Emerald

Tuesday, 12 June 2018

Tree of Knowledge

Quite spectacular at night

Lake Maraboon

Boat ramp

Them again!

Dam wall

After revisiting the Tree of Knowledge the night before, we were on the road at our usual time on Tuesday, this time heading due east towards Emerald.  Once again, it was a slow and gradual climb, despite the road being long and straight with little traffic.  Not much to see today as far as wildlife was concerned, four emus, some goats, some hump backed cattle and Himself saw some camels!  After passing through Alpha, the road narrowed to such an extent that the fog line disappeared, it became hillier and bendier and the traffic increased as we crossed the Great Dividing Range.  Once we were again on the open plains, we came across an immense cotton plantation to the west of Emerald.

We arrived at the Emerald Cabin and Caravan Park shortly after noon and despite having booked some days earlier, there was no record of us!  The receptionists were very good, found us a drive-thru site and apologised many times for the mix us.  The park is right beside the golf course (with very high netting protecting the caravans) and our section is very barren with no shade, although other parts have trees and some grass.  It is okay for two nights but we will be glad to move on – we have a close neighbour who clears her lungs and stops her hacking cough by having another cigarette.

About 6.00 pm on Monday evening, I received a telephone call asking if I still required the site reservation in my name.  After explaining we had been here since lunch time, it quickly became apparent that we were in the wrong caravan park.  Oops!!!  More apologies …

Today was a chance to catch up on the necessary housework (clothes still get dirty, somehow), enjoy a massage, stock the frig and cupboards and go for a drive to Lake Maraboon and the Fairbairn Dam. The water was well down, possibly because of work being undertaken on the slipway.  Although still very hot (28 degrees), some cloud cover came over about lunch time and increased the humidity.  As we drove south to the lake, we could see storm clouds to the south and the radar showed rain at Carnarvon Gorge – quite glad now we weren’t able to go there!