Cairns to Barcaldine via Longreach

This part of the Blog covers the leaving of the Tropics and travels through the Western Queensland country area taking in Charters Towers, Emerald, Longreach and Barcaldine ( After much local advice the pronunciation is " Baa cold dun " )

However before leaving the coast and tropics we much introduce this fellow we met in Townsville !!

On route to the inland we camped next to this river and to protect the land about 2 km of this retaining wall had been built - you can see the little stream at present turns into a torrent after the rains.

This image looks unremarkable but the apparent scum in the water is in fact coral spawn.

It was full moon the night before and the spawn floated in off the coral reef.




This is in fact our last look of the Coral Sea.

Sad

However we had this terrific waterfall in Townsville to admire.

The houses at the top of the cliff had some view of the ocean as well.

This is another view of Townsville !

Much better than the casino?

This is the traditional Bill a bong at early morning.

As we arrived the Kangaroos moved off.

But the birds returned.

This is a different spot- with the view from our bedroom window.

Whilst this was the dinner setting in the evening.

These two images were in Emerald near their Lagoon.

Water and Birds definitely mix.

Emerald also had this juxtaposition.

Left to right we have

The new road - the old wooden bridge - the walkway when the river is down

and on the far right is the railway bridge

For the lovers of Australian Art.

The local dunny at Jericho

And even the bakery can be interesting as at "Alpha"

This is the view of one of the last "Drive In's" or outdoor cinemas in Australia

Viewed from the screen to the seats

Viewed to the screen

and open once a week at Jericho !

Again for the purest

This is the famous "Tree of knowledge"

( type this in the browser for more)

Unfortunately now deceased

And replaced by this $6M artifact ??

Another place we visited was Longreach no images just a lot of memories of the "Stockman's Hall of Fame" and the "Qantas Museum" both worth the 300Km's to see just these attractions.

Distance Travelled from Perth = 14,042 Km

Number of days on the road = 142