Out and on the road before ten o'clock, we swallowed up the kilometres faster than we expected. The weather deteriorated into rain and the odd flash of lightning, but fortunately no wind. That would have buffeted our little car and not been much fun.
Biloela came and went. We had to give away the chance to travel to Banana, as we were not sure how long this alternate route to Emerald would take. Other places with tongue-twisting names like Dululu and Gogango were also left behind and we were also amused at Dingo and Comet.
We stopped for lunch at the Duaringa servo. The buxom young lady cooking had the air-conditioning cranked up and the kitchen was open to the shop. The environment was both cold and stuffy. We grabbed sandwiches and continued the journey west. We realised that we would arrive at our destination after five hours or at around three o'clock.
Last stop was Blackwater. A coal town, Blackwater was not terribly attractive on a humid and rainy afternoon. Apparently, there is a Japanese Garden and the International Coal Centre to visit. We did pass the Coal Centre - a grey building in a grey town on a grey afternoon. As home to around five thousand people, most employment is provided by the surrounding coal mines. We passed a loading station next to the highway. Coal really is black.
Emerald loomed on the horizon. We immediately brightened. The rain had stopped and the sky was slowly clearing. However, at twenty-six degrees and one hundred percent humidity, we had a tease of the conditions that were standard during the wet and hot summer months.
We booked into Emerald Caravan and Cabin Park. Adjacent to the aquatic centre and gold club, our cabin was more modern and cheaper than Monto. I launched into washing in the laundry and completed that task before we walked to dinner at the golf club.
We watched Sunday night television and crawled into our very comfy bed. The only problem we encountered was the warm night. The blankets went up and down as we slowly acclimatised.
Our cabin in Monto.
Sister City to where?
Banana, the bullock we didn't visit.
Try saying Dululu after a couple of vino.
The Central Highlands have been settled for well over a hundred years.
We didn't dally. Maybe on a sunny day...
Entry statement to Emerald.
And our home away from home for two nights.
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