Richmond -1950kms in the Bank.
Dearest Intrepid Readers,
First up I must humbly apoligise for the delay in the drop of this episode.
I could beg your pardon, due to internet connection issues and there may have been a slight delay in some areas of downloading photos. However, if I am honest, and you can be assured honesty is what is dished out in spades in this blog, it was that the MOTH may have poured me quite a strong scotch. Another contributing factor may have been that we forgot to buy soda water several times and so we were forced to drink it neat.
Anyhoo, here we are.
We enjoyed a dream run on the Overland Way. We headed off early with the sun rising behind us and the early low cloud burning off pretty quickly.
The day was so clear and the temperature perfect, Just a bit cool this morning, ending up at 31 degrees by the end of the day.
Charters Towers was our first stop.
Its many old buildings remind us that she was known in her early days as “the world”. It was said that everything that you might desire could be had in the Towers. Therefore there was no need to travel to anywhere else, and thus she became known affectionately as “The World”
One of Australia’s few regional stock exchanges was established in the Towers in 1890 to raise capital for the areas’ deep reef of mines, that were filled with gold. By 1900 the town had 92 hotels and by 1909 it was proclaimed a city.
The Stock Exchange is still serving Charters Towers, now as a stunning arcade.
We then moved onto Hughenden. The main claim to fame of this outback town is that it is the Birthplace of my mother.
Her father Jack O’Gorman was stationed there in the land army during the 2nd world war. So, as many of you know, baby’s wait for no one, and despite being only a temporary home for the family, the first born daughter to Jack and Edna, Elaine Shirley, was a baby of the west!
It is now the Start of the Dinosaur Way, and so we had the compulsory photos with Mutt.
It turns out the Premier, some of you may have heard of him, was in town the day we were there, he was turning a sod for something.
Anyway, look who ended up getting the interview. It turned out a lovely young reporter Hannah, on her way back from the big Red Bash, knows a thing or two about what’s important. She also did a quick photo shoot with the bikes and you should see this in a day or two, on Facebook ABC Western Queensland.
Of course it was hard to leave Hughenden but our destination was Richmond.
It is a beautiful little town.
We only paid for one site at the Lakeview Caravan park, however the Manager insisted on giving us two.
There was a horse drawn carriage, giving sunset rides. The stars were spectacular, and the sunset the next morning also a gift that only nature can bestow.
For all those wondering, the pompous lady int the SATNAV has been well behaved and has had no further episodes of loud announcements. Also the MOTH seems to be quite satisfied with the Stats he is now receiving from the Harley.
As you ride out to find the way, the way will appear”
Until Next time….
MOTH and LOL
