Barcaldine to Ilfracombe

Barcaldine to Ilfracombe = 82km
Cummulative total = 3262km

We had a disappointing start to the day - some one had taken our food that was in the fridge in the camp kitchen - I was very disappointed and was initially shocked that it could happen in a park like the top tourist ... but I suppose it could happen anywhere really. But what really pisses me off is that fact that they took the cooler bag which fitted perfectly in my panniers and the container used for the margarine - it was perfect and had a good strong lid that didn't leak ...but they did leave the ice pak in the freezer part. Well whoever took it I hope they choke on the 4 pottles of mark down yoghurt and become overweight because they ate the 12 Bega processed cheese slices that were also in the cooler bag!
Once we had a our dismal breakfast we began to pack up and usually everyone decides to talk to us the and this morning was no exception - so we didn't get away until 9am. Lucky we had a tailwind! and it was a very strong wind too. Just out of Barcaldine we came across a not so friendly local.

It is a cane toad way out here in the outback ... and he is not alone! Now for those that don't know, ie. the kiwis, cane toads are a menace to Australia - initially they were bought in by Queensland sugar can growers to eat a bug that lives at the top of the sugar cane plant while they (the cane toads) live down the bottom ... go figure that it didn't work and the toads soon multiplied to a population that couldn't be controlled and eventually the toads began to spread to north and across Australia and here they are now in the Outback!
The road itself to Longreach is not too bad but there are a few holes here and there and caravans have to be careful and keep an eye out for them. The tailwind was very strong and at times be cranked it up to the big chain ring and and could sit on 24kph until we came to a crest and then we had to drop back down to the middle chain ring! But by the time we got to Ilfracombe we averaged about 21kph shich is our fastest day yet! It is also our warmest day too - it should hit around 25 degrees so it is lovely and warm and even the nights are unseasonably warm - around 10 degrees.

At the 30km mark there was a rest area and I just happened to look at my rear wheel and saw that the back wheel was starting to go like Neils wheel and I could see small thin stress fractures! So we were meant to bushcamp tonight but we had to get to Ilfracombe to ring either Emerald (again) for another wheel to be sent to Longreach or we would have to try Rockhampton.

We got to Ilfracombe which was a small, crowded but very friendly park and the only place for us was on the corner of a grassed area near the toilet block! basically I had an ensuite (I was about 3 strides away from the womens toilet!) that I had to share with every other woman! Neil rang the Emerald shop again but he didn't have any in stock and the soonest he could get a wheel to him was on Monday so it wouldn't be at Longreach until Wednesday and Neil didn't want to stay at Longreach for that long (the reports on the only 2 campgrounds there were not great so we didn't want to stay the long in Longreach). So he tried a Rockhampton and they also had to order one in and reckoned it could be in Longreach by the weekend (we had our doubts about that) so we ordered it from the Rockhampton guy. It is getting delivered from the Brisbane supplier to Longreach rather than via Rockhampton so hopefully it will be here by Friday.
After we sorted that all out we went for a walk into town. The town is small and it has one side of the road devoted to the historical aspects of the town ... namely the old machinery used in farming so I took some photos and I am sure Ray if you look at some of them you will recognise quite a few!

the above is a photo of a series of old style fridges!

even Neil knew what this one was! apparently Ray use to drive one of these - it is a Blitz

Once we got back from looking at the machinery and plugging the computer into a power point at the local park and ringing Ray and Flo we returned to the tent in the dark and had our dinner of curried tuna and cheese sandwiches - we were both famished and finished the loaf of bread off with honey mmmmmm!
Tonight is state of origin and the campground has gone mad with this game - They are showing the game in the communal area and it has decked out the communal area with maroon and white and blue and white balloons and streamers and everyone from Queensland is wearing maroon and everyone from NSW is wearing blue and the Victorians and Tasmanians just come as they are. We thought that tonight might be a bit noisy to sleep early so we reside to the fact that we will watch the game with a room full of drunk pensioners!!! can you imagine a room full of drunk pensioners? ... let me tell you it isn't pretty!!!
We went and sat in the neutral corner and just watched the game, couldn't hear a thing for the commentary and I tell you Queensland was obviously going to win and if you think Collingwood supporters are feral ... well wait until you see Queensland supporters!!! feral with a capital 'F'!!!

Anyway Queensland won!