Chunk 1. Longreach and Beyond.

Scenic Tours, Planes, Birds and so on
After writing up a great new blog I found that the library computer in Mt Isa would not accept my USB, *#!***!# So I must use the short time available for this post.
My good friend Cherril took me the scenic way to the airport up Lygon St, across to Moonee Ponds and out along Mt. Alexander Road. My trip to Brisbane had a tail wind so we arrived 15 mins early after a clear trip on which I could have plotted the flight path if I had a NSW map. I spent a great night with my cousin Jan and her husband Trevor who have a coffee lounge in Carindale Shopping Centre - French Twist. Great coffee, yummee pastries! Very French. Jan and I had a terrific time catching up, then she too gave me a scenic tour of Brisbane - a city I have not seen before. I was delighted.
The flight to Longreach was booked out and I had an aisle seat on the Fokker Friendship; but someone missed the plane, so after take off I was able to move to the window seat in front on mine and use my map to plot the sights below. Much burning off and smoke, but otherwise a very clear view of the Carnarvon National Park, the landscapes, the small towns etc. We were told that we had special passengers aboard, the descendants of the Qantas initiators, so I guess we were in the best plane with the best staff etc.
Irene met me at Longreach airport and drove me and my no-wheels bag 200 m along the road to our caravan park where we had a very bushy site, across the paddocks from The Stockmens Hall of Fame. The pool was inviting and the G&T that followed, greatly enjoyed.
We drove to Lily's Lagoon and saw some wonderful birds - white necked heron, fly catchers, spinifex pigeons, great egret and .... a black feral pig. The nearby cattle hardly rate a mention. I will have many wonderful photos from this trip!
The next day we walked to the Qantas Museum for a tour of a 747 and a great stooge around the history of the airline. Then a short walk along the road took us to the Hall of Fame. I love the architacture and the environment of that building. The exhibits are also excellent. As we stocked up the next morning in town, we saw a T-Model Ford driving along the street with 3 passengers dressed in khaki, one wearing a pith helmet. An hour or so into our drive to Winton, we passed it and its support vehicle. Most of the traffic came from the opposite direction, however, we were passed by a red greyhound bus, which flew past off the road at roadworks where the speed limit was 60 km. We were pleased not to be passengers!
We repeated our exercise of swim followed by G & T (Irene's tipple was whisley and coke). There is a brand new dinosaur museum just out of Winton and we booked in for a tour. We heard there would be a street parade to celebrate the pioneer Qantas chaps searching for good sites for landing strips 90 years previously. The T-Model Ford turned up!!!! The jigsaw pieces fell together. The Australian Age of Dinosaurs property was donated by a loval grazier- it is atop a tabletop mountain 12 Km out of Winton and their preparation lab is the largest in the world. We were able to walk through it, talk to the techies, be excited by their latest find, they even used our cameras to photgraph it! We handled Wade's bones and viewed those of Matilda, Clancy and Banjo. It was an inspiring experience. I bought some fossils and postcards (esp for Christos) and promptly left them on the counter, so I am very angry at myself!
Winton to Boulia brought changing landscapes, empty grassy plains as far as the eye could see followed by ranges of eroded. tabletop mountains. We ate lunch at the Hilton - a grass topped shelter in the centre of Middleton. Middleton also has a pub over the road, a telephone booth and a monument. I took one photo of the lot, just to show its grand size.
Boulia had no accessible pool, but the front verandah was a draw card for Irene with her binoculars - there were so many bird varietie she was in bird heaven! Before we left, the van decided to alert us to a flat battery (thank goodness it happened there). Despite the local mechanic being away, we were assisted by the man at the supermarket who "only does tyres". He fixed Irene up with a new battery and our stress levels lowered. We envisaged being caught there for another day or two.
The stonehouse museum was the focus of our attention, because Dick Suter (Dinosaur Dick - it's on his t-shirt, really!) showed us his fabulous display of marine dinosaur bones and the work he is doing. Unfortunately, professional jealousy abounds, and because of his lack of qualifications, Q'land Uni boffins, use his ability to find but do not acknowledge his work otherwise. Silly them!
We also viewed the Min Min Encounter, also worth a visit.
Now we're in Mt Isa for 2 nights - washing, internetting, and a little sight seeing.
Hold on for Chunk 2. Goodness knows when I'll be able to send it. My new phone is the pits, so I don't have much luck contacting that way. Cheers to all, Sue.