I went for a very nice walk along the Balonne River this afternoon at St George. It's a really nice, wide, very brown river. Very peaceful, apart from the occasional water skier. 
Of course, all that water means that cotton is a big industry out here. Apparently so much that they felt the need to remind people by etching it into the footpath. I know it's clichéd, but the people I've talked to have been really friendly. I've also discovered that the best way to make your self known as a New South Welshman is to order a schooner of New in a pub. I know now it's all about pots of XXXX. It's those little things one needs to learn...
On a final note, St George seems to be in a weird media market, as the TV has ads for the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales. Weird.
I got a GPS thingy before I left, and so I can tell you that my GPS coordinates are 28º 02' 01.9" S 148º 35' 13.3" E. If you copy and past into Google you can see where I am.
I had planned a blog entry around a photo I was going to take of the "Welcome to Queensland" sign that I envisaged. One small problem... there was no sign or any acknowledgment whatsoever where I crossed at Mungindi.
No dramas on the road today, just hot and boring! The road was very quiet once I turned off the Newell Highway at Moree. I guess I might have passed a car every 50kms or so.
I left Newcastle at 7am, after packing a few final things. I think I forgot my thongs though! They would be very handy because I think I may be developing an ingrown toe nail, as it's very sore and a bit swollen. It's a pretty damn inconvenient time to be developing one if that's what it is! I realise that's probably a pretty weird thing to post on a blog, but hey, role with it.
Pretty tired, but okay, and the car is thus far going fine!
UPDATE: I found my thongs in the car so my toe is now living a life of luxury!
I'm going to take three days to drive to Mount Isa, around 700-750kms a day.
This is the way I'm gonna go:
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I'm leaving Newcastle on the 10th of January, and aiming to make it to St George, hometown of Barnaby Joyce, on the first night. That'll be 750kms.
The second night I'm going to aim for Barcaldine (I'm not sure how to pronounce this town, can anyone help?), which will be 723kms.
The last day will be 742 kms, and take me all the way to Mount Isa.
That's a total of 2215kms over three days! A long, long way...
Of course, all that water means that cotton is a big industry out here. Apparently so much that they felt the need to remind people by etching it into the footpath. I know it's clichéd, but the people I've talked to have been really friendly. I've also discovered that the best way to make your self known as a New South Welshman is to order a schooner of New in a pub. I know now it's all about pots of XXXX. It's those little things one needs to learn...
On a final note, St George seems to be in a weird media market, as the TV has ads for the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales. Weird.
