Day 6: Goondiwindi to Brisbane

This day’s journey was to be a walk in the park, a mere 300-odd kilometre journey down to Brisbane. However it was not to be so. We left Goondiwindi early enough, but without giving any thought whatsoever to filling up the petrol tank. Little did we know that our assumption of many country towns along the road to Toowoomba, the Gore Highway, was totally unfounded. So we set off with less than a third of a tank of petrol and about 140 kms to the next petrol station. Even the previous day’s flat terrain was not with us – we were driving east into the Great Dividing Range separating us from the coast. Up hill and down dale, slowing down to 80 kph and coasting down the hills. The petrol light came on about 40 kms out and we feared the worst, until suddenly there was the petrol station 10 kms on our side of the town we thought it was in! We heaved a sigh of relief and treated ourselves to an ice cream.

Goondiwindi to Millmerran - 138 kms. Petrol at Captains Mountain!

Then on to Toowoomba and lunch. We found Toowoomba to be a very pleasant town with not a flat bit in sight, which makes me think there must have been an incredible amount of water involved in the 2011 floods. Driving out of Toowoomba towards Brisbane we hit a very steep descent, but we got down safely , passed Ipswich on the freeway, were directed around and about and deposited at the front gate of the Galaxy Caravan Park. At this point I must put in a good word for Tom Tom’s voice Selena. She really does her best as she did today, and her relationship with Joke (who also likes to tell me where to go from time to time) is quite warm and friendly. There is very little rivalry between them – all in all a pleasant way to travel.
At the Galaxy Caravan Park we were put in a drive-through space and we had the opportunity to unfurl the awning for the first time. Not really for shade, but more to keep us dry.

Awning out! Note pot of tea - indicating seriously high level of relaxation.