Our Toyota was booked in at Longreach at 8.45am for the 100,00kms service. At 7.45am Toyota called to ask if we could bring the car early, because they had one employee sick and a service cancellation. Fortunately we were up early so could leave straight away and dropped off the car 10 minutes later.
As we walked towards the Merino Bakery for breakfast, a boy fell off his bike making a loud clang. The boy was not hurt but Bluey was frightened, so much so that he trembled for half an hour all through our breakfast. For the rest of the morning he was very clingy and wanted to sit on a lap each time we stopped.
The rain continued on and off throughout the night, leaving muddy patches in the caravan park and parts of town. As we finished breakfast a rainbow appeared and the threat of more rain ended.
We visited almost every shop, had a second coffee, and lunch at the Birdcage Hotel before the car was ready. The Toyota Service Centre is just off the main street so we had planned to spend time loitering.
The work wear shop had a huge selection of jeans on display, followed by an impressive variety of thongs.
Some buildings have retained most of their original architectural features, but the Shire Hall has unattractive aluminium doors and windows. Two earlier shire halls were destroyed by fire.
The undercover car park behind the main street has overtones of aircraft design, mixed with large wagon wheels (or propellors) at each end.
Opposite the Birdcage this fence is covered in bras. The Galah St building occupants include two radio stations. The bra fence helped raise awareness of breast cancer.
Back at our caravan Tilly needed attention so I walked her and let her have time in the critters’ crate. The birds cheekily came close to the crate seemingly aware Tilly was confined. I sat with her and an exhausted Blue, then prepared our car and van for departure tomorrow – lubricated towing fittings, sprayed electrical connections, cleaned the mirrors, put away the critters’ crate and Tilly’s tunnel, and packed away the awning.
We have to keep an eye on flood warnings because several minor roads are already closed due to flooding. The Thompson River at Longreach is steady at 1.38m, and there is a flood warning for the Barcoo River.
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