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Dating for people with experience   Upgrade Now  Help  Log off Upgrade Now! Instant Messenger (95) Home My Account Chat (26) Search/Browse Friends My Lists Magazine  Video  Blogs  Get Local  Groups Blogs > LillyPink > Life, be in it > My trip from FNQ to Melbourne My trip from FNQ to Melbourne Watch Post | Post a comment LillyPink 7/28/2008 9:23 pm [Post a comment] Last Read: 8/28/2008 8:10 pm

After I had packed my household gear, sold bits and peices, gave to charity what I did not want, I put everything else in storage, except some clothing whch took the whole back seat of my car and in the boot, I had my 3 birds, Billy, Petal and Cheeky, their foodstuffs and water and a water sprayer.{The birds were in a cage!] In the front seat was Molly my siamese in her cat box. Everyone was comfy. The week previous I had my car battery checked, new tyres on, oil check and lubed....

I turned the ignition on and left Townsville, FNQ, in the tropics of Australia, to drive to Melbourne via Mt Isa.

I had a long term relationship friend there. He had been discussing a future for us both.

After 10 hours driving through the dusty roads, looking at the scenery of dry land, the cattle, driving through some hick towns, only stopped to stretch my legs and to spray the birds and Molly. Petrol stops also included opening the boot lid to the amazement of other travellers or staff at the Servos. Spraying the birds and them talking to me... Good Morning Honey, I love you and wolf whistles were given to me often by my birds. Children packed around my car when they saw what was there. It really was a treat I suppose seeing a lone woman driving with pets.... Molly I must tell you was not amused.

I drove through a locust invasion! This took hours to clean off my car, in my radiator, under my bonnet... oh it was a real mess. I saw lots of interesting fauna, this included little stumpy trees that are called Black Boys locally. And slate as I was nearing Mt Isa, pink slate everywhere.

We finally arrived in Mt Isa after driving 833klms. Lins made me shower and took me out to dinner. I told him there and then, I was going to Melbourne but would stop a few days to visit. Oh he put on a show! He got hopping mad and angry, drank lots and became abusive. I tried to reason with him, but in the end I was so scared I packed my car up whilst he was out working. And drove...... and drove and drove.... I turned off my mobile so I was uncontactable. And drove.

What beautiful scenery coming down.... it had rained in parts so was boggy in places. I had decided as I did not know my way I would stop at all petrol stops to top up my tank. My first stop, was a dingy little truck stop, food was dry looking [ like it had been out of the fridge or on the hot plates for days. Toilet stop and it had to be the filthiest place I have ever been to. I will never forget that place. It was horrid. Only to find when I got back in the car and drove a klm and found a pub with a petrol bowser there and it looked as though it had people there enjoying themselves!

I drove until nightfall and called into a motel. Paid for my night there as I said if I woke early I would just get up and drive....this I did at all the motels I stayed at. Early the next morning I drove off. At this hour I saw so many wild animals, Emus with their chicks, wild cattle, kangaroos, big huge kangaroos. Birds, lovely budgies, cockatoos, coloured birds of all shapes and sizes and varieties..drovers shifting the cattle on horseback, whips cracking, it really was a sight to behold.

I noted the petrol price difference at all servos. Most people were still tickled pink over the birds and Molly in the car and how happy they were. They certainly created excitment as I think I was the only person anyone had seen with this type of animals whilst travelling.... or probably the only one crazy enough to be driving all this way with them lol.

Late afternoon and I thought I had better quit driving as I was tiring...... and found a lovely motel after topping up with petrol. I must admit at the motels I only showed my birds... not Molly. I would sneak her in at dark and lay paper down with dirt for her to toilet. She slept with me. As I am writing this story she is here making sure she gets a mention! Chewing on my fingers [is this because she is embarrassed, one would ask?] As I arrived at this motel I saw a flat tyre! Its 4pm and in a strange place. The motel owner came to my rescue, and called RACQ [Yes I am still in Queensland!] But I found the garage over the road would come over and do it all for $15. Sold the job to the friendly blokes at the garage....

I was hungry after settling my animals. [birds outside to amuse the other people at the motel, Molly hiding inside] and asked for directions to town. I found a nice little restaurant who hurried my meal as I told them I had been driving for days, [and obviously looked it, as they did hurry!] Had my first best meal and called in for fresh fruit and biscuits to carry for the next day or two travelling.

Up early once more and off on the road, more of the same scenery but had been raining more here towards the NSW border end of Queensland. Some green grass [ this was of course end of March 2007] but not alot of greenery, lots of flat scenery, more emus and cows, kangas early in the mornings. Cows walking lazily across the road because really, they did have all day to get where they wanted to. I noted the trees, sparse of foliage, old and knotty looking.

I must mention at nights at the motels, I called my daughter to say where I was and thought how long I would be. Turned off the phone to save on charge. It was at the first motel I realised I had left my charging cord in Mt Isa and I was not about to turn around and go back! This last motel was probably the most welcome to me. I was tired of travelling and asked which is the best way to attack my tomorrows travels, he said through the Kidman Way of course! and showed me on the map. He also said it would only take a few hours, and that it was dirt road also.{It wasnt dirt road, he must have used it many years ago!}

Molly was tiring of me, and when petted she growled. I noted she now had a swollen tail at the base..... I knew this would be making her miserable... still my birds were happy travelling and got used to my spraying them with water every time I stopped.

Up at 4am, made myself a cuppa, packed the car again [with my pets] and off! Very slowly this time as it was earlier than usual for driving, kangas were out in full force and happy now as I knew I would be seeing my daughter today!

This was the most scenic route as it was not so dry and dusty.

Molly was growling the whole day, she was suffering with her tail I suspect. After all this time I dont know what it was, perhaps a small spider bite I dont know, it healed itself within a day or two of arriving in Melbourne.

Twice more I drove through locust invasions. Really thick and heavy. They left yellow muck [their insides] and green bodies squashed as before, all through my bonnet. Even now 17 months later I can still pull out a dead green carcass of a locust.

I rang my daughter when I got close by. She had left home to meet me so I did not have to travel on the motorways of Melbourne.

I had to stop twice for some cows being moved by drovers. The last lot was really wonderful to watch.Those huge wonderful beasts... one had a sore leg. She was going ever so slowly. She really was favouring her leg. The drover got off his motorbike. and walked lazily up to her. Guided her to the other side of the road so as I could pass. She decided she did not like that side and wanted to walk in front of me... I motioned to the drover it was fine and I drove ever so carefully past her so as not to make her run on her sore hoof. I can still see that picture in my mind. I dont think I will ever forget it and I dont know for why.

At 3 pm I met my daughter and son in law in Seymore. She drove my car back into Melbourne to her place. Another 2477 klms or 1548 miles, in all a total of 3310 klms on my own in 4 days. It was lovely to actually know I would not be driving again in the near future.... but did I have a future here...... another story is on its way....