23-27 September

After printing and posting the cashback stuff for the netbook we're going west... until we stopped in Dalby. Bigger town with Coles, Woolie, Harvey Norman and Hungry Jack's. We erected the tent and went for the “discover-jog” actually Tom jogged and I just walked as my knee is still hurting.

We headed out to the Bunya Mountain Range named by the Bunya trees – a pine tree which tree nuts grow up to soccer ball size and could weigh in at 10kg. You've to be really careful during the summer months as they fall down. This mountain range was a big meeting place for the Aborigines. We walked several tracks, one should have gone down to a chute - I guess an entry to a cave for mining, the Scenic Route at Dandebah - around trees, past waterfalls (not much water falling) and nearly onto a Redbellied black snake (you shouldn't do this as this one is poisonous). Then we saw a parrot which liked to get photographed – we couldn't scare him away it needed a brush turkey to do so. The last trip was to a lookout. It was good although we had better views while walking to the designated lookout area. We even noticed several people ignoring the total fire ban signs – they lit their fire but didn't sit close by... I guess that's how bushfires can start. Back in Dalby we wanted to have dinner at the RSL club but it was too crowed, the same story was at the pub (and you couldn't get anything for less than 20$) so we had to go to Jack.

Next day was time for the Army Flying Museum in Oakey. Little museum with airplanes and helicopters flown by Army from WWI onwards. There was even a display of the Red Baron, a Bell helicopter and flying box... the guy in the shop topped it all as he could tell a lot of stories about the airplanes as he flew for the Army.

After lunch we went to the Jondaryan Woolshed (www.jondaryanwoolshed.com.au) – an open air museum of rural Australian life. We arrived in time for a guided tour, telling us stories about the houses we're going thru, sheep sharing demonstration and dog working (guarding and droving the sheep). I even had a comb in my hand and was using the “sheep sharing assistance rail”. The next dust storm arrived this evening but it was less windy so the dust settled quicker.

Next day was driving again – we stopped in Roma, the township where they found gas for the first time in Australia. We wanted to stay and have a look at the night show but couldn't get a camp site... there was no possibility to get our pegs into the ground (I think we've to buy steel pegs for the rougher ground) so we kept on driving until reaching Mitchell, stayed one night at the Caravan Park until heading off town to a free camp spot... (recommended by Grey Nomads).