Day 10

Fairly quiet day today. I went over to Yemmy after a lovely hot shower in my motel room and had breakfast. I took the antenna down and stowed it as it didn't work here. I also put the scooter carrier back into place ready for when we leave.

I went for ride on the scooter but had a feeling the batteries were not fully charged so went back to Yemmy and put them on charge. It was drawing about 10amps but the sun was shining and the solar was charging ok.

Here's a couple of pics showing where Yemmy is spending his time,

Sorry no river for you Yemmy!

Not so many steps today as I was a tad tired after yesterdays marathon. Just 2,258 steps

Day 9

With all the events of yesterday I forgot to tell you about the Clermont Caravan Park. I was down the back near the camp kitchen and I doubt the safety of the power outlets. Just a female plug hanging from a post! There was only one water tap and it was already taken - I did disconnect it for a few minutes to fill my water tank.

Definately not ***** rating!

I did quite a lot of walking today 5,493 steps so far. I walked to the laundromat, walked a bit while the clothes were washing and then back to Yemmy. I couldn't get any telly because my antenna is horizontal and it's vertical here so I decided to stay across the road in the motel - the RACV are happy to pay for four nights and if the tyres haven't arrived by Sat morning I just have to ring to extend.

During my walking this morning I saw this sign and I thought Collingwood supporters would like it.

The crockery in my room consists of a cup and saucer and there's a teaspoon. To fill the jug you have to use the cup as the jugs too high to go under the tap. At least the telly works and it looks a nice shower. I had a shower this morning at the RACV depot - I think it must have been bachelors quarters - stuff strewn about all over the place. Empty pizza boxes, etc.  

Apparently you have to ask for milk for the room but I've brought my own. together with my Maccona and raw sugar! I'll go home to Yemmy to have breakfast - a few more steps for my  new exercise routine.

I walked out to Red Rooster and the steps are now: 7,770 and 5.6km. I'm pleased with myself!

Day 8

The day started well enough and I was on the road by just after 9am. The sun was shining. the heater had kept me warm and all was right with the world.

A hill took my fancy so I stopped for a shot.

I had no inkling what that dog Murphy had in store! Suddenly Yemmy became almost uncontrollable and when I stopped I saw why! Yemmy had shredded a rear tyre! (I thought it was one tyre but the villain had done both on that side so no wonder Yemmy had danced a bit!)

Because I'd only thought it was one tyre they sent out a van after a very long wait. When he saw the damage he phoned back to say send a tilt truck. This took another long wait and finally Yemmy was settled down on the tray of the truck.

Murphy hadn't finished! When we got to the piece of spare ground where Yemmy was going to wait for his new tyres he decided he liked it up high and two truck drivers couldn't get him off because the towbar kept digging in - even after my scooter was unloaded. However the boss came and showed them how to do it and Yemmy was in his new home for who knows how many days until the new tyres arrive. So no Smalleys Beach this time! And no lunch with Tony and Denyse on wednesday.

Feeling a little down I walked to Dominos for a pizza. Aha thought Murphy, here's another chance for devilment so he made me drop the box and it landed upside down as was to be expected!

 It tasted OK though! I wonder what tomorrow will bring? No Smalleys Beach this year. No lunch with my friends Tony and Denyse in Mackay on Wednesday. The tyres will take a few days before I'm out of here.

Day 8

Day 7

It hardly seems possible that I've been on the road a whole week and traveled every day.

The roads have been varied from wide smooth two lane ones down to today when for a large part of the time I've been on gravel roads including some smooth ones, some not as good down to rough, stony and badly corrugated tracks!

I didn't deliberately take the gravel roads but missed seeing the warning on the Tom Tom. I thought all was OK when I left Tambo and the road to Alpha was single lane smooth bitumen. Then the gravel started! Yemmy handles it well but it did slow things down. The roadmakers put in little sealed bits to show what it could have been like. It was usually for some dips or twists.

Single lane bitumen was fine

 

......but it soon turned to gravel!

The dust got in so Yemmy needs a bit of cleaning and the smoke alarm did go off once or twice.

They did tell you if the roads were open - it's a pity they didn't say if they were gravel or sealed.

Yemmy clocked about 465km today and I was a bit tired when I got to Clermont so I decided to stay in the caravan park and not to go to Therise Creek Dam as there's no power there and it was going to be cold again tonight.

The park was chokkers and I'm way down the back - almost outside the park but I've filled the water tank and I'm charging everything like the iphone, laptop and mobile broadband device. It cost $30 and there were no discounts!

I've just put the heater on and it will soon be toasty in here. I've found it will work on low setting on the inverter but it draws about 10 amps so it's not practical to use it off power.

Even though I only drove about 100km on day 3 when I stopped at Trangie I've covered 2,687km so far and averaged 384km a day.

I'd love to see some comments from my followers.

Day 6

Did I complain that it was 6 degrees yesterday morning? Today it was just 3 degrees but I still had my quick hot shower - I can face the day better when I've woken up in the shower!

It was again a lovely day for traveling and for the first part there was plenty of live and dead wildlife - lots of emus and I did manage a shot of some.

Unfortunately they blend with the background and it's hard to get a good picture

One poor emu looked lost as his/her mate was dead on the road near it - don't know which was left to grieve.

At about the halfway mark the carnage ceased and there was hardly any

roadkill - don't ask me why it varies so much.

Did I tell you that I joined my neighbors last night around a lovely warm campfire? Dane and Sheryl are from Daylesford - not that far from me.  A nice evening and plenty to talk about.

Today here at Augathella I'm in a big camping area right in the town and alongside the Warrego River but there's no water in it and Yemmy was disappointed. I hadn't been here long when someone called out from the door. It was Bev and her boisterous dog and I'd been neighbours with Graham and Bev at Lake Elphinstone a couple of years ago.

Not so boisterous here!

Before I left Eulo today I took a few pics:

Then when I got here and went for a walk along the sealed path along the river bank I saw this sign and wondered who had to give way to pedestrians as cars and motor bikes are prohibited.

I loved this!

I've managed 3,635 steps - 2.4km today. What a good boy!

Day 5

It was 6 degrees in Yemmy when I woke up this morning but it didn't seem so bad when I saw that had been 2 degrees back home. I was brave and had a shower but I wasn't long dressing afterwards!

Queensland lived up to it's reputation as 'The Sunshine State' and it was a lovely day for driving with clear skies and bright sunshine. I'm at Eulo tonight near the Pardoo River. My site doesn't overlook the water but it's only a little way off. I did a fair walk this afternoon along both banks and it really is a lovely spot. Of course I found people to chat to along the way - one lady -Suzanne by name - had read a lot of my columns and reminded me of a lot of things I'd written about over the years.

Today was road kill day! Mostly kangaroos but a couple of sheep as well  The emus must be clever because although I saw plenty there were no dead ones. The roos were in various stages - the newly killed that the birds hadn't butchered, the gory ones laid out like a macabre feast and the dried up remains from long ago.

This was one of the more recent ones - and the flocks of crows and other carrion hadn't got to it yet.

The crows were so fat and gorged that they had a job to take off when I blasted my horn at them.

I did see one eagle feasting and a few magpies were have a go as well.




I bought some batteries for my little reading light in the supermarket at Brewarrina this morning and the small pack cost $19.30! I was told things were expensive there!

Here's a few pics of the Paroo River.

I've booked in to Smalleys Beach near Mackay from Monday - I could only get four days together and number 6 is not one of my favorite sites but it will be a nice break and I'll probably get to catch up with my friends Tony and Denyse.

Tomorrows destination is a wait and see but it will be about 400km from here.