Back online again and so I am posting the daily blog updates all at once. I have been very diligent and putting them into word documents each day to await that momentous occasion when communications improve. Start from the bottom and work up!
Tuesday 29 March 2011
We took a drive out to the Porcupine Gorge National Park about 65 kms north of Hughenden and is also known as Australia’s Little Grand Canyon. The gorge is about 100kms long where Porcupine Creek has excavated 500 million years of sedimentary rock to a depth of about 700 metres. Once more, it is flat savannah plains which lead to these very dramatic formations.
 |
| Porcupine Gorge from the Lookout |
 |
| At the bottom |
We took a stroll down to the bottom of the gorge (only 1.2kms) to admire the rocks and sedimentary layers in closer detail, had a swim in the very refreshing water and then had a nature walk back to the top.
Louise relented again and purchased a Telstra Pre-paid Mobile Broadband Kit. I did have issues a couple of years ago with Telstra and swore I would never deal with them again but there is just no option at all in rural areas.
Monday 28 March 2011
Another early start, but only just down the road this time to the fossil recovery and preparation facility. Lots of fossilised bones that have been found in the Winton area over the last few decades but not yet any full skeletons.
Once more, we were fortunate enough to have a private tour at no extra cost than a normal tour. Being just in front of the major terrorist season does have its advantages!!
On the road again, this time to Hughenden and following the “Dinosaur Trail”. Contrary to what some people may think, we are not meeting up with our own kind!!
It was a sorry sight in the afternoon when Louise finally gave in and purchased a Telstra Mobile phone. The Optus coverage is basically non-existent in this part of the world which is very annoying in this day and age.
If we haven’t already contacted you with our new number and you would like to call us, please ring Louise’s daughter, Kylie or Alan’s friend, Greg.
Sunday 27 March 2011
An early start this morning as we were off to the Lark Quarry Trackways. The first tour was due to start at 1000hrs and the Quarry was 110kms away, mostly on gravel roads.
What can one say about fossilised footprints that are 90 million years old? But wow, again!!
What we saw were the footprints of a large meat eater that apparently chased a large group of very small plant eaters along the sides of a river that used to flow through the area. Fortunately for us, all of the animals ran through a moist claypan that eventually dried out and became fossilised over the eons. Some years after their discovery, the Queensland Heritage people built a temperature controlled, ecologically sustainable building over these footprints to help ensure that they did not disintegrate any more than they already have. An informative talk by a very interesting guide and lots of “wows” by the little tour group and then we went off onto a little self guided walk around the adjacent area.
 |
| Preserved Dinosaur Footprints at Lark Quarry |
We then decided to go back to Winton via Opalton, an old opal mining area. Perhaps not the best decision – 200 kms on gravel roads – but Louise found a piece of ironstone laced with a small amount of opal when we stopped for lunch/afternoon tea at Opalton. It may be the only opal that she finds and wasn’t even really looking for it.
We were all very glad to get back home and shake the dust off!
In the meantime, Louise has had a couple of goes at driving the Turtle (on the roads) and her next challenge will driving the Turtle whilst towing Tuf Cat. Look out Queensland!!!
Tomorrow (Monday) we will be off to see the Dinosaur Fossil place (only 13ks down the road) and then we will hook up Tuf Cat are head northeast to Hughenden for some more dinosaur stuff.
Saturday 26 March 2011
Just a cruisie sort of day. Apart from the beef and sheep industries, Winton is ‘famous’ for the fossilised remains of a dinosaur stampede, dinosaur remains and that Banjo Patterson wrote “Waltzing Matilda” whilst staying at a nearby property. Did the main street of Winton first thing, where even the garbage bins are encased in giant dinosaur footprints!
Later on, we went for a self drive through a nearby National Park – some absolutely brilliant landforms to be seen. One minute you can be driving through arid grasslands and claypans and then you come across an extremely deep waterhole and towering eucalypts. Lots of creek crossings, but we took our time and checked out the depth before we drove thru them!
 | ||
| The Turtle at Skull Hole |
 |
| Making sure we don't get bogged again! |
Friday 25 March 2011
An easy start to the day – a little bit of belt tightening for the Turtle and preventive maintenance for Tuf Cat’s wheel bearings. Best to do these things somewhere comfortable and not on the side of a road! A cuppa with the park people (both management and guests) and then off to the Stockman’s Hall of Fame for some more touristy stuff.
Brilliant place! Spent a couple of hours there and one of us could have spent a lot more time there – so much to read…. The other one of us did mention later on that he wasn’t that fussed about seeing too much more old stuff but was reminded that we are about to spend a couple of days looking at fossils and dinosaur stuff – weren’t they ‘old’ things?
Back on the road and a leisurely drive into Winton. Booked in for three nights so that we can spend some time in the area looking at aforementioned ‘old’ things. No network coverage again but I think we can cope!
 |
| First Outback Sunset |
No comments:
Post a Comment