Finally checking out the sights of Blackall

I was up at the crack of dawn, but at the same time very sad that we were leaving Mum and Dad’s place.  We wanted to be in town for Hamish’s on-air lesson at 9:30am so had to be away from the property by 8:15am.  Of course we couldn’t leave until the kids had fed the sheep for one last time and I must admit seeing them so happy to drive away with their Grandad to do the feeding really tugged at the heart strings.  They have really enjoyed their time out on the property.  After a few family photos we said our goodbyes and hit the road.

We made it to town just in time for Hamish’s on-air lesson, so we dropped him off, then Jason dropped me off for my blood test whilst he went to unpack the car of everything from Mum and Dad’s place and then re-pack the back of the car with everything that normally travels in the back.  Then he picked me back up and we headed up to the school to get Hamish.  Longreach was buzzing that morning as the Variety Bash was in town and we loved seeing all the cars done up and there were even three limos as part of it.  I can only imagine how they go down some of the dirt roads.  Still it was great checking out all the cars.

Rally cars wherever you went in town.

This one caught our attention.

We then hitched on the van and hit the road.  The aim was to try and make it to Ilfracombe before Hamish’s reading lesson and we managed to do it with two minutes to spare.  So Hamish and I completed his reading lesson whilst Jason and Kayla went for a walk to look at all the old machinery on display.  Once the lesson was over it was back on the road with a quick stop outside Barcaldine for some lunch before continuing onto Blackall.  We were so exhausted from everything that had gone on that day that we just wanted to make it to Blackall and setup in the caravan park.  It was good to finally stop in Blackall as normally we just scoot through on the way to visit family.

The line up of old machinery in Ilfracombe.

Booking in was easy but we took a while to get into our site and we thought we had picked the easy one!  Then we couldn’t unhitch but thankfully we quickly worked out what we thought the problem was and rectified it and managed to easily get off.  The rest of the afternoon was spent setting up, doing school and Jason ducked down to the post office to send off something for my nephew’s first birthday party!  Then just after 4:30pm we heard the music kick off at the camp kitchen so we headed over there to enjoy the gentleman performing and wait around for the camp oven dinner we had paid for. 

Someone else cooking us dinner.

Loved this converted seat.

Kayla having a dance.

I mean after such a big day, we really didn’t feel in the mood to cook something up and since they were doing up a camp oven dinner how could we say no.  It was well worth it and the kids had fun dancing around and playing hide and seek with us.  Kayla even got quite a few compliments on her dance moves.  No idea where she picked them up from as honestly Jason and I can’t dance to save ourselves and well poor Hamish has obviously inherited the same ability as us.  Still it was a great night and we met some lovely fellow travellers who passed on some great tips on places to visit whilst we are here and when we got to Charleville.

Outback humor.

Getting some damper.

The things you see in your caravan park.

Jason then put the kids to bed whilst I caught up some more on the blog and some mail that needed to be sent.  He was obviously very tired and crashed on the floor beside Kayla.  Tomorrow we will go out and explore Blackall some more.  We are definitely glad we decided to stay here for two nights as otherwise we would have been just rushing around and not enjoying it all. 

After a great night’s sleep we were all ready to start the day and were slowly getting into things when I got a call from my Mum to say that my Uncle John would be passing through town around 8am and if we would be able to meet him for Breakfast.  Of course it is the least we could do as we didn’t call in when we passed through Winton.  So we quickly got ourselves and the kids dressed, finished our coffees and headed down to the local servo.  The timing was absolutely perfect as just as we were driving up we could see my uncle parking his truck.

It was great to sit down and enjoy the big breakfast (which can really feed two adults) and catch up with my uncle.  The drought is getting so bad out here he now has over 300 cattle down on agistment as he was just returning from taking another load down.  Before long we had to say goodbye as he needed to continue on home and we had to get back and ready for Hamish’s school lesson.  Whilst Jason did his on-air lesson I took Kayla down the street to post some letters and check out the town.  It was actually quite depressing seeing how many shops were having closing down sales and it just goes to show how the drought affects these towns.

On our return to the van I did a bit of school with Hamish before we ducked to the bakery (I mean seriously if there is one, we will visit it) and grabbed some morning tea to eat in the car on the way out to the Blackall Woolscour as we wanted to try and make the midday tour.  I raced in and enquired first and luckily we could still go on it and better still we were the only ones.  So we didn’t really have to worry too much about the kids being a bit noisy and making it hard for others to hear as part of the tour involves two movies.

Hamish making his way to the Woolscour

Oh look Mum this one doesn't move when I try and pat it.

An old wool press.

I didn’t think I could learn much about this place having come from a sheep station, but straight up I learnt it was where they washed the wool!  Really, I never knew that they use to do that, and of course having closed before I was born it would explain why, but it was so interesting to learn about why and how they went about it all.   My hat goes off to all the volunteers.  They do a wonderful job and the gentleman who did our tour was fantastic and a wealth of knowledge.  This is the last one standing out of about 59 that had existed so it is a pretty big part of Australian history that they have here and I really recommend that you come and visit it.

Looking into the wool washing area.

Checking out the old caravans.

Yep I can honestly say ours is in better condition and cleaner!

After the tour ended we walked round the grounds for a bit before treating ourselves to some ice-cream and sitting outside to enjoy them.  Of course a certain someone thought that we should share our treat with them.  Yes it was one of the resident goats and I am pretty sure she had the puppy dog eyes down packed.  However she greatly underestimated our families love for ice-cream and was left with nothing.  On the way back into town we called into the cemetery and Jason went and found Jackie Howe’s gravesite.  Now for those of you who don’t know, he is a famous shearer who set the record for the number of sheep shorn in a day using the old style clippers!  From memory it was 321 sheep, but don’t hold me to that.

Ever get the feeling you are being watched!

Someone wanted their photo taken.

Hamish and Kayla in front of a sheep statute out the front.

Back in town we also stopped at the Black Stump before returning to the caravan.  We did up a quick shopping list and Jason headed out with Kayla whilst Hamish and I knocked over some more school.  After Jason returned we unpacked the shopping and had a little break before jumping into our togs.  No we weren’t crazy and going swimming in freezing cold waters.  We had actually been informed the local pool sat around 32 degrees, so we were certainly going to make the most of that.  We were even lucky in that it wasn’t that cold when we hopped out. 

The Black Stump.

Jackie Howe memorial.

Beautiful warm pool to swim in.

So back at the van it was time for showers, the last bit of school for the day and then dinner.  I love school lessons where it involves everyday activities, so Hamish just needed to help Jason make a pizza for dinner.  It was a mighty fine tasting pizza too.  Then it was straight to bed for the kids as we have a relatively long drive the next day, which we want to get away at a reasonable time so that we can be in the next town in time for Hamish’s on-air lesson.  Fingers crossed we can pull it off.