Northern Exposure, Part 3 – Captains Log
We finally got to the thermal pool at St George and we were the only ones in it – it was an Ok temperature but not much deeper than a bath at home. From St George we travelled up...
We finally got to the thermal pool at St George and we were the only ones in it – it was an Ok temperature but not much deeper than a bath at home. From St George we travelled up some back roads to Roma where we filled up the car at $2.21 per litre of diesel. It seems in Queensland that there is a virtual line running up the middle where fuel on one side is a lot cheaper than on the western side.
Heading out to Mitchell we overnighted at Muckadilla at their donation camp (complete with hot showers and flushing toilets). A walk around the small town and found the war memorial site with it’s reflections of a long-term resident who apparently was the most decorated soldier in Australia’s history and all of those who served from the area.
Into Mitchel for a few nights at the artesian pool. We got the bikes off and had a few rides around the town. We could have stayed with the 50 plus vans in the donation camp however we chose the caravan park with very few people in it along with its very reasonable cost. Fuel at Mitchell was $2.499. We packed up and thought about heading further west to Charleville, but fuel out there was between $2.75 and $2.90 and other areas around were just as bad. Which would make travelling costs about 60 cents per kilometre.
We decided not to continue west and went 50ks north to a farm stay near the Carnarvon Ranges. Claravale has been in the same family since 1890 and is 32000 acres in size. Gill and Eunice are the 5th generation, and are running cattle on 20000 acres leaving the rest to the trees. $25 is the cost per night and includes power and a sit around the fire at night, which on our first night was as clear as crystal – many stars and satellites over head that evening. The next day Gill took us around the property while he was checking on the water levels for the stock and giving us the history and geology of the land. The camping area has a pet horse – Chester who is very gentle and keen to know you.
Where to next – does anyone have ideas?
Photo placeholders — the original Facebook post included 41 photos that were not in the spreadsheet export. Add them in Admin → Blog.