146 - Heading west

I am miles behind in my blogging. At the time of writing this we are at Cloncurry, far western Queensland country.

Geraldine, Peter and the Bride

Anyway after we left the Goldie it was up to see our great mates Peter and Geraldine. We overnighted at their house at Bribie Island. On the Sunday it was off on our new adventure with the first stop being Woodford Retreat.

Now Woodford Retreat is a new venture for the owner Allan. Our regular readers will know we enjoy a very natural way of life, so an opportunity to enjoy a couple of days was definately a good choice.


Woodford is only about half an hour from Bribie Island, however a real neat little town. You would swear you were a million miles from the big smoke of Brisvegas.

Peeky Boo

We settled on a couple of nights, and being a new retreat we had the place all to ourselves. After our first night we wandered into town, and like all these places they really have a quaint atmosphere. We were familiar with Woodford, as in our very early posts we managed a motel at Kilkoy which is a half hour further west. However when we were at Kilkoy, the retreat at Woodford wasn't there.

This is a photo for Red Nomad Oz

A fantastic bush shower.

We wandered into Woodford for a squiz around as you do. As I said earlier we have been through Woodford a million times, however this time we wandered the main street, and of course visited the pub.

The bride in the main street of Woodford.

Great atmoshere at the Woodford Pub

Get outa there

After a couple days at Woodford we then headed for Chincilla. It was a straight forward trip, however the Black Butt range was a challenge. Last years floods wiped out part of the range road and hence, one lane is only available up and down, so like all road works it is controlled by traffic lights. We got up the range okay, heading to Dalby. 

Dalby of course is not new to us as we opened a new motel there in 2003. However like all these places the mining boom has taken hold and she (Dalby) is not the lovely little cotton town she used to be. So we passed through Dalby, and headed for the free camp at Chincilla Weir. What attracted the bride especially was there was power......first in best dressed.  

So we arrived in Chinchilla and went straight to the information centre. Got the low down on the free camp, filled up with water and off we went.

Note the good look'n attire

Chinchilla Info Centre

Chinchilla Weir

Late afternoon at the weir

The shower ensuite off the back of the RetroLiner

All hooked up and ready to go........next destination Mitchell

We met some great characters at the weir, and attended the Anzac Day service. After two nights we decided it was time to hit the frog and toad, so our next destination was to be Mitchell. Again a long haul, but everything felt good, the RetroLiner was towing well the Val was purring away so lets keep on going.

Although we have done the leg from Brisvegas to Mt. Isa before, we have been to Mitchell as well. I was really keen to go to the free camp at the weir at Mitchell, however the Major Mithell CP won out. We have been to the Major Mitchell before and is a really cool place. However with the floods in January, basicaslly the town has been decimated by this event. Although the CP is on the eastern side of the river, and is a bit higher than the town proper, it still copped it's fair share of flood damage, however not all that noticeable. However what was sad was the town itself. You really can't describe it any more than a ghost town.

For those who have been to Mitchell before, will know about the Artesion Spa......now closed. The pink pub....now closed. The main bride only one lane....no pedestrian access. The walkway under the bridge to the town from the CP......gone. The murals on the pylons on the bride....all but rubbed away.

So it was quite sad, however us being us, met a heap of people, to mention a few namely, Merrily and hubby, Angry A, John and Norella, Peter and Teena. So what do you do with a group of new friends.....have an extra long happy of course. 

For what ever reason didn't take any photos.

Next blog......Charleville & Blackall

Stay toooooooooooooed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!