Day 155 – Victoria Hotel Goondiwindi.

 In a country town almost always on a crossroad in the main street you will find one of those watering holes.  That if walls could talk, tall tales would be told.  The ‘Vic’ hotel started out as single story, shingled building that people use to ride their horses to.  It was said some rode their horses in and lassoed themselves a drink.   In the 1956 flood a gentleman took his boat into the bar.  Well I guess he couldn’t miss happy hour!

Day 58 – Nindigully Pub 1864.

  It has been said that I don’t mind a watering hole every now and again.  So when travelling on the vast open roads of the outback (the land of big hats).  You really can’t pass up an opportunity to spend some time seeing if the walls will talk.  Nindigully Pub is no exception.  It used to be a stopping point for the Cobb and Co Stage where if you didn’t buy the driver a drink it was likely you were forgotten for the next leg of the trip.   Subsequently, you were in for a long walk or a big headache waiting for the next coach to come.

Day 53 – Dargo Nights.

Dargo Hotel - Victoria Australia

Climbing through the valley the road snakes around the mountains reaching the township of Dargo at the foot of the Dargo High Plains.  A mecca for 4wder’s, dirt bikers, shooters, fisherman, adventures.  The Dargo Hotel has been the starting/finishing point for many a ‘boys trip’ or family adventure.  Established in 1898 the Dargo Hotel was original called the Bridge Hotel in the gold fossicking days.  I’m sure if the walls could talk they might tell many a new and old story.

Day 347: Happy St Paddy Day.

  A tradition that started back in early 17^th century, now in the modern era St Patricks Day seems to have taken over the majority of the world on the 17^th of March each year.  If there is an Irishman to be found, no doubt if he isn’t green by this afternoon he will be in the morning.  Mind you nothing wrong with showing a wee bit of national pride, and that accent, it is just totally ‘grand’, ‘thank you kindly’!    There is something about the Irish spirit that is very infectious and you can’t help but laugh at their love of life when around them.   Recently we went to a friend’s 60^th birthday and he happens to be Irish, and there is no slowing down as they get older either let me tell you – and why should they.  Happy St Paddy’s Day to you all, hope you have a great day/night!

Day 212: A Nation Stands Still.

 The first Tuesday in November, fashion houses clap their hands together, yellow roses are pruned to perfection for the big day, around Flemington Racecourse.  Oh and then there are the stars of the event, horses and jockeys.  If you have been going around with blinkers on all day, I will let you in on a secret…Melbourne Cup.   Yes I’m going to use it, the cliché ‘the race that stops the nation’.  24 beautiful, amazing race horses gallop around the track for 3,200m towards victory for trainers and owners alike.  Melbourne Cup steeped in tradition is celebrating 150 years, amazing and it seems to get bigger every year with a crowd of over 100,000 people.  I’m sure the Veuve, Moet is bubbling over in the corporate marquees’, and even though we in the north can’t be there we like to celebrate in style too, just like the rest of Australia.  Consequently I hope you backed a winner today, wherever you may be, and your horse isn’t still running like mine!

Day 208: Friday on my mind.

  Some people hale Friday as TGF day, and why not, it is at the end of the working week for most.  Time to sit down relax and just chill out.  One place on Cairns northern beaches you may see a few people relaxing on a Friday afternoon is Yorkeys Knob Boating Club over looking Half Moon Bay Marina.  Whilst sipping your $5.00 beer, you can admire the millions of dollars in boats sitting in their docks, without having to worry about their maintenance.  Also hoping that lotto ticket will win tomorrow night, we all have to have our dreams.  It is a great place to sit on the deck over the water, with the Coral Sea sending an afternoon sea breeze your way to cool things down.  All you have to do is appreciate the gorgeous view, with mountains, sea and spectacular craft, with cool bevies whatever that maybe and enjoy.   Hard I know but somebody has to do it – Happy Friday! 

Day 124: Three Passions.

For those that know me well, V8’s, outback pubs, Australia’s pioneer past are some of my great passions in life, beside family & friends which goes without saying (hang on I just did, but there you go).  So when you have a Mad Max film car parked out in front (granted a bit worse for wear but it is a harsh climate out here) of an outback pub – being Silverton Hotel, and if those walls could talk, you just can’t help combine the lot.  Can you believe Mad Max 2 was shot back in 1979, and the photos of Mel in the pub are definitely the younger version – mmmm.  There were 10 pubs in Silverton during the height of the mining.  When the ore declined buildings came down, brick by brick and transported to Broken Hill and rebuilt there via camel and donkey trains 25km away.  On one of the signs in town it is quoted as “..buildings and ruins that remain are a testimony to the men and women that settled, worshipped, educated, served, paid rates, drank their share, went to court, goal but most of all worked” so I think they made a great use of the pubs, wouldn’t you say.

Day 121: Eulo Queen.

This is one of those unexpected surprises that are hidden in the SW Queensland corner.  No surprise it is a pub; however, it is one of those pubs that has a lot of character.  When you can camp out the back for just $10, you really can’t go wrong.  The most famous owner of the pub to date was Isabel Robinson she self-proclaimed herself Eulo Queen because when she had to ‘get rid’ of an unruly patron if they said to her, you got no right, she would turn around and say “I’m the Queen of Eulo, I’ve got every right’.  She was also a sly grog runner and opal trader in late 1800’s, if the walls could talk.  So guess you can’t argue with that.  There is some great history in this old pub and well worth the effort to get too.  The township of Eulo has only a population of 40 but it is one of the friendliest places, and the Date Winery, Australia’s most remote winery located on the edge of town is worth a visit too, don’t forget to say hello to Crumpet the dog, and get the recipe for the big stew pot out the front, interesting ingredients, you’ll just have to visit to find out the ‘special secret ingredient’.

Day 110: When I grow up.

When you have family and friends’ visiting from the southern states and the weather is a bit inclement, you have to show some hospitality and venture to a few of the locals.  I mean it is only manners, and at the Blue Sky Brewery you can sample some of the local beverages made on site.  One of the really cool things is that when you have finished the sample Tully tray by some miraculous reason your beer grows into a big one.  Now that is a great place to visit.

Day 69 – Gotta love an Outback Pub.

 The Prairie Hotel in Parachilna was licensed in 1876, and is a beautiful pub in Outback SA, on the northern end of the Flinders Rangers.  You feel welcome the moment you walk in through the wooden doors of the sandstone pub.  I’d say the walls of the pub would have a story or two to add too.  It was a wonderful place for the last night of our tour.  L  The beer is certainly cold enough; special note if visiting from the northern states; asking for a schooner here will get you a middy, and a Pint = our schooner size.  Confused, well does it really matter, because after a few beverages around the fire out the front, on a cold winter’s night, are you really going to care, when you look up at the awesome starry sky.