Bedford Weir

Man, I’m over the ‘big smoke’. As nice as Rocky is, I feel like a caged lion, freedom on the road only days away. So to fill in time, I decided to paint the weekend away and renaissance the bathroom. A tad less daunting than the kitchen, but apart from another tin of undercoat, I used the leftover paint from Stage 1(and there was plenty left). It certainly gives the bathroom a lift and now it looks more warm and spacious.

The last day was a spendathon, meat and veg, stocking up on non-perishables, fuel and even a haircut. Ken arrived back from his grand daughter’s ‘My Big Fat Greek Christening’ in Sydney and opted to hang around an extra day. Given the trials and tribulations of his next 24 hours, it turned out to be a prescient move. I on the other hand, had no such qualms and left Rocky behind the next morning for and easy run to Duaringa, about 100 klms west.

A dot on the map, Duaringa punches well above it’s wait for facilities and recreation options. A 48 free camp (donation) with hot showers, an exercise circuit and even a golf course, which, with it’s baked hard fairways and lack of hazards, would have been a hacker’s delight. Unfortunately, no score cards and no-buggies. Still a delight to walk around.

‘Someone’ was supposed to join me here the next morning for our drive to Blackwater. But ‘someone’ forgot to fully release his handbrake and, on his first 100klm walk around check (who DOES that?), burned his hand on a van wheel hub cap. Not knowing his error, time was lost looking a mechanic, who no doubt found what(who) the problem was.

So following his initial frantic phone call, we agreed to meet at Blackwater. I had my own minor inconvenience to sort out, a corroded wire prevented my fridge cooling fans from working. It ended up being a thirty minute job, with a couple of connections replaced or upgraded, but at an hourly rate (or part thereof) of $143.50, no change out of $200.00. Still no Ken, so I headed out to Bedford Weir, an oasis sandwiched between the vast coal pits and man-made mountains that pockmark the landscape.

Now, THIS is more like it. A respectable distance out of Blackwater and apart from no internet, ticks all the boxes. Ken arrived an hour later and set up adjacent. We’d barely settled into our coffee, when we had some unexpected visitors. First it was a flock of guinea fowl that waddled out of the bush to pick around the campsite. Then, the peacocks arrived. Firstly, the females, who proceeded to chase the guinea fowl around and then the males made their entrance.

It was a quiet first night, but tonight, it’s a fire, camp oven lamb shanks, a fine red, good company and sleeping under the warm blanket of the outback. We’ll chill here for two-three days and then head to Emerald and Sapphire to make our fossicking fortune – maybe.