23rd May, (Pop and GA’s Birthdays)
Doing todays, 23rd May and tomorrows blog all in one posting on the 24th May
Travelled 300km today after leaving Belyando Crossing Roadhouse. Had a quick stop in Clermont, stopping at the bakery to buy a couple of sausage rolls for morning tea. Then had a look down at the pond as we left town having a chat to some very friendly geese. Travelled through Capella another very small town before we reached Emerald which was much bigger and more spread out . Turning off and driving 20km out of town we arrived at our destination at the Big 4 Caravan Park at Lake Maraboon. We will spend two nights here by the lake. Not much to do here but just a nice quiet peaceful setting to have a break from driving. Coming in we drove over a big dam but no water flowing, too dry at this time of year to fill the Lake. Not a lot of people in camp but could get busier for the weekend. It is a good fishing area and also catching Red Claw similar to a crayfish but smaller. They are caught in Pots which they leave over night and collect their catch in the morning.
Clermont,
Old Pub next to the bakery. These small towns are so quiet hardly ever see anyone. Not sure how I well cope with so many people around when we get home. I’ve become a bit of an outbacker but not going as far as I’m an Aussie.
These old train carriages, which have been painted of local scenery in the area. They sit just across from the Pub.
Went down to the pond at Clermont and saw these guys very friendly came right up to me.
Looking down the pond the other way at a small fountain.
Now leaving Clermont heading to Emerald .
Ploughing season and new planting going on but we are not sure what it is. Looks like some sort of wheat.
Looking over the fields to a mountain range far away.
Don’t think I have mention about these Mobile receiver aerials all through the outback. Different companies have their own aerials We are always looking far in the distance when we are out of range saying wonder if that’s our aerial coming up. We are with Telstra. There are three in this photo, usually they stand alone
Back crossing the Tropic of Capricorn in Queensland just as we were approaching Emerald. Remember we crossed it just north of Alice Springs in Northern Territory.
Approaching Emerald.
Emerald is a big area, spread out town.
Now arrived at the Big 4 Holiday Park Lake Maraboon 20 kms out from Emerald. Very quiet peaceful spot for a two night stop.
Our site, all this area, concrete slab and all the lawn area. Looking through the trees down to the lake.
Looking over the boulders on our site down to the lake.
Half way down to the lake through the trees.
Lovely spacious area away from it all.
To the right of the above picture.
Zoomed in on a car that must have launched his boat and left everything there until he gets back from fishing. Lots of different fish in this lake including Red Claw which I will talk about tomorrow.
Getting ready to have a drive out to the Dam just four kms from camp and some fellow campers had just been out in their boat to pick up their Red Claw pots which they leave out over night. Wasn’t sure about holding one but all good. This one has his claws spread right out.
He has now tucked his claws in. See the bright red claws hence their name Red Claw. I don’t feel so threatened now. They vary in size but can go up to about 45cm between claws stretched out. Tip to tip.
Fresh Red Claw todays catch just being pick up from their pots straight out of the lake.
Already to cook in their shells, divided from their bodies and claws as you can see above. We were just off to see the dam so these campers said they will all be cooked by mid day and they would bring us some to try. They were just great, so fresh and very like our crayfish. Yummy. Real treat.
Heading out to see the dam.
Woke up to a full cloudy day. First day in our whole trip. Up to now it’s been blue sky everyday. We are up in the park that looks over the Dam.
View over the Dam. Lake on the left is very low in water so no action at the dam. Road runs across the dam centre.
This is all the information re all the different breeds of fish.
Just getting ready to take photos of the dam and these guys came down to say hello.
Looking over where the water flows over when the lake gets full. Which will be a long way from where it is now. Love to see it when it reaches it peak.
Now looking down further where it flows away.
Looking on the other side of the top of the dam. Road running across the top. Would probably estimate the height of the wall under the supports would be about 10m high. In photo below you can see how far out the lake is from this wall which is under the bridge.
Crossing over the Dam looking out over the very low lake. A lot of water needed to even bring the water near the top of the dam which is under us.
Crossing over
Over the other side looking back at the lake. All that area would be covered in water when the big rains come.
We have now walked up to a look out point on the other side. Just remember the top of the dam would be about 10m higher than the dry land on the lake side. Someone told us that the water came up to the top of the bridge once. Hard to believe.
Crossing back over looking down the flow off side. All the water drains out the bottom through big cut outs through the green area below. Would be amazing to see it all in the height of the wet season.
The bird life is amazing around here. Obviously Kookaburras. They are so tame. So many different birds. They make a racket in the trees as the sun goes down.
It stayed overcast all day. We leave tomorrow for Carnarvon Gorge National Park about 230km south so not too long driving. Looking forward in doing several of the walks through the Gorge, but won’t have time to do them all. If you did them all it would be about 19kms. Hope the sun comes back as it’s nicer if the gorge is lit up with light. Not sure if we will be out of range for the next two days in the Gorge. Watch this space.
How about this for a tree.
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