We are on a trip to the north west of Western Australia. The Kimberleys. The Gibb River Rd beckons.
It is going to take a little while in the van, some three and a half months for the journey there and back home. We are first covering some well worn ground heading north west from Brisbane through Roma, Barcaldine, Longreach and Winton.

As with all our road trips there is an early playing of Willie Nelson’s ‘On the road again’. Homealone, is not a huge fan and it took till Dalby before it blasted out of the music box!

First stop after leaving home, some two hours after the planned time, was at Judds Lagoon, a free camp about 60 km from Roma. A nice little spot off the main drag, very quiet with only three others there.
Next morning was Anzac Day. Judds Lagoon is near Yuleba, its main claim to fame is as a staging post for Cobb & Co back in the 1800s. Not a lot happens in these parts these days. The locals today are very focussed on Anzac Day, everything’s (and thats not much) is shut. This presented our first little travelling drama. The need for a diesel top up at the local service station. We had 60km to go to get to Roma, but the range guidance on the speedo was 70km. Rather tight. Problem was the servo didn’t open till 2pm, Anzac Day activities! Allthego set off nursing the truck and van along the road to Roma. Thankfully, we made it there and topped up with 74.6 litres, capacity is 76 litres. 1.4 litres to spare, which accounts for the difference between 60km to Roma and 70 km range. Judgement!

From Roma we made our way through Mitchell and Morven for a night stop over at the Augathella free camp, actually $10. Good facilities here and a number of vans were lined up along the river front. Augathella’s main attraction in the past has been its giant meat ant and a few murals.

It now has a freshly painted water tower, quite impressive design. We also stocked up on some country killed beef at the old butcher shop. Been in the same family for five generations and is supplied by the family’s local property. The butcher is also the local killer and meat inspector so they have it all tied up nicely.

On the road again we headed for Barcaldine with a short stop at Tambo for morning tea followed by lunch the other side of Blackall.

Grasslands are very green and the cattle are up to their thighs in it munching away. Should be a good winter season for the graziers.

Not much has changed in Barcaldine, one of the local motels has set up a small van park with seven grassy drive through powered sites. Only two of us in for the night. Seems to be new for this season, great spot and a block back from the main street.

The old Shakespeare Hotel has been done up and reopened. We had dinner there celebrating the Bards recent 528th birthday. Bit empty, seemed to be only two of us there for the night. The owner told us times were tough. The locals don’t go out much any more, the football was on tonight as well. Very dependant on tourists and she was eagerly awaiting the winter travellers.

We had dinner on the upstairs balcony overlooking the Tree of Knowledge, the structure made from old timbers supplied by an old colleague some years back.

We are now setting off for Winton with a bright sunny blue sky. Must stop at the petrol station for a top up!