Camel Races
Trip Start
Unknown
1
12
21
Trip End
Ongoing
Boulia , Queensland, Australia
Monday, July 26, 2010
Birdsville Road inaccessible to us again. Michelle and Ian are heading back to Sawtell and so its two vans heading back to Longreach. We revisit the Swanvale Jump-up for a cuppa and north of
Stonehenge, decide to collect some rocks and leave our names on the side of the road, along with hundreds of others. Its nice to leave a mark on the landscape that's not destroying it.
On to Longreach, which is a sleepy hollow on Sundays. Into the park to catch up on washing.
Monday July 12
Up early and into the supermarket to refill the frig and by 10am we’re on the road to Winton with Bill and Kath. It’s a very flat uninteresting drive and we are ready for lunch. This is the home of Banjo Paterson’s poem 'Waltzing Matilda’ and the information centre is the heart of the town. Must have plenty of passing traffic to keep 3 pubs going. We drifted into ‘Searles’ an old time shop that sells everything, and towards the rear of the shop there is a door, and there it is even more stuff. Some old, some new, lots of cobwebs and dust, but must make a living. We all purchased, so there you go.
We have set up camp this afternoon half way to Boulia, and are blown away at the beauty. Trees ,escarpments and birds and the sunset reflecting off the hills.The clear sky tonight is ablaze with stars and we have been looking out for the Min Min lights. We have seen something in the distance. Was it the light? Who knows?
Tuesday July 13 Its hot on our arrival in Boulia. The annual Boulia Camel Races are on this weekend, and so the population in town grows by the hour. Camping is around the racecourse/rodeo ground, so it is easy access to the festivities, and an van metropolis is growing.We found a great spot near the Burke River away from the crowd.
Wednesday July 14 We wake to a crisp winter morning with clear skies. We keep the fire burning all day. An easy relaxing day . Thursday July 15 and we are going to the Min Min Encounter show. Its excellent. There is no explanation for the light, so it remains a mystery. We did the famous pub meal tonight ‘crumbed steak’ specialty of the house. Can definitely recommend it.
Friday July 16 and today is the start of the Camel Race Schedule..A twilight race tonight gives us our first experience as camels zig zag across the track and even sit down. The riider has no reins and has a small saddle behind the hump. Doesn’t look at all confortable. Saturday night finishes with a great firework display and a local band that keeps the place pumping til midnight. Sunday is the Cup and we couldn’t pick the winner, but the locals seemed to have the inside information and most made money on ‘Reggie Boy’. All in all we enjoyed our time in Boulia.
