Day 23: Wed 2 Sep - Emerald to Moura, 300km; total towed: 3 219km

13 -28 degC

We said goodbye to Emerald about 8:15 and headed out to Maraboon Dam.  Yep there was a dam there, undergoing some spillway repairs, with not a lot of water, but that could be deceiving.  It didn’t tickle our fancy as a stopover so we kept moving.  Next stop was for mornos at a rest stop just outside of Springsure, looking up at the Minerva Hills which are part of a National Park we’ll visit one day.  

Springsure was next, just for a wander and a break from a rather rock and roll road, in places anyway. Rolleston ended up being a pit stop at the local park.  We’d stopped at this park in 2015 with Gunther and Yvonne after a great few days at the Carnarvon Gorge, and on our way to Rubyvale.

We pulled into the free camp on the Dawson River, 7km short of Moura at 1:05, just in time for lunch.  It’s a well set out camp with good amenities so we didn’t mind putting our donation in the box.  Even out here in the sticks you’re required to fill out a COVID Form. 

After lunch we headed into Moura on the bikes, and although it was along the highway the traffic was light and very courteous.  At the Miners Memorial we found the name of two local lads from Howard who Greg had gone to school with.   They had some horrific accidents here over the years which claimed many lives.  The memorial is a small token of the sacrifice these men gave.  The ride back to base camp was much quicker due to the direction of breeze.  

Nice to be out in the bush surrounded by like-minded people enjoying a sundowner and great company.

Above and below - Minerva Hills

Painting on the front of a container at Moura

On the side of the container listed above

Main street of Moura

Greg went to school with this guy and knew him well

Mural on the side of a building at Moura, cute dog, pity about the airconditioner position though

Bicentennial Monument to the Miners

Downstream of Maraboon Dam, upgrade to the spillway underway

Maraboon Dam

Scenery

Springsure Cenotaph

Just had to get the Rising Sun Army badge as well!

More scenery

Coffee van at Beazley Park, Rolleston

Scarred tree at Rolleston

Monument to the Stockmen and Stockwomen of Rolleston

Hides the dump point, at Rolleston

Beazley Park at Rolleston - a busy stopover for the grey nomads

Pretty flash entrance, we thought

Tells you how rough the road is

Moura

Same cute doggie as before, 

Our afternoon ride

Apex Park free camp (donation appreciated), we are far left

Dawson River at Apex Park

Another sign to protect the idiots

On the wall of the amenities at Apex Park