WEEK 1 - THE BIG FAREWELL, ROMA, LONGREACH

The big farewell was mixed emotions - full of excitement and sadness.  We had a pom pom good-bye thanks to mum which we will all remember.  The 1st week has been wonderful, we are loving the freedom and the peacefulness of the country.  Roma was a great start, everyone says Roma is a gateway to somewhere else but we loved it.  All you could hear is the breeze in the trees and the birds to wake up to.  Spencer got out of the car and asked what the smell was, FRESH AIR Michael replied!

We stayed at the Big 4 and headed off to the Tuesday cattle sales which were very interesting, they are the biggest in Australia.  Then off to the Big Rig where oil and gas were discovered. I found Memorial Drive moving where all the bottle trees are planted and a commemorative plaque set up to honour all the diggers lost in the great war.  The boys thought the farmers looked so good in their Akubras that they had to go and get one that day - Spence said all he needs now is some RM's.

Next stop Carnarvon Gorge what a pretty place.  This was a last minute stop and what a peaceful retreat.  We stayed at Tarakka camp site and drove to the info centre that arvo to see what walk we would tackle with the kids.  Met a lovely aboriginal guide called Fred and he told us the history and the best walk for us would be the 11k round trip to the Art Gallery where the aboriginal art work is stencilled onto the sandstone.  Well Fred I just don't know with 3 sick kids!!!!  But so proud of the kids they made it without any tears.  Our beautiful Scarlett fell asleep on my back 1k to go, but her little legs just kept going.  Phoebe had a cracking pace and Spencer was giving us positive pep talks the whole way.  Just after a week the kids have become closer and grown up already, it has been a wonderful experience.  The Gorge itself is a magnificent bit of scenery lots of freshwater creeks  to cross and the rainforest and butterflies breathtaking.  The kids are getting a kick out of seeing so many kangaroos and having an open fire and eating lots of melted marshmallows.

After a very long drive we decided to go through Emerald and stay at a free campsite on the way to Longreach at Jericho. MAGIC! Camped on a river with the amazing pink sunset.....But then.....the BUGS!

Yes Scarlett's fear of bugs hits a high but we all survived it.  After a whole can of spray in the van we gave up and went to bed.  And went to sleep under the beautiful sparkles in the sky.

Did someone say LOCUST PLAGUE!  Go through Barcaldine and noticed these massive grasshoppers coming from nowhere.  By the time we got to Longreach they were everywhere.  The locals say it is the worst in 60yrs, they just eat everything in site.  The kids had fun just chasing them the whole time but thank goodness they are only temporary residents!

So Longreach - well it was a bit of a disappointment I think we had built it up.  The Stockman's Hall of Fame is amazing and every Australian should get here for it's full of history and the charm of the Aussie spirit and outback.  For us it was hard with the kids there is a lot of reading involved and their attention span could take just so much at the end of the day.  The Qantas museum was interesting and with Spencer sick I had to cut the tour short but Phoebe found it exciting.

Trying to get over the sickness we have decided to stay another night in the Discovery Holiday Park in Longreach with it's relaxing spas, Hopefully we are off to take a trek to the dinosaur areas of Winton and Hughendon tomorrow.

TAM'S SURVIVAL TIP # 1
Food, food and more food.... If kids mouths are full there is less talking, whinging and fighting.

TAM'S ON THE ROAD PLAYLIST
John Butler Trio, April Uprising... Can't get enough of this album but Spence has!
Kasey Chambers, Carnival... A bit of country magic after Roma.