years. From 1942 it was a private residence until a local group bought it and turned into it a museum reflecting lie in past times in Charleville. Its an interesting place, with lots to look at but as is often the case with these types of ventures, the volunteers are great and enthusiastic collectors but they lack the ability to curate. As a result, there is too much on display and as time has gone on, it has become haphazard, making many of the areas in the house cluttered.

We went back to Corones Hotel for lunch, this time sitting in the bar to enjoy the atmosphere. Sue had bangers and salad  and I had Barramundi. I forced a couple of cold beers down as well.

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We'll probably extend out to fifth night tomorrow as we want to do a history tour of the Corones Hotel and in the morning, 25 historic aircraft will be landing as part of a tour that is being flown to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Charleville has been a very friendly town for us.