Gemtree Park

Day 12 & 13

We struggled along the Plenty Highway making our way 210km further west to Gemtree Caravan and Fossicking Park.  The area is rich in sapphires and garnets.

The road was rich in potholes and corrugations testing our rigs to the max.  We couldn’t help but to stop and photograph these calves who appeared just as curious about us.

Cattle on the Plenty Highway

Corrugations on the Plenty Highway

We stopped for a break on a bitchermin section of road at a truck layby.  It was here that I noticed 1 tyre was more flat at the bottom than usual.    The process of changing a tyre starts all over again.

Boys at Work

Eventually the road became sealed, first 2 lanes and the one still keeping us focused on the task.  Then into Gemtree Park to set camp.

Gemtree Camp

Jan had told us on their last visit they missed the legendary camp oven roast as it was only held on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  As we arrived on a Sunday we knew, again, the opportunity would be lost.  But wouldn’t you know it, Saturday had been rained out so tonight Sally and the rest of us would get our Sunday roast, cooked for us in camp ovens on fire.

Off To Camp Oven Roast

The dinner was concluded with a presentation by the matriarch of the family covering the history, post settlement, including a film of the family in the early years.

Camp Oven Roast

The following day was laundry and walkthroughs of the onsite museums and gem collections.