Lee & Jim's Travels: Sapphire and Emu Park

Hi All

The last blog update had us heading for Barcaldine which has the tree of knowledge on the way out of Longreach a very large lizard cross the road it must have been over 2m long because it covered half of the road, did not get picture but had to swerve to miss it.

We had a good look round Barcaldine but could not find a money tree but we did see the tree of knowledge which has been surrounded by a very large wooden cover in which has been built a wooden wind musical instrument. Barcaldine is a clean well laid out lovely little town and were the Union movement was first founded in Australia.

We then made tracks for Sapphire to meet up with Troy, Kasey and the grand kids which Lee is hanging out for (we had a look at the Blue Gem caravan park but it had no shade and it did not have a swimming pool so we headed for Rubyvale to look at the caravan park there but noticed the sign for Sapphire Caravan Park so followed the road up to the caravan park which was on top of a hill and we were blown away with it so we booked us in for a week and the kids in for 4 days.

We all had a great time in this caravan park watching the owner feed the wildlife, the kids watched from the bbq area, which is a excellent area to have a drink and chat.

We did some fossicking at Armfest mine and the kids found some bits of sapphire and other gem stones.

We also did some touring around the general area and dug up some dirt in the creek in Willows gem fields then took them back to the caravan park and washed it but did not find any gems in the dirt.

We were surprised when Noel and Judy came into the Caravan Park for a few days we first met them in Apollo Bay, we caught up with them later for a drink or two and a chin wag, it was good to see them again

We then headed to Emu Park on the coast where we were to meet up with John and Di from Townsville. The grand kids could not believe the size of John & Di Fifth wheeler

The kids left to go to Sydney and we stayed on for a few days more with John and Di.

We then headed to Rockhampton to have a look round the area.