LOVE CENTRAL WEST QUEENSLAND

Wow...we love it out here. Not remote enough for Joe yet I think. The countryside is beautiful and so very vast. We cannot wait to see more of it and go further inland.
It has been very cold of late. The lowest so far is 1.3 degrees overnight, but the days have been sunny and warm. Luckily it is starting to get a bit warmer of a night now. Its 16 degrees at the moment at 8.45 pm (heatwave!)

We arrived at Baracldine on Thursday and loved the town immediately. It has a really nice feel to it and has that true outback town look about it. Big old pubs with big verandahs, shops with character and a fabulous bakery. Oh yes, the bakery does make the best pies.
We camped at Lloyd Joes Weir, about 14 kms from town. Its a very popular spot with not a lot of room, so vans are somewhat cramped and without a lot of privacy. On the upside the toilet facility is great and very clean and well kept. There are numerous tracks to explore and heaps of kangaroos, so letting Diva off for a free run wasn't an option at all here. She might never come back with so many hoppy roo to chase. We have a 3 metre long lead for these occassions.

Camp at Lloyd Jones Weir (fifth wheeler in the background)

We met up with some people Bev and Kev had previously met. Jane and Keven are from Hobart but now live permanently on the road in their HUGE fifth wheeler. It is very nice but way too big for us. Couldn't have a campfire here because of where we had to camp and we missed it with the cold nights but we coped. There is no tv reception, limited phone and no internet reception. Caught up on our reading instead.

Grave outside the toilet block - haha

On Friday we went into Barcaldine and enjoyed a few hours at the campdraft. What a huge event! It was awesome. There are over 1000 entries and runs over three days. Huge fifth wheeler floats, horse trucks, cattle trucks, campers and horse floats everywhere. The most gorgeous of stock horses in their pens or tied to floats. I got very envious I must admit and really, really was missing riding. Still, it was great to watch such skilled horses and riders and I got some nice photos of them in action. Also of a really cute puppy that took a liking to a xxxx can.  Bit young to drink!

After the campdraft we had a look at the Tree Of Knowledge, The Workers Heritage Centre and a bit of a look about the town. There is a lot of history here and very well presented for the tourists.  Oh, and had another pie at the bakery - soooo naughty!!  It is quite a historic place and one that we like very much.

The historic Tree of Knowledge

One of the five pubs at Barcaldine

Cutting horse sculpture outside the Aquatic Centre at Blackall

Saturday we left Barcaldine and headed to Blackall.  There was so much roadkill! And they reckon there is heaps in Tassie. Not a patch on this stretch of road. Nearly every 50-100 metres there was a body or evidence of a kill. Blackall is another historic town with lots of country character. This town is a little bit of an oasis. There are lots of trees, grass and parks. The campground is large, roomy and on the banks of the Barcoo River. Was very nice to have privacy again and lots of room for Diva to run around. Liked this campground very much. Costs $5 per vehicle per night. No facilities. Quite a few other vans here but its so big that everyone can spread out and have their own space. I still can't get over how many vans are travelling up here. Nearly every vehicle on the road is towing a van or camper trailer. And the caravan parks are all full. Lucky we don't like camping in caravan parks much.

Sculpture at the campground

Sunday we drove around the town and looked at the lovely buildings and tourist attractions - Jackie Howe statue, The Black Stump, The Wool Scourer, various sculptures and the graveyard.

This display of old saddlery is in someones front yard

Emus on the outskirts of town

The historic Black Stump

Statue of Jackie Howe the famous shearer

After lunch back at camp we went to the Artesian spa and pool. OMG how good was that! The water for the whole town comes from an artesian bore and the bore also supplies the pool and heats it as well. It was so nice and warm at 28 degrees and the spa was a lovely toasty 40 degrees. Soooo relaxing. We all enjoyed a lovely long swim and spa. The pool is a 50 metre pool and the spa can fit about 8 people.  I didn't think Joe was every going to get out! We are leaving Blackall tomorrow and moving on to Isisford.

The grave of Roy Dunne who jumped a goat over a 3 foot fence

Enjoying the artesian spa