Drive to Sydney and Home.....

Final drive to Sydney. Notice the train on the back of a truck - bit unclear as I was driving at the time - -but I truly think that this reflect on the strategy and policy of the old government in NSW towards public transport..!! And I arrive outside my place in Sydney - and my two babies get to see each other for the first time..!! This is the last post of my journey, and I have travelled 7,733 kms over four weeks..!! Many thanks to you all for sharing my travels and silly comments. To all those I have left behind in Northern Territory, I miss and love you all..!! To those who I have met along the way, many thanks for your kindness, thoughtfulness, and friendship, and to those I am returning to, nice to be back..!!!!!!!

Tamworth

Tamworth is quite an interesting town in New South Wales and the centre of the country music industry..!! Hence the "Golden Guitar"..!! Quite a lovely town. My thanks to Peter and Sandy for their wonderful hospitality at "The Retreat" B&B - would highly recommend, if you are going that way, stay with these folks. Most beautiful dinner, thanks Sandy, beautiful breakfast (with delightfully cooked eggs, Sandy, thanks), and a truly lovely room..!! On to Sydney..!!

And on into NSW

Goodiwindi is one of the centres of the horse breeding business..!! As you can tell..!! And on into New South Wales and on to Tamworth..!!

On to Goondiwindi

The little road I talked about - was really cute..!! Who said there was no water in central Queenland, have a look at the flow through St. George - the Church was very cute too..!! On to Goondiwindi - while approaching Goondiwindi I had a call from the B&B in Tamworth telling me that I didn't have a room for the following night and could I drive straight through to Tamworth as originally planned - 11 hours drive on Monday..!!

After Charleville

You all know that sometimes in life you have to make a left turn rather than going straight ahead despite advice, a bit like being a Christian really, but that is what happened in Mitchell..!! Against the advice of my GPS system which was going to take me via the main roads, I turned off and went on a minor road to St. George and, while saving over 100 kms, I came across the most amazing memorial..!! Have a read - it is really interesting.. Also, the little road was so scenic and well worth making a difficult decision..!!

Charleville

Charleville, what a strange little town - found it hard to get things to take photos of..!! So the local kangaroo and war memorial was the highlights..!! Onward (as in downwards..!!)..!!

And more to Charleville

More and more towns which I have never heard of..!! In Blackall, I wasn't sure of the sheep thing..!! So stayed away from it..!! I thought Seymours was a great store with all the things they sold and I wondered if luggage was really beside lingerie..!! Might be interesting, what you think..? I wonder what teh person who put Jericho there was thinking at the time..!! hehe Maybe that was his name....!! And Augathella the meat ant centre..!!! What on earth..!! :-)

After Longreach

Having left Longreach and heading to Charleville - quite a long drive. A few interesting towns along the way, and the only interesting buildings in towns are the pubs..!! Barcaldine is an interesting small town with the Tree of Knowledge..!! Not sure if you are supposed to hug it, talk to it, widdle on it, take a piece of it, but either way, it did not impart any knowledge to me.!! Much as I need it..!! :-)

Reponses....

Guys, when you read these blogs, it would be really nice to get some feedback..!! I do trust that you are enjoying seeing the places I am visiting, but please take a minute or two to reply.. Gets lonely on the road..!!! Thanks in advance.....

Qantas Museum 5

Better put some photos of the actual museum which has some amazing videos to watch. One in particular was on the rebuilding and flight of the 707 back to Longreach..!! Notice on the old plane, two passengers sat inside the plane while the pilot sat behind them exposed to the elements..!! Wouldn't happen today..!! Also, the old bus which transported passengers from Longreach to the airport just out of town..!! Really cute..!! Loved it..!!

Qantas Museum 4

Qantas Empire Airways was one of the early names of Qantas Airlines, and it flew these DC3. They are just so, so small and you can see inside - very little room, comfort - and, amazingly, no inflight personalised movies or computer games..!! Not even audio channels - I guess the passengers would have read books (during daylight..!!).... Just amazing that they still have these old aircraft so we can appreciate what we have now..!!

Qantas Museum 3

This Boeing 707 was the first one purchased by Qantas and revolutionised travel to and from Australia. It was the first truly reliable jet put into service by Qantas.. This actual aircraft was sold to another airline after use, then ended up in Saudia Arabia where it was the personal aircraft of the Shelk. Qantas Museum negotiated to buy it back while it sat in Southport Airport in England for something like seven years - rusting etc. After it was purchased, Qantas paid for a team of volunteers to spent over six months in England totally restoring the plane, and it was flown, via Dublin, Bermuda, Fiji, back to Sydney and hence Longreach where it will remain. The 747-200, by the way, is the only working 747 on display anywhere in the world...!!