Saturday, August 6, 2022

Day 90: Sat 6 Aug - Moree to Millmerran, 268km; total towed: 9 899km

11 (feels like 9) - 19 (feels like 16), overcast and a bit dreary at Moree then clear, sunny but cool at Millmerran

After coffee and walks, we were packed up an on the road at 8am. Not much to see between Moree and Goondiwindi so our first stop was at Goondiwindi for 'Bronos' - brekky and mornos combined. We refuelled at the BP truck stop and to celebrate being back in Qld, shouted ourselves Maccas coffee and egg and bacon McMuffins. At least you always know what you're going to end up with. 

Just as we were about to leave the truck stop, a really wide load, being escorted by two Police cars and other civilian vehicles, pulled out in front of us, . We had to wait what felt like ages, but was probably less than five minutes. Thank goodness they turned right to Moree while we went left to Toowoomba.

It wasn't long before we arrived at Millmerran. Parked up at the Walpole Park, another free camp, with potable water taps and a dump point over the road. We were one of only three campers then but by the end of the day there were 10 of us. The park is still a bit squishy in places from recent rain; the newcomers have certainly left their marks, but it's drying out fast. We had lunch, a little rest then hit the streets of Millmerran, on foot. It's not really big enough to warrant getting the bikes off the back of the van.  By following a heritage trail we managed to cover most of the sights on offer in this interesting little town. Although we did leave a couple so there's something to do next time we stop here.

Back to the van for exercises and stretches and blog preparations. About 5:30pm we set off for the Mill Inn Tavern, about 1.3km away. We had a mid-paced walk there and were warm on arrival. It is a very good-looking pub; soon ordered and chose a table outside away from the smokers. There was, however, a group of kids (and their mums) nearby enjoying the playground, until one got smacked in the mouth with a mini-golf stick. A bit of claret flowed but she was okay, as evidenced by her eating her dinner a few minutes later. Our meals arrived very quickly; they were plentiful and cooked to perfection. The walk home was a bit slower just to help the digestion.

Another fantastic day on the wallaby in Australia.


Bird life on Wendy's morning walk


Morning reflections on the Mehi

Outside the Moree Services Club, we ate here in 2013

The big, wide load pulling out of the BP Goondiwindi Truck Stop

A few Wattles in flower make for a great contrast











Seating outside the library



ANZAC Memorial Park


The BIG Cello, completed in 1994





Transport Depot - murals showing the development of transport 
from horse drawn drays in the 19th Century to the early part of the 20th Century




Millmerran Clock Tower

Mr Jack West's Café c1918


Elborne's Butchers 1916


Charlie Bremmer Saddlery, c1930s


'Passchandale' Residence boot and saddle manufacturing 1919


1930s Bakery and residence 



Millmerran Camp Oven - they have a camp oven cook-off festival every year


St Andrews Presbyterian

Post Office 1923



St Francis De Sales Catholic Church



Millmerran Water Supply, murals depicting the early days of transporting water in Millmerran





Millmerran has some nice parklands


Us at Walpole Park


The Tavern

Quite sad really, we are coming to the end of another fantastic tour around this fantastic State 
(with a brief foray into NSW), and Country in which we live. This map looks a lot different from the original, mainly due to the trials and tribulations of caravanning.






















Wrap-up and Reflections

The main thing we learned on this trip was to stay flexible. Bad weather interrupted us 25 days into the trip, meaning we had to spend three...