78 - Longreach / Barcaldine

Left Winton after a night of heavy rain. Everything was boggy & sloppy, due to the grounds of the caravan park being all clay.

We had intentions of staying at Longreach, however as the Val was puring along and the air temperature was quite cool, we reached Longreach quite refreshed. So it was decided to push on to Barcaldine.

We have been to Longreach before, so it was no big deal to stay anyway....and we have done the Stockmans Hall Of Fame, however promised ourselves a tour of the Qantas Museum.

Had a look at the prices to do the various tours......stuff that!!!!!!!!. There was a charge for the museum, a charge for the 747 tour, a charge for the 707 tour, and a further charge to walk on the wing of the 747. Get a life!!!!

So just took some pikkies.

An early DC3

Boeing 747

Boeing 707

The back end of two mighty units

We moved onto Barcaldine and headed straight to the caravan park. Un hooked and then wandered into town as we do. Barcy as it is know to the locals, is a neat town. A million pubs and motels, but very spread out.

Barcy also is the home of the Tree Of Knowledge. A fair bit of history associated with the tree. I will let one of the pikkies tell you the story.

In my opinion, it is an eyesore. I did remember a lot of controversy associated with the building of this memorial. You can make up your own mind here

Tree Of Knowledge Memorial.

The dead tree of knowledge

Another view

This is the memorial.....make up your own mind

A bit more on Barcy

Hope I get some knowledge, I definitely need a bit

Here we are at Barcaldine Tourist park

With all the heavy rain in the outback, we just made it across Lagoon Creek which is the western approach/ departure to Barcy. When we came in the creek was lapping at the edge of the road. With another batch of storms and rain the first night we were there, have a look at what happened at Lagoon Creek.

This is the Lagoon Creek crossing after a night of heavy rain

The Val & RetroLiner would have drowned!!!!!!

As we were heading east, we were assured of a clear road to Emerald. So off we went with heart in mouth, however only being caight up in a couple of water over road areas, which didn't bother us to much.

So into Alpha, then headed towards Emerald, however took a left turn to see what Saphire and Rubyvale was all about. Well been there done that. Stayed overnight in the Rubyvale caravan park, then headed accross to Capella. So we actually missed Emerald altogether.

More on Clermont Morabah & Sariina sooooon!!!