June 7

I depart Springsure heading towards Emerald (north). Just behind Springsure is this rocky hill called Virgin Rock, can't work out why, but the cool thing is they have a couple of big spotlights on this rock formation during the night which is quite impressive, the pics I took were no good so you'll just have to use your imagination. 

Prior to Emerald I came upon this little dam. It's pretty vast out in the middle of no-where, unless you're from the Emerald region, in which case it's in the middle of your territory.

On the south side of Emerald were lots of citrus orchards. Then you pass through Emerald and on the north side were broad acre farms, followed shortly by the commencement of the coal mines. Emerald itself is, to me, just another inland city center. cool signs in this region.

By the time I arrived here at Capella I was kind of over the whole oh look another coal mine thing.....

So I looked at the map and decided to cut across through Dysart, Moranbah, and Nebo for the coast. All about the road from Capella was the rust color of large acreages of sorghum ready to be harvested, once again, my camera skills let me down so once again.... imagine.....
Then i came upon this little collection of tractors, so I included these for you dad!

Above, the hills around Dysart suddenly protruding from the surrounding farm land.

below, one of the many train lines about this part of the country built to move all the coal being raped from the land to the ports for export to China where it's used to make stuff to sell back to us. YAY for greedy people who think nothing of their land or childrens future!!

Some coal mine photos............. The stuff that isn't used is made into very long mini hills, some of these are many Km's long, and not visible from the road are the huge holes left behind when the coal has been removed!

A drag line from a previous era of mining, each scoop full is about the size of 4 land cruisers!

Nebo.......... pretty much all mass acommodation now a days................

Near Seaforth, the view west of the road....................

And the view East of the road...... I'd like a house right here!! (not really!)

Seaforth beach......

I ended up at Cannonvale this afternoon where I visited a friend of mine from my student group at the QAS and we spent the evening ranting about our respective lives since joining the QAS and gossiping about fellow paramedics...... as you do!! Then he and his wife invited me to stay the night with them, which I did.