Brisbane to Port Augusta

Sunday, September 30, 2012
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Sunday Sept. 30th
We had an early start to the day as we had a 9:30am flight to Brisbane Australia .
The check-in was smooth sailing but secutity was very sticky and Eric lost a lighter as the security guard wouldn't let it go through. Me, I have been having a terrible time as I have to bee patted down each time --don't like it at all.
Arrived in Brisbane about 10:15 am the new time -- there is a 3 hour difference in time and really I don't know what time I'm on anymore with all these time changes.
We got a taxi to the hotel and had to wait about 15 minutes until our room was ready. We got a house-keeping suite which was a surprise so we had lots of room to spread out.
Got a taxi to take us to a mall so we could get a SIM card for my telephone and picked up some food for suppr so we didn't have to eat in a restaurant.
The rest of the day we vegged.

Monday October 1st
This morning is overcast and cool. Ater breakfast where sat ant talked to two delightful ladies who had just returned from a trip to So. America.
We got a taxi to take us to Around Australia to pick our RV which was sitting waiting for us . This prossess takes about 2 hours so I was able to unpack the suitcases which was a big help as all that clutter was out of the way.
Off to the grocery store and it is always so expensive to set up housekeeping at first. I found that food is very expensive here compared to last time.
We got as far as Warwick today and after the rain in Brisbane we had sunshine. Had to do laundry and then supper and an early night. Drove 180kms today.

Tuesday Oct. 2nd
It's a bright sunny morning but still cold.
At Inglewood we crossed into New South Wales from Queensland where it is flat with eucalyptus trees cacti and roadkill.
The sun has warmed things up and then we stopped in Moree, the home of the thermal bathes.
There are spas everywhere and needless to say it was tempting for me.
Had a rest in Narrabi, the Australian Cotton Centre and then stopped for the night in Coonabarabran.
No internet or TV tonight as this will become a problem as we go on farther.
We drove 563kms today.

Wednesday Oct .3rd
Another bright sunny day but cold and we had to use both heaters this morning to warm up the RV.
The terrain is hilly with lots of horse farms and it appears that the sheep have been sheared. It is very very dry as the creeks are bone dry.
We stopped in Gilgandra so I could have a walk and once we left here we are out in flat terrain.
Outside Waren is a cotton mill and the yards are filled with rolls of cotton the size of bales of hay along with sheets the size of tractor trailors. The sides of the road were covered in white fluff that looked like cotton balls everywhere.The cotton fields have moats surrounding them for watering as everthing was lush green. I would have liked to have gone into this place for a tour as I found it fascinating.
Once we stopped in Nyngan we were officially in the Outback of Australia. Here we walked to the chemist to see if we could get anew spring for Eric's insulin pen. They cculdn't help us but gave us some syringes to tied us over until we got to bigger centre.
The road trains are up and running as we forgot how big they really are .
Ariived in Cobar for the night and there is no internet ot TV again.
Drove 397 kms today.

Thursday Oct. 4th.
It is bright and sunny and warmer this morning and got an early start. There lots of goats running along the sides of the road. The terrain is flat, the soil is terracotta red with trees and scrub. The farms here are called stations and are huge reminding me of the ranches out west back home.
There is no petrol for 185 kms and only one truck passes us on this stretch of highway.
Stopped in Emmdale to get gas to get us to Broken Hill for the night as that is the next stop for fuel.Travelling along here reminds me of when we travelled across the Nullobor when we were here the last time.
We stopped in Wilcannia which is mostly inhabitated by aboriginals but the town has some beautiful buildings with unique architecture. The buildings are all made out of the colour of amber stone.
no fruit fly zone and that means that all fruits have to be disposed of which is a pain. We have also entered central time zone so now are clocks go back 30 minutes .
We saw lots of emus wandering along the sides of the road and one hen had her brood with her.
Finally arrived in Broken Hill for the night but before we went to the camp ground we found a chemist for Eric's insulin pen. They were very helpful but couldn't fix the problem. However they gave enough syringes to get us through the rest of our trip and some to spare. We also found out that my phone was okay as Vodophone has satelite connections only in certain areas. Replaces some of our fruit at the grocery store before we got to the campground.
Drove 476 kms today.

Friday Oct. 5th
It's bright, sunny and warm. 
We had to get the pressure in the tires checked but the place didn't open until 8:30 so we had to cool out jets for 45 mins. We drove up to the active silver mine as there is a huge silver mine on the ouskirts of town. The observation area overlooks Broken Hill and we noticed that the buildings are not more than 2 and 3 stories high and the town is spead out over a wide area . The single dwellings look like they have no basements either. The abandoned mine appears to be like a small musuem with some of the equipment out for people to see.
We then went back to get the tires checked as a couple of them were low.
Once outside of Broken Hill the terrain becomes very barren and not much to see as far as the eye can see. We ar now in So. Australia and Australia is brokrn up into 6 states.
We stopped at Olary Spud's Roadhouse where they have live music on Friday nights. We decided to stop at the roadhouses to break up the monotony as it is like driving on the prairies.
Had to get rid of all our fruit and vegetables at Ogdla Wirra -- the security actually came on board to check the fridge and cupboards so it was all disposed of once again. this is getting to be an expensive proposition as food is expensive here.
opped in Peterbourgh for lunch and then we went for a walk. Here the folk pay tribute to all the men who have died in the line of duty while working on the railroad. The last steam engine has been restored and put on display in the town centre along with a band shell.
The terrain outside of Peterbough has changed to hills,green fields and sheep and cattle.
We arrived in Port Augusta about 3:30pm and this is where th Stuart Hwy begins or you start to cross the Nullobor. Today we drove 447kms.
Tonight we are able to buy some internet time.

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Comments

susan
2012-10-10

How fascinating. I am interested to see all your pictures and hear about this part of Australia. I know very little about it, so now I feel like I have an idea of what it is like. Quite the drive from the sound of it.

2025-02-08

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