Back After A Long Break

               My last blog was over 12mths ago and during that time we have been house sitting for four different clients in Hervey Bay Qld and another 2 homes in Victoria. which has been great, giving us the chance to catch up with all our friends here and also give me the opportunity to train for the Masters Games at Alice Springs  in October where I will be competing in the cycling 20k time trial, duathlon and triathlon.

We left the Hervey Bay On Thursday 18th travelling to Wondai to stay with some friends for a few days, had a dinner at the RSL (great!!) did some furniture moving, visited other acquaintances in the area, went for a drive to Kingaroy and had a couple of short runs to keep the fitness going then on Tuesday we moved on to Biloela staying at the Discovery park there which was good but not a 4star park as rated, the second night it was cold and wet and the power went off about 3am, I didn't think much of it until I saw our neighbour's light on at around 5am so I was running around in the rain checking everything then eventually found the trip switch down on their power board and you can guess Marion was comfortably snuggled in bed all this time, luckily it was a cool night so the frig kept most of the food ok.

I Think this chap has been Fossicking too long

After another 2 runs of about 3k we moved on to Emerald and staying at the park right next to the aquatic centre where I have had a 1300m swim already. I have done 2 more runs of 4.5k & 3k and another 1800m swim. Yesterday we went out to Sapphire & Rubyvale to check out the diggings and get rich!!!!, I went underground while Marion sluiced a bucket of wash, she managed to get a couple of sapphires and some Topaz, it was a good day but rich we are not (financially anyway)

The weather has been great but very cool of a night which makes for good sleeping but I struggle to get out early to train so I hope it is warm on the morning of my races in Alice Springs I might have to get Marty to send me a cup of concrete.

Free Camp Spot Between Emerald & Barcaldine

We left Emerald today (after a 3.9k run)making our way to Barcaldine but the trip was one we will not forget as we were almost side swiped by a road train coming round a bend towards us, I was over as far as possible but he just kept coming across the white line, there was a loud bang which was our mirror banging up against the car and then a scraping noise so after pulling up I expected to see major damage on our van but there was nothing, the scraping was the sump guard on our car which was obviously not secured properly and the gust of wind must have blown it off, I tried to contact the truckie by 2way radio but of course he was the only one on the road without one!!!!  It was the scariest experience we have had after almost 7yrs of caravanning. 

We eventually made it to Barcaldine and have set up camp here for a few days because the weather is a bit rough, not raining yet though, The park put on a free tea & cake with some live country music thrown in and tonight (Friday) we will be having "chinese" cooked by a lady here in the park, we are hoping to do a day bus tour around this area on Monday but it all depends on bookings and weather. 

That's all for now folks!!!

Ghost Marion at Blackwater Coal Museum