Thursday, September 10, 2009

Longreach to Winton

Hi All, this is our Longreach week, we had to stay a bit longer as the awuning broke & we had to wait for Jayco to send the part a gear was the first thing but not the problem, ours was the endcap of the roller had developed a round hole instead of having a flat inside so we then had to wait again. We found Longreach hot, hot, dusty, and after 12 days a bit much as we had had enough of the weather. We had plenty of people parking beside us Buses, jayco motor homes (he was not a happy man with his), Swagman 
motor home (rented) and a couple form WA that done their own conversion. 

Longreach sits on the Tropic of Capricorn, we found the marker near the council offices whilst getting our mail form the post office. The mail contained the part to fix the awaning that stopped rolling in or out. 
Ian fixing the motor on the awaning, he needed a higher step ladder, so he used the back of the truck. Just the right height for a work bench/ladder.
Whilst driving around Longreach we crossed the Thomson River, great new bridge with fishing & camping spots all a long. We went looking for the bushranger's lookout but a bit hot to drive that far.
We visited the Isis Downs wool shed some of the wildlife along the road side. 
Above is our first Brolga it had friends with it. Below the Wedge Tail Eagle that let me photograph it.
Lots of cattle at the water points along the road. Not a lot of feed as it was very dry.
At Isis Downs there were a lot of cattle not sheep, but one very unusual wool shed it is 1/2 circle with the stands on the outer edge, very interesting roof construction.


Meters at the Power House, Longreach's original power supply before going on the state grid.
The tour of the Distance Education School was very informative, we listened to 6 years old's having a lesson on the air with their teacher. Must be very hard for the parents to run their property's & school the children. 
Longreach has a very pretty railway station.
We visited the Qantas Museum and had a tour of the planes. Ian leaving the 707 neat little plane.
Us on the wing walk of the 747, this was fun. We got to tour more of the inside of the 747 on this tour. Ian meet a work colleage form years ago. So we had drinks & chat back at the van with Mike & Norma Norris. 

We also went to the Stockmans Hall of Fame, boy this was a full day so much reading & things to look at, we watch the outside display before going inside.