Wow, Longreach has so much to offer. We arrived early and set up at a free camp site just out of town. Toilets but no shower. It is hot and the first night was particularly hot and I couldnt sleep.

The following morning we took the caravan into town as we had to do some work on the wheel bearings on the caravan. After repairs were done, we took the van back to the site and relocated. Off to town again, we walked the main street. The bakery beckoned us in and we all had coffee and lunch, yum. Water and food restocked we drove back to the van, changed and went back to the swimming pool for a swim and a shower. Oh the shower was soo good!

There is a lot of outback history here in Longreach. They have the Stockmans Hall of Fame, Kinnon and Co run Cobb and Co stage coach gallop through the bush, Qantas has its founders museum, there is a powerhouse museum, School of Isolated and Distance Education run tours (two of our grandies do this schooling in WA), and more that I cant remember at the moment.

We did the gallop through the bush in the stage coach and it was fantastic! Allen and I sat at the back on the top of the coach, the gallop goes for 300 metres and was sooo much fun. The coach goes for much longer of course but the gallop is only 300 metres. We then come back to the outback set up in town, had a lovely morning tea, watched an old movie and then saw a live show......all in the same tour! What a day!

Our next adventure was to take a paddle wheeler up the Thomson River. We booked a night trip which picked us up at the free camp site. First was nibblies on board, BYO drinks, and a tour of the river to see the sun set. Back on dry land we were entertained by Scottie who tells many a yarn with a great deal of humor. A huge pot of stew is dinner for 48 and few me - quiche and veges. Dessert was apple pie with cream and custard. After dinner we walk to the river edge where a huge screen has been set up with trees and the river lit around it. A film telling a story of stockman in the area was shown and the surround sound was amazing. After the movie we had supper, billy tea and damper (damper wasnt real damper - more like friut damper). What a wonderful night, what a wonderful experience.

Allen toured the Stockmans Hall of Fame and went to a show and dinner at the Cattlemens Grill.....I didnt go - I stayed home with Sandi.

Al and I toured the Longreach School of Distance Education and have a much better understanding of outback schooling which two of our grandkids are involved in in WA. We were very impressed with the whole system, the kids are much further ahead when they go off into further education. I dont know if it is the schooling or the parenting the country kids get, maybe both I think. We took photos of a project the kids sumitted called 'indestructables' one of animals and the other flowers. We were so impressed....the kids use their own imagination as they dont have other kids to get ideas from or compare. They bring the projects in when they can.

We were about to organise ourselves to move on when we heard there was an Elvis show in town! Not going to miss that! So we stayed for the dinner and show. We went to dinner and the show at the Woolshed Cafe, it was pretty ordinary but we had a good time anyway.

Al and Ray went into town for a game of bowls on Sunday, Al won, Ray didnt.

We have had a very jam packed week in Longreach - and a pretty expensive one at that - and wil be heading off tomorrow to Winton.

The cyclone is providing us with a few showers but we will have to keep an eye on rivers swelling, and roads blocked because of it, along with way. We wont be going to close to the coast while it is all flooded.