July 31st..DAY 45

Black headed Python (NB John's shadow) 

Yes, the highlight of our day was the sighting of a Black headed Python. I was able to identify it quite easily as the description was perfect...stripes on body with a black head,  1.5 metres long (or longer). Luckily non venomous. The body was as thick as my forearm. It was crossing the road so John was able to photograph it easily.

Our drive through very dry country was uninspiring. The area is suffering from drought with little feed or water for the few cattle we saw. The roads were quite 'boney' as well..both bitumen and gravel are rough.
Unfortunately we were unable to get into the Goodedeulla National Park from the western side. We gave up when we found an attractive camping spot mid afternoon. The sandy beaches of the Mackenzie River are proving very suitable for a fire so we will have a camp oven meal this evening.

June sitting on a root of a huge old Melaleuca tree

July 30th...DAY  44

Bridge over the dam wall of Fairburn Dam

We slept well beside the noise of the running water of the Nogoa River. The quiet bush camp was very enjoyable.






The Fairburn Dam  formed when the Nogoa River was dammed. We went out to see this huge expanse of water and drove over the spectacular bridge.
I had made arrangements to visit a school friend of Cynthia's from Melbourne Grammar days. Tanya came home with Cynthia for a weekend break in about 1985. Her home was in Darwin. I had only met Tanya once, she lives in Emerald now, with her husband Daniel and 2 children. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting them as they are a lovely young couple. Tanya and I did wish Cynthia was with us today to catch - up some of the years.

June with Cynthia's school friend..Tanya

We lunched in Emerald and drove north east to this historic reserve. It is the site where the township of Lilyvale was set up in 1862. It is a wide bare area with picnic facilities and a large pond which is home to several tortoises we saw in the murky waters.

It has actually been a very short driving day but tomorrow will be different I expect as we head toward Rockhampton.

Sorghum crops and Mandarin orchards are two of the main  pursuits around Emerald except for the huge The Crinum and Gregory coal mines are quite near here. We can hear the machinery constantly in the background..it will certainly operate all night.

July 29th...DAY 43

Serenity

Another bright morning of clear skies. Peter and Di left Theresa Creek dam about 7.30 am on the  final leg to Airlie Beach.
After having a walk around this large dry camping area we headed south through barren undulating country. The cattle we saw were, sadly, in a very poor condition.

Points of most interest were Rubyvale and then Sapphire which are a little way north of Emerald. From the names of these settlements you will guess we are in the middle of 'gem stone' country. John and I would not have the interest or patience to look for gems. Living conditions overall are poor with shanties, sheds and old caravans a common sight.

The line of the Tropic of Capricorn

We lunched very near the Tropic of Capricorn sign which is actually runs between Rubyvale and Sapphire.







Tonight we have camped on the banks of the Nogoa River.. where it runs through a camping property called 'Higher Ground'. It is a lovely bush aspect and makes a change from the busy camps we have been in.

Nogoa River goes on to flow through Emerald

July 28th...DAY 42

Before Sunrise at Mt Elphinstone

Fish for breakfast 

Lake Elphinstone was really beautiful this morning with quite a frenzy of birds enjoying breakfast in fact.

We continued south through very dry country and eventually came through  some very busy mining areas.
Everything was big...mullock heaps, trucks, earth movers, trains transporting coal and even the accommodation villages. Broadlea Coal mine, Millinium mine, Coppabella mine, Peak Downs and Blair Athol to name a few of the coal mines we drove passed.

We had made an arrangement to meet Peter & Di Smith on their way north as we travel south. We met at Cleremont. What a fun night the 4 of us had camping at Theresa Creek Dam where there were many other people camping ..probably over 150 rigs
Sausages were cooked and eaten as well as some wine enjoyed. The evening became quite chilly so a late night at 9.30 pm!

Rainbow Lorikeet

July 27th...DAY 41

Yes we are moving south, in fact we drove over 300 km today and the weather has been very warm 30 deg. We will notice the winter cold when we reach Victoria. Here where we are camped this evening it is much cooler though. Lake Elphinstone appears to be a man made lake and the camping area is extensive. We have a spot near the shore where we can see the birds..pelicans, swans and ducks..even some domestic ducks which are annoying some campers.

We travelled south to Bowen where a Navy boat was in the port. The market gardens around the Bowen area are extensive..tomatoes, capsicums, chilies, strawberries and corn to mention a few.
The country was very dry SW of Bowen with few cattle and dry creeks. At one point a dingo dived out of the grass to cross the road. He looked to be a healthy fellow and quickly turned back.

There are extensive coal mines with huge mullock heaps. We noted heavy trucks on the road and a double rail line which no doubt carries coal. We went by the Sonoma Coal Mine and the Newlands Coal Mine. Glenden is a typical mining town with many houses the same....Little boxes..little boxes as in the song of years ago!!

Foreshore of Lake Elphinstone

One of many swans!

July 26th... DAY ..40

 I was more than pleased to leave Cocoa Creek with so many sand flies and mosquitoes. Some bites have become very swollen and very itchy. The tide was in but no sign of crocodiles.

Travelling took us through many sugar plantations. ..another processing mill and more train carriages loaded with harvested sugar. Where is all the sugar sold? There seems so much produced.

A beautiful hibiscus flower

We stopped to buy fish from a wayside shop and the owner told us about the Burdekin Show which was on in Ayre. John spent 1.5 hours there looking at old engines which seemed to be the highlight of the day.
I spent quiet time under the shade of a tree.

We have come off the Bruce Highway south of Ayre into a fishing camp Molongle Creek. It is the point of access for Upstart National Park. This park can only be accessed by boat. Needless to say we are on the mainland tonight. Molongle Creek is tidal and there are many fishing enthusiasts camped. In fact we joined in with a
 pre dinner 'sing song' for an hour. The leader was a clever musician and vocalist who sang all the 'old' songs, many of which John and I danced to in the 1960s.

Mangroves along Molongle Creek

July 25th....DAY 39

White trunks of the Poplar Gum as we walked along Alligator Creek

The morning dawned fine, thankfully and still very warm. We walked along Alligator Creek for an hour, then slowly tidied the rig ready for a short move to another site in the Bowling Green NP.
Cocoa Creek is quite wild as we drove in to the camp sites.  There are eucalypt trees and palms as well as long dry grass. In fact I find Cocoa Creek itself quite 'ominous' looking. It has steep muddy banks and the water is lined with mangrove trees. My imagination runs wild when I walk close to edge..every shape is a 'crocodile shape'. There are sand flies and mosquitoes so it is not the best place we have chosen to camp at.

Cocoa creek lined with Mangroves

I have had a new experience today and that is taping a cut with 'steri strips'. John slipped on rocks this morning and  cut his elbow.