THE INLAND RUN - TOOGOOLAWAH TO BOWEN

9^th April, 2013

We decide to continue on our merry way and leave the sky divers to their seemingly risky pastime.  They’ve certainly been very entertaining!  Heading west up over the Great Dividing Range we pass through small country towns where the local pub seems to be the only commercial establishment in operation – that is if there is a pub at all.  At Kaimkillenbun (try saying that name when you have had one too many for the road) we stopped to have a pub lunch at the bar of the ‘Bun Hotel’.  The steak sandwich with a side of chips was yummy and the proverbial ‘dog on the veranda’ kept us amused as we ate.

The 'dog on the veranda' at the Bun Hotel

This beautiful kelpie dog checked out all the trucks and cars as they drove past and the bar patrons emptied their lunch leftovers into his food bowl.  Nothing happened inside or outside that pub without the dog’s complete attention and we know he was just dying for a flock of sheep or something he could round up to go wandering by.

Just checking out the passing parade

We continued west stopping overnight at a waterhole near Chinchilla and the next day turned north at Miles.  Apart from the usual cattle stations there are different crops being grown such as corn and sorghum.  After all the rain and floods over the past year the countryside is green and grass grows as high as the cattle in some paddocks.  We have never seen this part of Australia so bursting with life.  Waterholes are full to overflowing and birdlife is abundant.  It’s a far cry from the usual dusty red parched land we usually see.  At Isla Gorge we stop to take in the view

Wok takes in the view at Isla Gorge

before continuing on to a freecamp beside the Dawson River at Theodore.  There are a few other rigs camped at this park on the southern edge of town and there is a donation box for the use of the toilets and hot showers.  Theodore is situated in the middle of a cotton growing area and although it is not a large town it does have a medical centre, school, IGA Supermarket, police station, service station, pub and several small businesses.  With the town centre an easy walk from the camping area it makes an ideal place to while away a couple of days.

Swimming hole on the Dawson River at Theodore

Wok also tried his hand at fishing and caught three catfish (not the eel tailed catfish which we think is nice eating but some other type that we are not too sure about) so it was a catch and release exercise for Wok and provided him with a bit of fun.  Free entertainment was also provided when a large carpet snake (we estimate about 6 feet in length) decided to set up home underneath a motor home camped nearby.  To say the occupants of the motor home breathed a sigh of relief when the snake finally slithered back into the long grass beside the waterway would be an understatement.  We continued our trek north trying to avoid the busier inland roads where semi-trailers and road trains rule.  There are lots of mining trucks and we pass railway trains loaded with coal and ore headed for the coastal ports.  Our handy dandy camp book shows a freecamp spot on the banks of Lake Elphinstone off the Suttor Development Road and as we are passing by the lake on our way to Bowen we decide to drop in and have a look.  Imagine our surprise when we turn left off the main road to head the four kilometres to the camp spot and are stopped by a police woman with a breathalyser.  We could count on one hand the number of vehicles we have passed in the last hour and are 25 klms from the nearest town.  What the …..!!  Never let it be said that our police force neglects its duties in these remote areas!!  After blowing zero in the breathalyser Wok is waved on and a few minutes later we arrive at the camp area at Lake Elphinstone.  What a lovely spot!  School holidays are just about over and there are only a few campers left - mostly grey nomads.  We find a nice spot near the water’s edge and set up camp. 

Camp spot at Lake Elphinstone

There are plenty of waterbirds around … black swans, water hens, cormorants and a variety of ducks.  There is even a domestic duck that has just hatched out six ducklings and has set up a nest in the hollowed out base of a gum tree near our camp.

Mother duck and ducklings in gum tree nest

The couple that are camped closest to the tree have turned into personal security guards for the duck and the ducklings and spend their day chasing the crows, butcher birds and wild ducks away from the mother duck.

Mother duck takes her brood for a morning constitutional

Hopefully they will grow quickly before a predator can make a meal of them.   

Aren't they cute .....

Even though we are camped beside the water there aren’t any mosquitoes and only the odd fly so sitting outside under the awning is comfortable.  For over 12 months we have been carting around a portable barbeque that we have never used.  This seems to be an ideal spot for the barbie’s debut and Wok is happy with its performance and his grilling skills.  Maybe the barbie will make more appearances in the future.

Steak, egg and onion .... looking good Wok!

It is so peaceful here that we decide to stay for a few days.  There are toilets and showers (hot if you fire up the jerry built furnace with wood to get it going) and nothing to pay.  Bargain!  It’s just the place to sit back and unwind for a few days.

Lake Elphinstone

Ahhhh  ……  the serenity !!!!