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Week 7, Day 43
Total: 7901kms, Today: 192km
Just a short leg today as we try to have a day's R&R after a few days free camping. This trip has been delightfully worry-free when it comes to power. We've never had a problem with the batteries since they were replaced, and between the solar panels on the van and the charging from the car's alternator while we're driving there has been sufficient capacity to do everything we need including watching the odd video and recharging all the computer, phone and camera kit.
There had been a lot of birds at the billabong, but most were on the far side and not terribly good for photography.
Just as we were pulling out of the campsite, what should come along but two feeding Brolgas.
Week 7, Day 44
Mt Isa
Total: 8100kms, Today: 0km
Back in Mt Isa and time for resupplying the larder and catching up on what had happened in the world since we left Jabiru nine days ago (no TV or radio at Cooinda) as well as washing (clothes as well as the Cruiser - it was last washed here on our way north!). Distance adjustment above to correspond with odometer reading. I've obviously been missing side trips.
(Lt) What can you see in this photo?
Clouds!! Just about the first time we've seen clouds in weeks.
Hills! Makes a change for the very flat landscapes of eastern Northern Territory coming across the Barkly Tableland.
What can't you see in this photo?
The 20+kt headwind is still there. We have used 25% more fuel from Threeways to Mt Isa than we did going the other way, all due to wind.
(Lt) This is a very dangerous area as you have to beware of the dreaded car-eating cattle
(Rt) You don't want to tangle with these guys either. Mostly they're transporting ore from surrounding mines into Mt Isa for processing.
Week 7, Day 46
Total: 8627kms, Today: 58km
It was thought for a long time that there were no significant dinosaur remains in Australia. However starting with Muttaburrasaurus in the '60s, exploration based in Central Queensland started to reveal that there was a wealth of fossil remains to be found.
In 1999 while mustering sheep on his property Belmont near Winton, David Elliott discovered the fossilised bone of what was, at the time, Australia’s largest dinosaur. This bone was later identified as part of a giant femur from a Cretaceous sauropod that roamed the Winton area 95 million years ago. Move forward 18 years and there is now a huge interest in fossils that are coming to light in this area. One of the best displays is at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs on a 'Jump-Up' 25kms outside Winton. We decided to take the full 3 hour tour.
(A 'Jump-Up' is a local term for a smallish plateau or tableland. In the US this would probably be called a mesa.)
The first stop was the laboratory where the recovered specimens are cleaned, rock is removed from fossil bones and then identified. This is mainly done by volunteers who are trained on site. Most seemed to be retirees.
(Above) While the instruments look like dental drills, they're actually more like miniature jack hammers. The excavations, etc only happen in Winter as it's too hot in Summer.
(Below) How it looks after being excavated and recovered to the lab. This is a couple of dinosaur vertebrae - compare the lighter coloured cow's vertebra below and right of the small photo.
(Rt) This is the lab's 'To Do' list. When the fossils are removed from the ground, they're encased in Plaster of Paris and colour-coded according to the site where they were found. This rack represents about 10 years of future work.
(Below) I'm amazed that something as fragile as leaves can be preserved.
(Above) The main building from the laboratory giving some idea of the area.
(Below) All very civilised outside the main building
(Above) Dinosaur Stampede - Stampeder's viewpoint
(Lt) Death in the billabong
(Below) Dinosaur Stampede - Stampedee's viewpoint
(Above) Main building
(Lt) Nice friendly little mascot at the front entrance.
Its name is 'Banjo' and it's an Australovenator wintonensis
(Below) Somewhere out there are lots more dinosaur fossils
Week 7, Day 47
Total: 8627kms, Today: 288km
Today's trip goes passed one of my favourite places - the QANTAS Founder's Museum in Longreach.
(You didn't think that the two photos from the Darwin Aviation Heritage Centre was going to be the only aircraft shots in the blog, did you?)
If only parking was this convenient when we're actually flying somewhere.
So is this the famous 5 engined B747?
Mr Boeing came up with a method of transporting spare engines by hanging one off a pylon between the inboard port engine and the fuselage. It doesn't actually run in this position.
(Above) Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina representing G-AGIE 'Antares Star' that operated the Perth - Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 'Double Sunrise' service during WWII. Due to weight / fuel considerations, it usually only carried a maximum of 3 passengers and high-importance diplomatic mail. Flight times were between 27 and 32 hours.
It is assumed that someone has yet to move the sign saying that it's a Boeing B707!
(Above) A new addition just arrived. This is a Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation. It will be restored to represent the aircraft operated by QANTAS on the Kangaroo Route to Europe. It had just arrived by boat from the Philippines to Townsville and then by road to Longreach. It is expected restoration will take 2 to 3 years.
The aircraft, which had been grounded in Manila for 25 years, had been used by World Fish and Agriculture Inc to transport fish cargo and had been originally operated by the United States Navy.
Week 7, Day 48
Total: 9128kms, Today: 501km
Just a straight driving day today. At last we have lost the constant headwind we've had for the last 1500kms. We have previously stopped at the Neil Turner Weir at Mitchell, but thought we might try a smaller (and hopefully lesser-known) campsite just a bit further upstream.
Which would you prefer?
(Lt) Overlooking the Maranoa River, or
(Rt) at an undisclosed caravan park where next door's awning is nearly touching our van.
(Lt) Just before sunset.
(Below) Just after sunset
Week 7, Day 49
Mitchell - Home
Total: 10,053kms, Today: 575km
Home!! Back to traffic (all the way in from Toowoomba!), TV, ABC Classic FM, a decent shower with seemingly limitless hot water and a really comfy bed.
It's great to go away, but it's always good to be home!
Thanks for reading this far.
Love,
Chris & Sue
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