We are now seeing a lot of Emus along the roadside in this drive into Longreach.
We checked into a huge caravan park on the outskirts of town and headed off to stock up on groceries and meat.
We needed to get into a caravan park so that we could more easily freeze down the meat we buy - and this park has a huge camp kitchen - very well equipped and has a fridge with a big freezer which will do the trick for us freezing the meat overnight.
We found a "yummy" bakery in our travels to town - so thought we should do our bit for the local economy and treated ourselves to pies and coffee for lunch.
Longreach is a lovely well serviced township and has a really nice feel about it.
In the afternoon we headed off to the QANTAS Founders Museum - where we toured the museum - and elected to do the 1.5 hr guided tour of the planes they have there.
This museum is not-for-profit and is completely funded by sponsorship and public support.
The museum is home to a Jumbo Jet which was restored by volunteer engineers, and flown here from Southend in England (after many negotiations with the British Government it was sold to them for 1 pound)
The next challenge was working out how to land it in Longreach where the runway was neither long enough or wide enough for the recommended requirements for landing a Jumbo Jet. They picked the best pilots, from the many who volunteered to land it,and then put them through many hours on a simulator to hone their skills for the landing. Fortunately it was landed without a hitch and has to stay here now as there is no way they coul fly it out from Longreach.
On this tour you learn many interesting facts about the planes history, they explain many aspects of theoperation of these planes and also parts of the plane that you would never see what fhey are for.
You also get to see and sit in first class and go to the flight deck.
And here below is the "black box"recorded -which is of course "red" to make it easier to find.
They also house the first jet QANTAS purchased for its fleet of planes - the 707- the City of Canberra.
This had last been owned by a Saudi prince - it was still fitted out as it had been as his private jet. Even down to couple of gold seat belt buckles that they left in it.
It is fitted out in walnut as it was for him in the 80's.
The museum was great - with historic photographs, memorabilia and multi-media interactive displays which are exceptional in telling the inspirational stories of the overcoming the problems of long distance travel in Outback Australia.
We spent some 3.5 hrs there - and we could have stayed a bit longer had it not been closing time.
It is built around the heritage listed 1922 original hanger built for QANTAS when it was starting out in Longreach and the museum has many interesting videos of the history / beginnings of QANTAS and the founders of QANTAS themselves. It is well worthwhile paying a visit to this museum
We then rushed back to the caravan park to be in time to hear the bush poet performing at the campfire. We had billy tea and damper. He was an elderly guy and was very very talented. Nothing wrong with his mind and memory though. We were in awe that he could remember such long poems.
He recited one he had written about the Toowoomba & Murphys Creek inland tsunami. It was very touching and certainly showcased this mans talents.
It was quite cold tonight - and there was a camp kitchen opposite us where they had a tv and we watched "The Voice" - with a nice young couple from Dalby.
Also chatted with some other people in the kitchen and the result of these conversations led us to change our travels plans after Longreach - now deciding to skip going to Welford National Park and Idalia National Park.
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