Well the winds blew last night like Calamity Janes “Windy City” but the little tent stood fast. It was freezing though. I had to get up and put half my wardrobe on to keep warm……(Kimmo – hippo pj’s fashion statement, well I did better….lol). Somebody decided to leave the TV on in their motor home on LOUD all night so wasn’t the greatest sleep.
But then I wake up to this just after 7:30am
Good morning Longreach
So today is my day off!! Hoping to clear the head and start to relax. Had a chat to Karl and the folks and after speaking with them at length was feeling a bit better about things. At the end of the day “it’s just a road” as Davo said and it will be here another time if I decide to pull the pin.
Today I’m doing touristy things, so off I went to the Stockmans Hall of Fame.
Stockmans Hall of Fame
The grounds here are lovely and the building….I’ll get to that later.
Inside there is so much to look at and really you could spend the entire day here if you read everything but I don’t have that long. Artists of all kinds have work displayed, like this carving of a “Ringer” from beechwood (I think).
Timber carving of a Ringer
This place is HUGE and you can see the time and dollars that people have put in there to make it look spectacular. The galleries (as they’re called) spiral round the inside of the building.
Full length of the Hall of Fame
There’s different section dedicated to The Stockman, families, pioneers, the stock and horses and the utility and medical services, each one unique and showcased beautifully.
This statue of a horse is made from chains, sprockets, spring, nuts, bolts and other truck,tractor, car basically mechanical bits they had. It’s pretty amazing up close.
Mechanical Horse…lol
The impressive building itself!
The Hall of Fame
A bronze status of “The Ringer” commissioned to mark the opening of the Stockmans Hall of Fame in the Bicentennial year.
Bronze statue of “The Ringer”
There are so many more photos but I guess you’ll just have to go for yourself.
Then it was off across the road to the Qantas Founders Museum. Again you could spend the whole day here ready stuff so I took lots of photos instead. Karl would so love this place. So these are for you Sweety.
Rolls Royce engine
These things (RR engines) are enormous and I could probably stand in the front opening (but I thought I might get in trouble)….
As you can imagine being Qantas there are planes of all types everywhere, even miniatures travelling around the ceiling suspended on tracks. Don’t ask me what they are but they are impressive non the less.
Outside the actual museum, there is an Original Hanger with all sorts of mechanical know how in it. The size of the hanger in itself is impressive…..if only we had a shed that big…..lol
Inside The Original Hanger
Considering how old these planes are they are in reasonable condition (on the surface anyways).
One of the 3 planes they had in there
Now this is high quality interior design if I ever saw it! This is in the inside of a 1929 Qantas single engine. The pilot sat at the rear of the plane in a fighter style cockpit (which you weren’t allowed in). What made this special and I’m sure you paid extra for, was it had a toilet on board (yep that’s it just up the front behind that partition) and only held 6 passengers…..luxury!
Modern 1929 Qantas plane
Of yes, the sign I should’ve taken a photo of before I entered instead of after…..doh!
Qantas Original Hanger
Outside the museum id the Qantas Empire Airways plane, gleaming in todays sunshine.
Qantas Empire Airways
A spot of lunch in the museum before heading into town to check out the Cobb & Co store (where I only bought a hat badge) before heading back to camp to do some work.
It would be remiss of me not to look after Angel, so I conducted my pre-flight goings over in the blazing sun. With that completed it was time to have a bit of a relax myself.
Chillaxing!!!
with my book and a bit of rest. Just what the doctor ordered.
Somewhere in between I seem to have misplaced the ensuite key. I’m sure I’ll find it but just now it’s hiding in a reaaaally good spot. Lucky they had a spare for me…thanks Jenny.
A lovely Thai chicken and cashew nut dinner in The Woolshed Restaurant (onsite) and a surprise and very welcome phone call from a special friend. Thanks heaps for caring and taking the time to have a chat to me…. It’s wonderful to know that I have such wonderful friends when you aren’t at your best.
In saying that, I have met some fantastic grey nomads so far. Of course they all ask “where’s your hubby” to which I reply “at home” and the look of OMG on their faces is amazing. When they find out what I am doing and how far I have come on my own they are I don’t know…I don’t have the words for it. But they tell me, I’m amazing, inspirational and brave (to say a few) but I am just me. I don’t consider myself any of these but then again as I was reminded today maybe I am just a bit of all these and that I should be very proud of myself for what I have achieved and what I am doing (not many females would do this).
Anyhoos, it’s getting late so I’ll say good night and catch you all later.
