2022 - The Knight Travels: 07/29/22

2 (feels like -1) - 19 (feels like 15) deg C, a mostly sunny day with a few high clouds, the first we've seen for weeks

About 5:45am, Wendy reached out and turned the gas heater on and cranked it up to 27 degC. We both grabbed our clothes and put them in bed with us. We did not throw back the covers for almost an hour; it was that cold, even Greg was happy to stay in bed for a while longer.

The heater stayed on until after breakfast and we were driving out of the rodeo grounds just before 8:30am. Our first stop was one of our favourite places in the West, Heinemann's Bakery at Charleville. If you're early you can grab yourself a Ned Kelly pie; we were lucky. Also got a coffee each that we had in the van, 1: because it was still cold and we did not want to site outside, and 2: the bakery was packed and we're avoiding crowds for the time being.

Onwards to Quilpie. Our next stop was Rick's Jump-up Memorial for a pit stop and to have a look at what it was as there was an Australian Flag flying. This fairly impressive structure in the middle of nowhere, is a memorial to an Australian soldier, Lance Corporal Stjepan Rick "Milo" Milosevic who was KIA in Afghanistan in August 2012, along with two other soldiers. Whilst not born in Quilpie, he moved there with his parents and brother at when he was 2yo. This site chosen for the memorial is for its expansive views over the Channel Country and the significant sense of 'coming home'. The sign saying "pay your respects, but camp elsewhere" is also very fitting. Obviously there have been people camping there previously, as there are now big boulders stopping vehicle access to the memorial area.

Last time we were in Quilpie we stayed at the caravan park, so decided to do something different this visit. We arrived at the Barcoo River free camp, about 1pm, set up, had lunch then a little rest. We then rode into town (bit over 1km) to check out what had changed, if anything. The only thing we did not get to see two years ago was the Quilpie Outback Powerhouse. Quite a modest little museum, but it tells the story how in Greg's lifetime electricity has gone from being available mainly on the coastal strip to being taken for granted, even in the remotest of outback towns. We called into St Finbarr's Parish Church (which is always unlocked every time we've visited it) with its opal altar, lectern and Baptismal font. The locally sourced opals were donated by pharmacist and opal miner Des Burton in 1976. The stained-glass windows were designed and donated by Quilpie locals Bill and Mary Durack. The restored Bell tower was donated by two brothers from Eromanga in memory of a third brother who died as a young man. The Church is really stunning in its simplicity and a fine example of how a community can work together to create such a lovely place.

Murals are very popular in the West and Quilpie is no exception. Adjacent the Info Centre there is an entire installation 43m long, which was completed in 2003 and depicts some of Quilpie Shire's proud history.

Back to the van to make some phone calls and prepare the ingredients for Friday night pizzas. Another episode of '8 out of 10 Cats', then a bit of Friday night footy and all of a sudden it was time for bed.