Outback Adventure - Day 2
06.30
I am sitting on my bunk filling in time as I am scheduled for the first breakfast sitting at 07.00.
I had a mixed sleep in my little bunk. I had to trot down the corridor a few times and I found the airconditioning too cold.. Finally I found a blanket and made the bed up properly . I also opened my blinds and watched the night sky flash by. As there is no light pollution in the bush all the stars look exceptionally bright. I did manage to get a couple of hours sleep. Dawn is just breaking and I am looking forward to a great train ride through the outback. We arrive in Longreach at 14.00, plus delays.
08.15
Back in my cell after a full breakfast - bacon, fried eggs, fried tomatoes, sausages, hash browns and toast.
It is a beautiful morning with a clear blue sky. We are traveling in from the coast and climbing the central divide. I am trying to take photos but the double glazed windows are causing reflections. I will try again later from the club car.
15.00
Arrived in Longreach after an interesting rail journey. After breakfast and clearing the range we went through several changes of scenery and several small towns the most interesting being Barcaldine where the Labour Movement in Australia was formed at a meeting under what is now known as The Tree Of Knowledge. This was poisoned by a vandal some years ago and it remains are on display. We stopped here for a little while to stretch our legs.
19.45
At 16.00 we (a group doing Aussie Outback Tours ) were picked up at our motel to go on the Camden Park Station Sunset Tour. This was a tour of a cattle/sheep station 10Km from Longreach which has been famous for hosting the Queen and prince Philip. It is a really large station which in good times ran 1,000 head of cattle and over 4,000 sheep. The last two years have been drought years and they have had to sell off their stock. They have about a dozen cattle and a similar number of sheep which they are keeping alive by feeding them.
The family keep the station alive using other investments and running tours. They are confident that when the rain returns that so will the profits. The tour covered the cattle yards and sheep shearing pens. The highlight of the trip was the Sunset Nibbles at the damn in the middle of the property. We had drinks and nibbles in a fantastic environment. The pictures give some idea of the size and beauty of the station.
Back at our motel I had a beef curry delivered to my room. It was awful. Luckily I had eaten many nibbles and had a good bottle of wine.
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