Longreach
Sunday the 30th July we left Lara Wetlands and went to Longreach. We had been keeping in touch with friends, Jon and Heather, who were also touring through outback QLD and so we were hoping to cross paths with them as well. We had met them in 2013 when we were travelling though NT at the same time. It worked out that we could rendezvous at Longreach and we camped close to them at the Apex Park ($3 donation per night).
We took a walk with them to the Thompson River which is right at the campsite.
Then we spent the afternoon chatting and catching up.
The next morning these magnificent brolgas were hanging around the camp as they do trying to get a feed. They are more magnificent in flight and a hoot to listen to as they make their honking sound. I do not subscribe to feeding them so that was not me putting out the bread.
We arranged to do the Qantas tour in the afternoon. We had to replace the gas in one of our tanks and a gas hose had started leaking on us the morning before, so we went into town and attended to those jobs and checked out some of the old buildings and read a bit of the history.
The 747 Jumbo. They had to get permission from CASA to fly and land the 747 to Longreach as it was way to big for the airstrip. They had to do it with minimum weight and fuel and it used every inch of air strip to pull it up.
Douglas DC3.
After a walk in the morning to the river it was time to say goodbye to Jon & Heather. It was great catching up with them. Next stop Winton.
We took a walk with them to the Thompson River which is right at the campsite.
Then we spent the afternoon chatting and catching up.
The next morning these magnificent brolgas were hanging around the camp as they do trying to get a feed. They are more magnificent in flight and a hoot to listen to as they make their honking sound. I do not subscribe to feeding them so that was not me putting out the bread.
We arranged to do the Qantas tour in the afternoon. We had to replace the gas in one of our tanks and a gas hose had started leaking on us the morning before, so we went into town and attended to those jobs and checked out some of the old buildings and read a bit of the history.
After a decent hamburger and chips at the pub we went to the Qantas display. Qantas started at Winton and moved to Longreach before it expanded and went to Brisbane and then became a national and international airline. It was pretty interesting. I will let the photos tell the story for the moment.
The 747 Jumbo. They had to get permission from CASA to fly and land the 747 to Longreach as it was way to big for the airstrip. They had to do it with minimum weight and fuel and it used every inch of air strip to pull it up.
The Boeing 707 was interesting. It was the first 707 commissioned for Qantas. It was bought by a company who made it very fancy with queen size beds and nice bathrooms and teak paneling and furniture to be used by the rich and famous. It had chequered success but it was used at one time by the Jackson Five and there are photos there of Micahel Jackson and the captain and cabin crew.
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