Tues 11/6/2013 continued Return from Tomahawk Fossicking Area to Rubyvale
On the way home the car’s gear stick would not move from P into D without pushing the gear release button, and the cruise control and brake lights stopped working. When we got back to the caravan park Gerd checked all the fuses but could find nothing wrong. (Once before a broken fuse had caused a similar problem).
Wednes 12 /6/2013 Rubyvale to Barcaldine
This morning Gerd checked all the fuses again and found nothing wrong but still we had the same problem. We made an appointment to see a recommended auto electrician in Sapphire at 11:00am. When we started the car to go to his workshop everything worked perfectly! He checked all the fuses and wiring but could find nothing wrong. He put in two new fuses, gave us a couple of extras (just in case), charged us $10, and sent us on our way so we hooked up the caravan and set off.
We crossed Jordan Creek (which is just south of Lake Galilee) and entered Jericho. We stopped at the i Centre so see the earthenware sculptures called “The Crystal Trumpeters” which celebrate the biblical story of the march by the Israelites around the original Jericho. In the i Centre they also have earthenware sculptures of the old houses in this village of Jericho. With an ice-cream under our belts (which are getting tighter all the time) we were on our way again.
We pulled into the show ground in Barcaldine and because it promised to be a warm night took an unpowered site ($17 instead of $26 for a powered site).
In the centre of Barcaldine, in front of the railway station is a monument to the 1891 shearers strike which saw the promulgation of trade unionism in Australia and the birth of the Labour Party. The 200 year old ghost gum tree under which the strikers met and planned their strategies died inspite of intensive care in 2006. The trunk and root ball have been preserved and a wooden structure built over it. From the distance it looks like a huge wooden crate but as you approach it you can see that it is a stylised tree canopy created from hanging timbers. It is actually very beautiful. We walked back later in the evening to see it illuminated by coloured lights. Around the base is a glass walkway through which you can see the root ball. It is called The Tree of Knowledge.
Heather is very sick again so we phoned Lynette for news.
Thurs 13/6/2013 Barcaldine to Longreach
We inspected the Tree of Knowledge again this morning. It is a very clever, unique design. We spent several hours visiting the Australian Workers Heritage Centre which celebrates the lives and achievements of working men and women in Australia.
We stopped to eat lunch in the park next to the artesian spar at Infracombe. While we were there a police car pulled up in front of where we were parked and started breathalising passing motorists. As we pulled out we said “hallo” and offered them each a chocolate which they willingly received.
All the way from Barcaldine to Longreach there was lots of road work and LOTS of road kill, mainly roos.
In Longreach we pulled into a caravan park and then went up the main street, looking to buy an i phone so we can keep in contact better, but Telstra had none in stock.
After the evening meal an old man in the caravan opposite us put on a singing/guitar playing concert for the park residents. We bought one of his singles called “I want to be a Refugee”, humorously comparing the welfare handouts for refugees with that available for pensioners.
Rang Lynette and then Heather. Heather’s breathing has improved so that is an answer to our prayers.
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