TRIP No. 150, June - July 1996
Sun 16
We departed Brisbane and met the Foxes at Burpengary at 6am. Had breakfast at Blackbutt, then left at 9am, stopped at Dalby for smoko, Had lunch at Chinchilla in the park and bought a Bottle Tree seedling.
Romavilla Winery at Roma was closed on a Sunday, so bought a bottle of their tawny port at a Hotel. Camped at Injune Caravan Park the first night.
It was only $12 for a powered site for the 3 of us.
Mon 17
Awoke to a cool foggy morning, fuelled up then departed at 9am.
Arrived at Carnarvon Gorge at 11.30am, set up camp, had lunch, then went for a drive and walk to Mickey Ck Gorge & Ballon Cave.
We also saw a platypus at the rock pool downstream from camp.
Tue 18
Chris was keen, he got up early and went for a climb to Boolimba Bluff, to see the unrise, with the next door neighbours, at 6am. We all went on the big walk up Carnarvon Gorge after breakfast, headed off at 9am and arrived back at 4.30pm, covered 27km on the walk.
Had a warm shower with our shower bags. Carol had some big blisters, but at least she didn't fall over and break her knee this time.
Wed 19
Departed at 8.30am, stopped at
Springsure for a break, then had lunch at Emerald, got fuel, did some shopping,
got CB mike fixed, then arrived at the Willows at 4pm.
Stayed at the Gemair C.Pk for $12 per night, had a beaut Bar-B-Q tea.
They had a Ping Pong table, which kept Chris amused, the lawn is gravel.
Thu 20
We worked "Thru the Fence" but
didn't get any cutters, although we got 1 large flawed stone weighing XX
grains. Chris, Milton & I went to Bingo.
Fri 21
Milton's Birthday, worked at Augie's gully in the creek bed before lunch.
We gully raked and got one large star and heaps of chips.
In the afternoon worked on the
Ridge, but got nothing much.
Sat 22
Dept. early, arrived Barcaldine, visited workers heritage centre.
Caravan Park was full due to
Catholic School Centenary. Had lunch at the Pub.
Sun 23
Dept. early 8.05am, arrived at Longreach before morning smoko.
Stayed at Gunadoo Caravan Park. Picked up Cassy at the Airport at 2.40pm and saw the QANTAS museum.
Bush poetry around the fire at
the Caravan Park at 7.30pm, it was very good.
Mon 24
Stockman's Hall of Fame, lunch at the pub, Power House Museum and shopping.
Went for the River Cruise at 5pm on the Thompson Waterhole.
Camp oven tea with damper and
singing around the camp fire, we had a most enjoyable time.
Tue 25
Departed at 8.30am, had Lunch at
Winton, country was still drought affected.
Bare ground, no grass for a far as the eye could see, and dieing stock by the
road. We saw the Blue Healer Pub as we drove past and then stopped at McKinly, and
had a Beer at the Walkabout Creek Hotel, where Crocidle Dundee was filmed.
Arrived at the Oasis Caravan Park at the Curry at 16.45pm.
Wed 26
Moved van to new spot before breakfast. Milton and I went to Pumpkin Gully and came back for lunch. Christopher came with us in the afternoon when we went to a spot about x km East on the Highway. There was plenty of Ironstone. Had a Bar-B-Q dinner.
Thur 27
Milton and I went to Top Camp and Normans Creek. There was very little gold. We saw a lot of Ironstone in the hills, plenty of Detector operators on the field, and the ground had been turned over by machinery in the last few years.
Fri 28
Day-trip to Mt. Isa, before we left the Curry we visited the Mining Museum, then after driving to Mount Isa went to the Tourist Info Centre.
The Riversleigh Fossil Display was not opened yet, still one week to go.
Visited the town Lookout, then went to another Mining Museum, had lunch, then shopping.
On the way home, we stopped at a
Rockhole and viewed - Aboriginal art, the Mary K. Mining town and open cut mine,
also the Dam at Corella Creek, and the Burke and Wills Memorial.
Sat 29
We decided to stay another day so Milton and I went to old Bob's Gold spot xx km east of the Curry. In the afternoon we took Chris to the Dinosaur Rock west of town to look for Garnets, but wasted our time.
Sun 30
We departed the Curry at 8.30am and arrived at Hughenden after lunch. There, we visited the dinosaur museum and saw a Mutaburrasaurus.
Mon 1 Jul
We packed up camp and left the
vans to visit the spectacular Porcupine Gorge.
We arrived back at the Caravan Park at noon, whereupon we departed for Charters
Towers.
On the way, we stopped for lunch at Prarie. We arrived at the Mexican Caravan
Park,
in Charters Towers, at 4pm and had a Bar-B-Q tea.
Tue 2
Milton and I prospected at his old spot today. Christopher is not well; we think some of the water he has drunk has given him a stomach upset.
Wed 3
Today we drove to Cape R. 300km round trip, no prospecting allowed, returned home by 3pm. I had a long overdue haircut.
Thur 4
In the morning Milton, Chris and I prospected in town at the spot near the tree, which was where Jupiter discovered gold. We met Santa Claus alias Doug Cook and saw his old, nuggets and shaker.
After lunch it drizzled a bit
but we visited the lookout, the airport and also went shopping.
Fri 5
Today we departed Charters Towers at approx. 8.15am.
We had a big smoko at Ayr and stopped at Ashingtons' Gem Shop for a look.
Finally arrived at the Flame
Tree caravan park at 2.30pm, near the Airport- same one as the Palmer trip. We
went out for tea to a cheap seafood place in Airlie Beach.
Chris is still feeling pretty sick.
Sat 6
Day trip to Hamilton Island today, caught the Reefseeker at Shute Harbour. We hired a Golf Buggy for $40 for the day, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and all agreed it was the best day of the holidays.
Sun 7
Departed Flame Tree Caravan park and saw Cassy off at the Proserpine Airport, then we drove to Lugana Keys for a look-see and then had lunch at Midge Point Markets.
We arrived at Cape Hillsborough Resort mid-afternoon and set up camp.
Mon 8
It rained over night, but the boys went for a walk in the drizzle out to Wedge Island anyway. The women came along the beach and joined us. In the afternoon we did the Hidden Valley walk and then drove to Smalleys Beach. In the evening we chose to dine at the resort restaurant and watch TV.
Tue 9
Today was a fine day, though slightly cooler, and we departed the resort at 8.30am. We stopped for lunch at Marlborough and eventually arrived at Emu Park at the Bell Park Caravan Park at 3.30pm, where we had a Bar-B-Q dinner.
Wed 10
Milton, Chris and I went to our usual prospecting today.
Carol and Audrey went to Yeppoon to do some shopping.
The caretaker was in town in the morning so we went to the spot where Milton got his big bit.
Another guy from Brisbane was camped nearby in a campervan, he was detecting with a SD 2000. He had found a dozen pieces supposedly in 6 weeks. Another old guy with a dog was camped up near us. We met the caretaker on the way home and had a good chat with him. For dinner we had another Bar-B-Q.
Thu 11
Today was a rest-day. We went for a drive to Capricorn Resort and Yeppoon, then to Rosslyn Bay where we bought sea-food for a delicious tea back at camp. We then went fishing and Chris caught a Bream on the seawall.
Fri 12
Milton, Chris and I went to our usual fossicking area and gave the caretaker $10, had lunch with the old prospector. The caretaker showed us some of his gold Nuggets.
We are invited back anytime to camp. Had a beaut tea at the Bowls Club. It was only $4.50 for a Barbie and $1 for Desert.
Sat 13
Departed at 7.40am, had lunch at Mirimvale, left Foxes at Booyal, we arrived at Blackbutt at 3.50pm, where we had tea, then departed for home.
We covered around 5,440km for the trip, all in 1 month.