mozzasbigtrip: Quilpie to Charleville

The drive to Charleville was uneventful. We saw quite a bit of wildlife after Quilpie. Lots of emus, kangaroos, sheep, cattle, lizards and eagles. The eagles that we have seen in the last 3 days have been massive. Easily carry off a small child I reckon. Unfortunately almost impossible to capture unless you are damn lucky and quick with the camera. We are always travelling at too fast a speed and by the time we spot them we have passed them or they have taken flight. Our biggest thrill is spotting emus. We never get sick of seeing them and we have seen lots this trip. There is something about these birds that make us smile everytime we see them, especially if they are running in fright or just keeping up with the bus. Lots of road kill as well on these last stretches. Roos, cows, eagles and feral pigs. Sad for the native animals but the feral pigs are revolting. We are now camped at the Showgrounds in Charleville. Last night was our official end. Dinner, raffle, entertainment (banjo and singalong !!!!!!!!) presentations, etc. It was a nice night but tinged with sadness that we were at an end. Raised over $3000 for the Flying Doctors, which was nice. We were in Charleville in April this year so saw most of it then. But we did a tour of Corones Hotel in town, which was an amazing tour of a pub started by a Greek who arrived in 1907 with no english and a handful of coins. His brilliant tenacity and head for business saw him become a very successful businessman and his history was riveting. The tour was 2 hours long, finishing up with afternoon tea. Great value.

Today I have been glued to the computer catching up on this blog. Its not as good as I would have liked but with service not available for days on end, almost 14 days straight at one stage, its been impossible to do anything. Tomorrow we pack up and head somewhere south towards home. Not sure where or when we get there, that will be taken as it comes. Some farewells today and more importantly tomorrow we say goodbye to Judith & Tony & Carol. We have been the 5 amigos the whole trip and have had some very happy times. Of course we are friends now and will stay in touch wherever we go. Judith lives full time in her motorhome and Carol & Tony, from the Gold Coast have rented their house out and are on the road for the next two years.

The Safari has been challenging. Many of the 53 motorhomes that started out, ended up with damage. Some gave up and left.. We sustained tyre damage and did a belt, but everything inside & out is coated in dust. Squeaks and rattles are new also. The Strezlecki Track was not suitable for any of the vehicles on this Safari and many have vented their anger in writing and phone calls to the CMCA who organise these things. One of the motorhomes had 3 blown tyres, damaged rims, broken windows, cracked windscreens, ruptured water tanks,leaking petrol tanks, lost exhausts, broken windows, bits taped and ziptied together. A microwave fell out of its cupboard even though it was screwed down. Lots of people found screws rolling around and have no idea where they belong. Many fixtures in the motorhomes are now loose. Two motorhomes had to be towed away for major repairs. It was a tough trip for most of us. I dont think anyone on this safari would ever do it again. Poor advice from those that organised the Safari, re the conditions, led to a false sense of security.

We would never contemplate a trip like this again, but we have done it. The Strezlecki Track, the Birdsville Races and the true Outback, seen the Simpson Desert and come to realise what a strange but wonderful land we live in. Its now time to head for home, not looking forward to getting out of shorts and thongs and cold old Melbourne.