Well we survived the trip up to Queensland!


We left Victoria about 10am on Thursday and travelled towards Moulamein, staying at a truck rest stop just outside Hay overnight. It had been bitterly cold all day with drizzly rain and we heard later that there had been unseasonal snow in SA, Vic and NSW that day.  Next day we headed through Goolgowi and Rankin Springs then up to Lake Cargelligo.  After that it was stock routes and dirt roads to Tottenham and on to Warren.

On Sunday morning we went through Coonamble, Pilliga and Burren Junction. I have to say that having not done much driving on dirt roads, my confidence level was not great, especially towing a van.  There were times that I looked behind me and either looked away because it was swaying so much or was surprised that it was still there!!
The corrugations from Burren Junction to Collarenebri were so bad that I sorely regretted my decision that morning not to wear a sports bra! :)

We stayed Sunday night beside the road just outside Mungindi and yesterday we went through Talwood, Westmar and Moonie.  We reached the property about 2.30pm and soon after we set up camp around the shearers quarters.

We've had really long days to get here, on the road as the sun comes up and driving until just before the sun sets.  I posted a photo on facebook showing the dusty road ahead as I followed the chaser bin, saying that this beats an office but the hours are a bitch!  Still, even though I was stiff and sore and more than ready to get out of the truck at the end of the day, it was good to get back on the road the next morning. The trip back will be much easier as we will be stopping in at various properties to work along the way, so when we change properties it should only be a short day's drive not 5 full days in a row.

This morning I'm sitting outside in shorts and tshirt waiting for the next lot of washing to be done. There's a lovely breeze going that will mean all the washing for the week will be dry quickly.  The guys, and girl, have gone off to get the headers washed, greased and put together while it's cooler this morning, then we will probably head off to Goondiwindi to the shops. We need a few more groceries and Bun needs some overalls.

The mother of the farmer here came over last night to say hello and it turns out she sews!!! It sounds like I've landed on my feet here :) I will probably score a ride into Dalby with her tomorrow and she said there's a great quilt shop there, oh joy!! And she said that her fabric stash is embarrassing haha and Bun told her that 'apparently there is no such thing'!
The farmer and his wife have 3 young children, 4, 2 and 16 weeks so I might even get some babysitting time in too. 

I plan to start looking at the instruction manual for the new camera shortly and work out how to use it on manual instead of auto :)

I've been taking photos along the way and plan to put some on here but I seem to be having trouble loading them into blogger.  The service is a bit patchy here so the photos may have to wait until we have some better service.

Bun said he was really pleased with himself as he drove all the way from Victoria to Queensland, it was a goal he'd set for himself.  However I know he will feel more relaxed after Thursday when he's done his first shift in the header and knows more about what he's doing.  The unknown is always more daunting, as I found out this last few days :).  Some days when Jamie (the boss) had to head off to see farmers along the way, I got to be lead vehicle and thankfully it was only when we were on bitumen or when the roads were well sign posted.  Jamie led the way when we were out really bush on stock routes, whew!!

In this little crew, there's Jamie, James (from Ireland, only been in the country for 10 days!), Brooke and Bun and I.  Jamie's dad, Spud and his wife Bev will be turning up with another header and a driver in a couple of days.  They're really nice people and Bun and I have joked already that with Brooke around, we shouldn't miss Callie too much because she's a bit of a clown too :)

That's probably enough for now, I've just tried loading photos again but the bugger won't work for me so you'll just have to put up with reading rather than looking!

Cheers
Anne and Bun