Ozzie Road Trip - The prequel

[Mel]

That Australian bustard has a lot in common with the kori!

Entertaining writing! -O

[Lisbeth]

Happy to see, that they are still using horses and not only bikes

[Flutterby]

Sad to hear about all the roadkill!!

Your bustard looks like our bustard! -O

[nan]

wow nice to see cowboy
I love the Brolga Crane
sad to know there is so many road kills

[steamtrainfan]

Very interesting reading and photos, cowboys, cattle and wildlife. What more can one ask for.

[Dewi]

Nice one Mith. Great to see some of your wildlife and the scenery and outback lifestyle pics are interesting.

[Toko]

The Brolga looks elegant (and large )

[Richprins]

Caught up, mith! Astounding, fascinating, unexpected...speechless!

Horrid running out of booze...that's why I always overcater, to put it mildly!

Excellent grammar! I know...but I obsess regarding that!

Looks like SO has an easy road ahead regarding opal gifts!

[mouseinthehouse]

So far the overnight stop at Jericho (Pop. 200?) has been my favourite. Once the sun went down and I finished last night's update, I decided to visit the loo. SO was instructed to accompany me with torch. Got to loo and was startled to see a beautiful green tree frog on the toilet seat.





OK. But then, to my consternation, I realised that both loos had other froggies under the bowl rim, behind the cistern and goodness knows where else!!! Of course completely harmless but disconcerting enough to have me looking around for a tree instead. I also looked up at the rafters; where froggies are in tropical Qld. pythons follow. Did not want a surprise in the shower.
Whilst we scanned around outside with the torch we spotted a precious creature. Not sure exactly what but must be a potoroo or a bettong probably. Essentially a miniature kangaroo of about 40cms in height. Sadly, he/she wouldn't let us get close enough for a pic.

Then whilst I was showering (and I made SO wait outside - in case of hidden pythons you see ) he found this ugly indvidual. The dreaded Cane Toad. An introduced species which is spreading south and wreaking havoc on native critters as it is poisonous.



Took off this morning early again. Scenery was very pretty through the Drummond Ranges. Very green and lush with water in lots of creeks and rivers as they have had a second long summer of very high rainfall. Eventually came into mining country. The mining industry is HUGE in Queensland. We passed many coal trains going to and coming from the port at Gladstone some 600kms away from our overnight stop.



Stopped in Emerald for brunch at an overpriced cafe but it was our first real 'bought' food since leaving home. Seemed to take forever to cover the last 260kms or so to Rockhampton. Very busy road even on a Saturday.
Once we landed in Yeppoon a phone call to number 1 son and we set off to find his house. After a very traumatic month or so he has moved home and into a very upmarket two story home with three other guys (2 of whom are from back home who have just moved to Queensland - childhood school mates). Nice to catch up. SO hadn't seen him for 18 months; me for a year.

Will stay here for 4 or 5 days. Have a powered site at a beachfront caravan park. It is very windy here and the sea stirred up with brown silt and rough. Pfft! Queensland beaches! If son didn't live here I would never stop here. Hideous, crass, over commercialised coastal Queensland. Ghastly. 40 years ago it would have been sublime.

Some pics of the area and whatever we get up to here will follow tomorrow.

[Flutterby]

I suppose a frog on the loo is better than a spider! -O