From Darling Downs to Gorgeous Gorge

Trawling Through Central Queenland

We're camping in the National Park at the entrance to the spectacular Carnarvon Gorge but there is no telephone access and very poor wifi so this is  just a wee update of our trip from Kingy to the Gorge. More pics of the Gorge to bore you silly with the next post. Below is a sneak preview!

Jubilant Jeni in the Gorgeous Gorge

We finally left Kingscliff on Tuesday July 21 and have since almost doubled our nights spent in the van. We can now say we are seasoned campers - not. We are still learning to pick the best spots to set up camp. The first night at Dalby was interesting. A horse paddock between us and the grain terminal, wheat silos and sale yards. We drifted off to sleep with the sweet smell of cow manure in our nostrils and the hearty thrum of road trains in our ears.

 Garry says there are worse places to come! Bring 'em on.

Lunch at Bowenville between Toowoomba and Dalby proved a real treat though. What a delightful sleepy little town: four houses, a pub - onesies party there tonight (oops too late) - post office cum general store and that's about it. Garry had fun with the old railway hoist.

And I loved this item written by a journalist in 1877 for The Queenslander about the

Bowenville Quarry. Why don't we write like this today? "Chaste and salubrious" indeed.

This chaste and salubrious spot is the abode of about 120 navvies, who reside with a light accompaniment of wives and families, chiefly in tents pitched with manly freedom and noble defiance of system, all about the place. All these men are employed in quarrying balast and they have opened up a splendid face exceeding a hundred yards in length ....

En route from Dalby to to Roma we called in to Jimbour Station and were mightily impressed by the magnificent sandstone mansion built in 1874 (tip from Kenny Wagonmaster - thanks Kenny). The open air Opera at Jimbour Manor was playing tonight but alas we had to move on.

Kenny also told us about the start of the Dingo Fence which begins at Jandowae (near Jimbour), runs through NSW and ends in South Australia. We had to check it out. Garry obliged and did a few impersonations of a dingo - as only Garry would.

Then to Roma Showground for an overnighter before Carnarvon National Park. Not much to report from there but a few pics of interest - maybe.

This is what happens when you don't pay your site fees :)

A Jack Russell/Terrier called Chucker was quick to make our acquaintance and received some delicious morsels from the Gaz Man. He (Chucker) had the best manners. We were tempted to spirit him away but his owner turned up. Damn. 

Entering road train country. The weally weally big suckers are yet to come.