THE FINAL RUN HOME ....

Another great trip -- six months looking at our amazing Country: agriculture, mining, landscapes and fossicking centres were all on our agenda. Interspersed with that, more importantly, were the people ... old friends and new.

Having driven through hundreds of kilometres of drought-affected country, it was refreshing to drive up the Bunya Mountains from Kumbia. It was cool and green at the summit, with lovely rainforest including Bunya Pines ... but a very short distance down all sides, drought conditions prevailed. I must just mention “prickly pear”. For those of you who love making jam from the fruit I can report the plants are flowering prolifically, indicating there’ll be a good crop for you in autumn. And we've noticed a variety with yellow flowers, instead of red – is this a new strain which may be resistant to cactoblastis? Hope not.

Kumbia has a great ‘free’ stop, almost. You pay for power now. The first night there was none. The Council workers explained that they’d been visited by vandals, who had also wrecked the men’s’ shower. Everyone used the women’s shower. But there was power available for our second night, and we still contributed our donation for the upkeep of this beautiful place ... lovely shady trees to camp under.

A night at Kingaroy Showgrounds allowed us to visit the shopping centre and stock up our ‘fridge again.

Then Goomeri showgrounds ... at $15 per night it’s good value, and you can walk into the village to partake of excellent coffee. Barry and Carole come here for the Pumpkin Festival at the end of May ... though I think it will be much colder then. Right now the afternoons are reaching into the high 30’s. But like so many rural towns, Goomeri businesses are suffering from the drought too – there’s no money coming into the town from farming to be circulated around the businesses.

G20 is happening in Brisbane currently ... is that why Google won’t bring up my Facebook page or my BLOG? Has everything been closed down for this, er, event?

Peter and Judy have cleaned our house, including the carpets. What thoughtful people. We hope they've enjoyed their six months in our house.

Since tomorrow is predicted to be a 40º day, we plan to leave early for the 2½ hour run home .... and we pray for no holdups with traffic, fires or our vehicle. Any rain or floods? Not likely.

PS. I have to apologise to G20 -- Google is working now! But it won't upload pics! Urgh.