At last - back on the road!!

So great to be back travelling again, although takes a while to get back into the routine of hitching on/ setting up - seemed to miss a couple of steps for a few days.  Hels is ecstatic to be on the road again and can finally sleep lying down!!

Left Burleigh Heads after needing to have mixer tap in shower fixed and travelled through Canungra, Beaudesert, Boonah, Aratula and onto Warrick where we stayed at Rose City Caravan Park.  Small park but OK for a night although in the morning had a massive job trying to clean bird poo off the cruiser!!  Continued to Inglewood, Goondiwindi then onto Nindigully Pub where we stayed the night. Decided to have a meal at the Pub but bit disappointed as selection was minimal and cost was high - perhaps that explained why we were one of only 3 couples dining when 30 odd vans stayed the night!

Sunrise over some campers at Nindigully Pub

Nindigully Pub

Departed next day to St George then onto Bollon where we stayed at a free camp by Wallam Creek, with a walking track into town. Was a lovely camp spot -very popular and also provided a beautiful sunset.

The Bollon overnight camp is next to the cemetary and this night provided a great sunset.

Main street of Bollon and the pub at sunrise 

This sunset was exceptional, so nice to be back on the road.

Drove along Balonne Highway to Cunnamulla where we called into the Information Centre and were warmly greeted and given lots of information about the area.  On our journey towards Eulo, we encountered heaps of Emus and the countryside was quite green in patches due to recent rains. Camped at 5 mile Waterhole approx 10km SW Eulo on the Paroo River - great spot and even better we had it to ourselves!!

Camped at 5 mile Waterhole just out from Eulo - living life outdoors again ;)

Helen decided it looked like rain and Hels insisted we had to get out of the area due to clay surface, so had an early start to the day!  En route to Eulo we came across some Brolgas, then after having a look around the town, headed towards Thargominda.  We turned off before Thargominda on the Bullo Development Road to Yowah.

Brolgas

Hels trying to show how good the arm is now by measuring the road width - lucky outback Qld roads are only one lane!!

Yowah - the town and surrounds is one of Australia's famous opal mining areas and is known for it's unique and distinctive matrix opal and much sought after "Yowah Nut" opal. After settling into Caravan Park went for a walk around the town but everything was shut due to a Town Meeting!  After enjoying Happy Hour with a group from Sunshine Coast, booked into a Town Tour on their recommendation.

Yowah Artesian Bore, sunk in1911 to a depth of 1468 ft (447m)

Artesian Baths at Caravan Park - had to give them a shot, note no roof so you can have a million star bath!

Colin picked us up the next morning and drove around the mine area, viewing various claims.  His commentary was both entertaining and informative.  The tour ended at his mine, where he guided us underground viewing opal lines (seams).  We were then treated to tea and scones and wonderful hospitality from Colin and his wife Georgina. Unfortunately Colin and Georgina lost everything in the Victoria Black Saturday Bushfires (2009).  Had a great few hours chatting and having a few laughs as both Colin and Georgina had a great sense of humour.

Colin showing us through his mine

One of Colin's sample stones - Yowah Nut opal

The tour provided scones and coffee - great that Helen does not like scones and I had to have her share!