Emerald to Barcaldine (Barky)

Distance travelled today 313 kms
Distance travelled so far 1,920 kms

Emerald is a town with it all, it has Big W; Best & Less; Reject Shop; Woolies and Coles and plenty of places to eat! We took the opportunity to get a few extra clothing items as we did not get the opportunity for laundry at the Gorge! For dinner we had Red Rooster!! This is all handy information to know if you are heading inland as it is probably your last opportunity to go to these stores.

We have headed inland now on the Capricorn Highway, a slower pace today as it is not a great distance this leg.  We stopped on the way out of Emerald to see the Van Gough Picture Easel in the park! This is bigger than we had imagined! Onwards to Alpha! We decided it would be the lunch stop and they had murals to look at but the bakery had no food due to waiting on a part for the mixer and the Cafe was closed. It is a lovely little town if you turn right instead of left at the Cafe and perhaps if we get back this way we will stop in and try the bakery eats!

It was then onto Jericho on the banks of the Jordan River! Stopped at the Tourist information Centre which is joined to the Post Office and saw the miniature clay village in there of the town. Outside is a sculpture of Joshua and on the other side is a sandstone circle installation which tells the Biblical story of Joshua and Jericho although it needs some TLC as some pictures have faded.

Here there was a Telstra payphone too - so I called my parents for free!

Onwards to Barcaldine and stayed at Barcaldine Tourist and Caravan Park Contact Barcaldine Tourist and Caravan Park - Barcaldine Tourist and Caravan Park we stayed in a nice cabin equipped with microwave; electric frying pan, kettle; cutlery including a bottle opener and can opener! It was a comfortable stay. We headed up to IGA for some stores for dinner and got 2 large Rump steaks for under $7 for both. It is one thing we have found out here - meat is reasonably priced as a lot use local meat.

After dinner we headed up to see the Tree of Knowledge which is really lovely at night with the lighting. Barcaldine Tree of Knowledge Festival ... Bring Back the Sheep

Another morning with time to look around town. We went to the Local Museum; Masonic Lodge; Anglican Church and Elm Street before heading to the Australian Workers Heritage Centre which is a museum with many exhibits - a Police Cell; Railway Station; Shearers Strike information display; The Young-un which is a Tree that Primary Industries used the Tree of Knowledge's DNA to grow! It has a one teacher school room, Display of Women at Work & Emergency Services.  The location is great and you could spend more time than we did/had to take it all in. Australian Workers Heritage Centre - Barcaldine Outback Qld's Premier Heritage Museum 

We went to the bakery before going to look at the Radio Picture Theatre building, worth the look as it is made from tin but designed to look like bricks! It still runs today, but sadly not on the night we were there.

We headed up the top of the lookout tower at the back of the Information Centre and then headed onwards to Ilfracombe. 

Ilfracombe Caravan Park was our home for two nights and very comfortable. Recently taken over by a lovely couple I am sure it will only get better! (But well worth the stay now).  Accommodation Ilfracombe 

As it was 26'C on our arrival we decided to take the opportunity to wash. The laundry here is great - 2 big machines and dryers but also plenty of line space for hanging. We didn't have pegs but clothes stayed on by just throwing them over! Be aware though that there is only one channel on the TV here!

We had dinner at the Wellshot Hotel next door - best crumbed steak and a great works burger too! Do yourself a favour if going through and eat here!! Home (wellshothotel.com.au)