Rockhampton was very good, we did lots of bike rides through Kershaw Gardens and each time found something different. We swam at the Pool, visited the Markets, walked through the old part of town, read, roamed the shopping centres, met more people and shared stories of our travels.
Our car was serviced, washed and vacuumed (yay!) and we left Rocky on Tuesday morning, heading for Duaringa where we spent two nights in a free camp. There were about 5 other vans but far apart from each other. We rode our bikes around the town, I read my book for a few hours and walked through the cemetery.
After leaving Duaringa, we stopped in Blackwater to re-visit the house where Matt and Tracey lived 6 years ago and did some shopping then drove on to Emerald where we stayed the night (under a bridge!) Our free campsite backed onto the Botanic Gardens so we had some lovely walks through the gardens. There was even a maze - and we didn't get lost.
We spent the next morning having a look around Emerald. I was here when Tracey had Lochie so we went past the hospital and looked for the place that Matt and I stayed while Tracey was with Lochie.
From Emerald we went to a free camp in Sapphire which is a sapphire mining town. We visited an underground mine in Rubyvale - about 6 kms up the road and met a lovely Qld couple who were the only other people in the camp with us. We went fossicking on a property called Armfest and found ourselves a nice little haul of Sapphires! They were graded and sorted for us and we will send the majority off to be cut and polished. We found a couple of "Star" sapphires which is supposed to be really good. We also found a few yellow ones and a red zircon! It was very exciting. I want to pan for gold now!!
The cows and Guinea fowls farewelled us this morning and we are now at Jericho Showgrounds - only a bus and another van here on a very large space. Tomorrow we will go to Barcaldine and leave the van in a caravan park and do a day trip to Longreach.
My Mum is doing really well, she's even back driving!! Love her so much and am very proud of her.
One of the scenic rides we took through Kershaw Gardens, Rockhampton
Unemployed and sleeping under a railway bridge
The new bridge, the old bridge and the railway bridge
Talking to Steve on the phone at Emerald
The beautiful railway station at Emerald. I caught the train from
here 6 years ago after Lochie was born
It's so quaint!
Our home for two nights in Sapphire, Qld
One of our 'neigh'bours
This old fellow working the underground Sapphire mine we toured
Big Wheels above the underground mine
Fossicking for sapphire
Find anythin?
YES!! We found quite a few. They will look great when cut and polished!
The property where we found the sapphires
Camels walked through our campsite each night
They were very friendly
Cows, horses and camels roam the town of Sapphire
These popped in this morning to say goodbye
Our campsite for tonight at Jericho, Qld
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