2015 09 18 Friday

Homeward Bound, brings back the old Simon and Garfuncle song of the same name. The trip is winding to an end, well at least part one of our Tip to Toe, adventure. To travel from the top of Australia to the bottom.

The next step is to regroup in Toowoomba and sort out a few bits and pieces before launching into the last part of the trip, that is Christmas in Tasmania, all going well.

Camping with Alison and Bruce has been great however all things must pass and we chug off down the trail at about 9am, still undecided on which route to take and whether to drive straight trough to Toowoomba or maybe stop somewhere along the way to break the journey.

Well Sue wanted to stop and Mal wanted to arrive, however Mal said he was happy to stop if that was what Sue wanted and Sue said she was happy to flog on if that made Mr Grumpy less grumpy.

So we tossed a coin, Mal won, we did best of three Mal won - we thought about best of five but the odds were not looking good, so Mal decided the route and we motored on.

We drove on a beautiful bitumen road towards Wooroobinda and then about 5ks from the township the road turns into the township and the through road continues on South. The nice wide well formed road swings into the township and ahead of us the road was narrow and patched and a while later turned to gravel.

We stopped off the road for smoko and then via Moura. In Moura we saw just thousands of ducks all sitting behind a high chain wire fence. They looked like garden ornaments, there were literally thousands of black and white ducks. We stopped to take a photo they moved back from the fence with out fluttering a wing. Sue took some photos. We then drove down into the table drain and they flew like a black and white cloud, it was amazing to see so many in one place.

We drove South and the road led through an interesting road tunnel before we reached Theodore and then on to Cracow for lunch. What a great spot, marvelous old shops deserted and the town still functions but there is a certain sadness that sits on the bench out side the old hardware shop, a ghost of years gone by when this township was humming and the voices of small children could be heard scampering around the hills.

The clock was well past mid day by this time and the prospect of getting home this side of mid night was looking a bit gloomy. We scuttled through to Eidsvold and down through Mundubbera and now it was 5pm and the sun was dropping like a stone towards the horizon.

We thought about Auburn River National park and then dismissed it - we want to go but not just for an over nighter - we snuck off the road into the State Forest, well off the road and were able to be sitting out in our deckchairs like Danny before the sun fell completely out of the sky.

There were left overs for tea and we started to read, "My Family and Other Animals" and laughed out loud as the motley crew settled into their new life in Corfu.

Apart from an odd vehicle on the road out of sight behind a wall of thick grey trees the night was peaceful.