12/05/2025
On the road again.......
So after many months in Darwin and travelling back and forth to Brisbane by plane, Mic & Jess have sold their home and I bid farewell to my Brisbane sanctuary of the last 3 odd years.
Summary because it's all bits and pieces to this point.
Left Brisbane 25th April and went to Gold Coast (initially this was to be for the long weekend but bad weather made for a single night trip instead).
ANZAC Day - return to Brisbane but need to stay another day to pick up some things from Jayco. Worked out well as packing up last bits and pieces took longer than expected.
Early start Saturday ends up a wash - have a 6am tip run but tip was not yet open (ended up taking to farm) and the charity shop is not open for the long weekend and I needed an open shop to drop off all the crockery and glasses, containers and misc other kitchen stuff.
Finally ready to go - no way to connect the trailer as the shackles had been given to a friend and I had forgotten to replace them. Off to Bunnings - luckily I went to put them on the MU-X before I left the store - too big - back inside and swap out for smaller ones.
Off by 2pm but thought I would avoid the worst of the road into the property and got lost. Finally arrived at the farm around 6. Not the best start.
Everyone else headed off on Sunday but Sue and David were gracious enough to allow me to stay until Tuesday - this gives me a chance to stow everything away and get sorted out.
Tuesday morning, allocations completed, calls made and ready to head off. The plan - to leave around 12. Except I now have a new jockey wheel (Mic had put it on when he first got up there) but it has been wet and the wheel has sunk into the ground and with any weight on it you can't lift or swivel it. 1 hour and 51 minutes later I work out a way to get this sorted and I am on my way to Jandaryan to my sister (Sue) & husband (Rons) farm to stay for a couple of days.
This is where the wheels somewhat fall off.
I have no RHS indicator and my camera (replacing my rear vision mirror) is not working.
Once at my sisters place I organise to see the Auto Electrician in Dalby (the earliest day is Tuesday May 6).
Change of plans.
Leave Sue & Ron on Thursday (leaving Mumbles at the farm) and head up to Chinchilla to see Chris before she heads off on a long weekend. I will look after the dog and house in her absence and will head back to Sue & Rons on Monday with the aim of being in Dalby by 2pm on Tuesday.
At least that went well.
Tuesday morning - Good morning preparing to go and met Sue for lunch in Dalby before heading over to the Auto Electrician who tells me that the display unit needs to be replaced - around $2500 but will be at least a week maybe two before he would have the part. Need to head off and will organise in Darwin.
Back to Chinchilla and another night with Chris and the kids before Chris takes the car and Mumbles to work to give the car a good service (lots of long weekends made it nearly impossible to get done in Brisbane). Did I mention that Chris (F) is an apprentice Diesel Mechanic and she had arranged to get the car serviced for me on the Wednesday morning (Chinchilla Mechanical and Restorations - highly recommended - the mileage has improved soooo much).
Travelled to the Mucka Pub (350ish km) to stay overnight ($25/powered site) and am very proud that I was able to confidently back Mumbles in between two vehicles and was pretty much straight - it was at the back end of dusk and no camera - stoked.
Thursday morning (8/5) contacted Longreach Auto Electrical about the camera and indicator. Got an appointment for 12ish Friday and he suggested I travel to Blackall (4.5 hours) leaving only 2.5 hours to travel on Friday. Took his advise and stayed at the Barcoo Riverside Donation Camp ($10) with toilets and showers (although a little bit of a walk).
Got to the auto electrician on Friday (9/5) at 11.30, spoke with him about the problems and went into town (a whole two blocks away) for lunch. He calls me 90 minutes later. Everything is fixed. Nothing wrong with the unit except for a broken wire in the aerial (which he replaced). Cost $129.60.
So now the trip really begins.
Stayed 200km south of Cloncurry on Friday night at a rest stop. Simple / basic set up and headed off to Cloncurry in the morning to top up the water, fuel and a few groceries before heading out to the Clem Walton Park (Dam) - pics are included. *****
This is my third time here and I had hoped with all the rain in the area the water would be up but not to be the case. Midgees are a pain as they breed in the grass that is normally under water but other than that it is wonderful.
With luck and enough water on board I will head off next Monday to Camooweal Billabong for an overnight stay before heading across the Barkley - no time limits, no rush, enough time to go off the main roads and look at some of the sights.
Now it's all caught up.
Going outside now to take some photos and bring the washing in.
It's all about the bucket list. Michael and Morris didn't get to see everything so it's up to me.
