Sat, 16th Nov, 2019 Jennacubbine Tavern, Jennacubbine to Chris & Mickey’s place, Sandstone, WA (5 years & 3 months on the road)

Didn’t have a good sleep – must have been the air conditioner noise as I woke every 2 hours!

Up early and opened the door to a very fresh cool morning. It was colder outside than inside with the air conditioning. Such a contrast from the hot day yesterday but it won’t take long to heat up again. Ate my continental breakfast then had to have a hot shower to warm up!!

Joined Chris and Mickey for a cuppa then we headed off. Stopped at a servo in Goomalling where we had toasted sandwiches and a cuppa.

Continued on to Wongan Hills where Mickey got some fresh fruit and vegies and I bought some nice porterhouse steaks and some pork ribs for Steve as a treat as I have been the one having all the treats in Cairns.

Just before Wubin we caught up to two 8 metre buckets. Mickey said they are blue for ‘depression’ and purple for ‘mens health’ or something like that. Luckily they pulled into a rest stop so we could get by.

I am nice and comfy in the back seat and the air conditioner is doing well considering how hot it is outside. Stopped at Paynes Find for lunch at the road house. We found a tree to park the car under out the back then wandered past the old butchers shop and an old cottage as we headed around to the front.

Nice chair out the front. Don’t think we will sit outside today.

The new owners have refurbished the place and it was lovely and cool in the dining area. Even Santa is here.

This old safe has seen a lot of gold in its time. Up the road from here is the last working gold battery in WA. Now it just holds the TV. The program on it was about wood chopping championships on the Gold Coast and the chap I watched was from Woodford where my great grandfather lived in the 1880s.

On the way to the toilets I spotted these great planter boxes made from old pallets.

Love the sign too.

Back onto the dirt road up to Sandstone. White puffy clouds are coming across the blue sky.

Arrived back in Sandstone at 3pm to very excited dogs and a very happy Stephen. Steve has been a busy boy making sure everything was clean and ready for us to head off on Monday on our next adventure. He had a few guests too that he had to book in, make beds and clean rooms for – will be able to hire him out.

Unpacked our gear. Mickey had picked up a Soda Stream etc for me in Perth so we will try that instead of buying mineral water and there is a syrup for ginger beer for me and cola for Steve. Might help lessen the load in the van if we don’t have all those bottles and cans rattling around.

Rang Mum – all ok there. Aldo’s funeral is Tuesday which will be a big Italian affair.

Joined Chris and Mickey for drinks by the bar then we cooked dinner on the BBQ – Steve enjoyed his steak and ribs treat. Starting to cool off a bit after the sun went down.

Steve said the lady who has booked out the town of accommodation in a couple of weeks rang asking if there was any more available. She said she was in Cairns at the moment and as they chatted Steve realised they had been up the Palmer River doing a documentary. He mentioned the ‘boys’ names etc and she reluctantly said they had been filming up there for the Discovery Channel. A chap has just booked in from Victoria who has bought a lease from the guy across the road. He was the one who had been organising the film too so we reckon the Victorian chap must be something to do with the film because he must have rocks in his head to come out here now and start working his lease.