May 23, 2009

Firstly a correction for yesterday. The pic from Emerald wasn't the Post Office but the Railway Station. DUH. Also neglected to say we had passed several road trains which was interesting. Thankfully no cattle trucks amongst them! We also enjoyed a spectacular cloudy outback sunset which neither the phone or camera could do justice to the colour and followed that up with dinner at the pub across the road.

So today. Sleep in, breakfast at a local cafe then off to the Qantas Founders Museum which was awesome. Will have to come back at a later date to actually tour through the retired but fully functioning Boeing 747 (the plane credited with putting international travel in reach of ordinary citizens and being the death knell for shipping travel - Qantas donated it to the museum on the 82nd birthday of Qantas in 2002 and it will never leave as the runway is too short for take-off) and the Boeing 707 (the plane which connected Australia with efficient volume travel - this one found in England and restored for flight by volunteers). Not enough time today. Next port of call was the Stockman’s Hall of Fame which again was awesome and a great tribute to the grit, determination and courage of the pioneers and current residents of the outback. Must confess it's always a bit disturbing to see so many implements and bits and pieces of supposed historic stuff that I recognise from growing up on our farm so you do have to wonder about the true authenticity of some things......or not.

Kicking back now, Norm is comparing notes with some fellow bikers and it feels like it is about beer o'clock. Off to the RSL for dinner tonight. The people in the next room yesterday had said it was a 7min walk so had decided against it then this morning we tripped over it about 1min from here! Now admittedly the man was a smoker so may have had to stop periodically to get enough wind to continue but I reckon I could push an iron lung there in 3 minutes and that's with a bit of a dodgy knee. Takes all types I guess.



Notice found in the bar last night. The publican says #3 is popular.



A couple of good looking bikes (I know a recurring theme) parked up at the Qantas Founders Museum with the Boeing 747 in the background.



Bikes again and Norm at the Stockman’s Hall of Fame where the air-conditioning was so good we were uncomfortably cold