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We've had several days off as we went to Rubyvale to catch up with Jean's high school best friend Louanne. We stayed an extra day and left today Thursday to come to Blackall in the Outback. Jean had a fantastic time with Louanne who she hadn't seen for 45 years. We'll go and visit her when we get to South Australia in a couple of years. We walked around the clubhouse to check it out. Emma came out to see who we were. Emma said it was fine for us to park the caravan at the club and that we could hook up to water. We didn't need power. Emma was doing some cooking so Jean was able to get in and take a photo of the clubhouse. There's a sign out the front that says they are sponsored by the Blackall Magpies. There's a little outdoor area with a barbecue. With a nice verandah which overlooks the green. We saw a sign that said social bowls is on Wednesday morning. We missed it by a day so we have to just roll up today. There's one grass green. Emma said a few weeks ago they had to dig it up. The Big Red coffee house is just across the road. There are cute little old-fashioned shades. The green is still a bit patchy but it rolls well - if somewhat slow! Jean had the first go. She was happy with her grass - weight not so much! Mal ventured out. He did a little better. It was very slow so Jean was happy she eventually got her weight right - and got shot! Of course Mal couldn't let that rest! Blackall - so slow but fun to rollup!

We've nearly arrived in Rubyvale where Jean will meet her old friend. There's just one bowling club in Emerald so we intended to stop for a rollup. We dropped in briefly to Springsure on the way. We're pretty sure it's permanently closed. The green is overgrown and the clubhouse looks empty. We got to Emerald but, after all the catch up shopping we had to do, we were too tired to roll up. We checked out the clubhouse. And the badge collection - better than Jean's! And a great picture of Foundation President Vellnagel. They were playing two games of Sunday afternoon Bowls when we got there. There are two grass greens. Unusually for grass they have pull over covers. Even though we didn't roll up we thought the green looked good. It's the Ossie Carrington Green. Jean spoke with Grady and Allan. She said "If we'd known there was Sunday afternoon Bowls we'd have gotten here sooner!" Sid and Jarvo said gidday. Jarvo joked we could tag team! We went inside and sat for a drink with Kerry and Barbara - visiting from Blackwood in South Australia. Jean remarked about people sitting at the bar. We don't have that in Canberra. John went on a search for the biggest bar in the Southern Hemisphere to show us. Emerald - no bowls for us but nice, friendly people!

All the bowling clubs we've done recently have been in tiny little Queensland towns. Today is no exception. It's the town of Moura in Eastern Central Queensland. We're nearly where we'll meet Jean's high school friend! Moura is a little bigger with around 2,000 people. It's a small club run entirely by volunteers. The clubhouse is nice. When we arrived there was a two-day carnival happening. There are some great shirts 👕 here. Biloela. And Rockhampton Silverbacks. We met the umpire Gary. Marie is scoring. She said she takes bribes! Then, when they take their lunch break we can roll up. There's one good grass green. Well done all the volunteers! It seems there used to be two greens. The shed has a name. We met Sugar from Miriamvale. He was wearing a Weipa shirt like Jean's. They rang the bell for lunch. Then we went out. We just brought two bowls so we could make it quick. Jean first. She didn't do very well. Mal tried. He did a little better. Marie offered to take a photo of us together on the green. Jean did one good bowl the whole rollup then Mal took it out! Moura - we missed the carnival but had a nice time!

We're staying overnight at Wandoan on our way to Emerald to see Jean's old friend. Our van is parked close to the bowling club so we'll have a rollup. There are 566 people in the town so we're impressed they have a Bowls club. A wake was happening in the afternoon so Jean got in and took a photo in the clubhouse. Jean met Kim who said she was the cleaner and Bartender. She helped us out with information and showed us where to get some water for our caravan. It's great because the free-camping area is just next door. There's a plaque to commemorate the opening of the bowling club. We saw the club has auto fabric shades. As well as old colorbond shades. There's just one grass green. We waited for a couple of hours. The wake was still going when we got there. George a bowler came and found kittys for Jean. He said the green is really slow. Mal put one down. The first couple were pretty short. Jean had a go. Same thing though she got shot! We had some spectators from the wake. They called "Red, red, red!" or "Blue, blue, blue!" Jean thought she was doing really well until Mal ruined it. She got her own back. There didn't seem to be a lot of choice for Friday takeaway so we went to the pub. A lady came up to us and asked "Did you enjoy your bowls?" Small towns! 😀. We dropped in after dinner and met Kate, Yvonne and Jean. Kate and Jean are bowlers. They said they don't really have social bowls Wandoan - rollup for a wake!

We came to Jandowae after our disappointing visit to Bell. We were all alone but had a nice rollup with help from a staff member. It's a nice little clubhouse. It has a big welcome sign. Jade was the staff member we met. She works in the kitchen. She rang George who organises things and he said we were welcome to roll up. We liked the trophy and memorial board. The shades are old style bet seem to work OK. There were some guys there pulling up the side path. There's just one grass green. It seems in good nick. Jean was over the moon to see it named after a lady. Jean went out with her stick. She did OK. We both did. Weight was good. Mal took his turn. He got a couple. Our weight was good again. We took it in turn to get shot. Mal's turn! Jandowae - nobody around but our rollup was nice!

We dropped in at Bell & District Bowling Club on our way to Emerald / Rubyvale to meet Jean's high school friend. It was a bit of a disappointment so we didn't stay. There was nobody around. Jean looked through the windows. There are tow joined buildings. One seems to be the bar. Bill has a watering hole. There's one poor quality green. It hasn't been mowed for a while and is patchy. Jean said "I don't think we'll be rolling up on this!" We're off now to Jandowae. Hope it's a bit better! Bell - disappointed we didn't get a rollup!

We're on our way to Rubyvale to see Jean's High School friend Louanne who is gem hunting there. We came to Crows Nest for a rollup and had a great time. The club has a nice bar. There's a great photo array of past Presidents. And an impressive Honour Board. In the loos there's a club info package. The first person we met was Don. Dave helped Jean plan our travels. On the fence there are some acknowledgements of donations. And a memorial seat. With a nice memorial garden. There's a great sundial. Wednesday Social was in full swing The boys said we could park our caravan at the club and gave us some water. It has one grass green with a lovely little garden in each corner. We took our time to get to our rollup. Jean sat at the bar with the boys. Mal sat drinking all afternoon with the boys so the shadows were very long when we got out for our rollup. Jean went first. She said "We should roll up more often when you've been drinking all afternoon!" Mal wasn't doing bad despite the drinking! We had to move the van. It was getting late. Jean was waiting, waiting to cook dinner but Mal was standing in the carpark keeping the guys from going home. Crows Nest - talking, talking but lots of fun!

Jean wanted to come to Bramble Bay because she saw their shirts when she was at Club Pine Rivers the other day. She wants to buy one. We thought we'd try and get a game and if we can't we'll roll up. We're told there's Tuesday afternoon social bowls. We had a day off yesterday. We drove up to Wild Horse Mountain to catch up with Jean's older sister Alison. It's a good-sized clubhouse with a high ceiling. On the electronic Honour Board they seem to have had success in Pennants. The smoking area looks out over Bramble Bay. We met John and Terry in the office. Terry got on the phone to find some shirts 👕 for us. Tom sorted us out. Jean now has a shirt to replace her Weipa shirt when it gets ratty. Jean met Robyn, Di and Jude who do bowls coaching for University of the Third Age (U3A). Jean met Robyn at Brighton on Friday. There are three good grass greens. We played on the right-hand green. It's the Jack Baxter Green. All the seats are donated. So we're the scoreboards. There were four games x two. Jean and fifteen blokes. We played together. First game was against Ashley and Ken. Jean did well first end which often happens. Jean was over the moon with her Toucher. Then Mal consolidated. Mal was really struggling with weight but he finally worked it out. It was hard with the tail wind but Mal nailed it. We lost it next bowl though! We won 11 to 9. Next game was against Barry and Matt. We weren't having much luck - we were getting flogged then put in a few good ones. John Edgar the Men's President chatted to Jean. He gave Mal a stubbie holder and gave Jean a badge for her hat. We were down nine shots then caught up. We lost by three. We came in for John to do Presentations. We didn't win - there were no two game winners. We sat and chatted with President John, Terry, Barry and organiser John for ages about Bowls, footy and our adventures. Bramble Bay - we liked the people!

We're staying a couple of nights at Brighton Bowls Club. It's Sunday so no bowls but we've decided to go to Club Pine Rivers for a rollup. People have said it's good there. It's a big clubhouse. Apparently they are the Pirates. It has a nice photo array of past Presidents. There's two synthetic greens under cover. When we got here there was the Moreton Bay district Novice Singles playing so no rollup! We were pleasantly surprised to see Mal's winning Lead from Kallangur yesterday - Val. Val introduced us to Michelle who just bought a caravan and wants to do what we're doing. We sent her our trip map and the Blog. After the Ladies' games finished we said bye to Val and made our way to Brighton. Pine Rivers - would have been good to roll up under cover!

We're staying a few more nights in Brisbane because we got offered accommodation at Brighton Bowls Club. Today we'll bowl at Kallangur Memorial Bowling Club which is a stones throw from Jean's niece Joelle. Chairperson David invited us so we said yes! We arrived and met Reg at the table. David had put our names and positions down. The clubhouse has a relaxed atmosphere. Apparently they are the Kallangur Roos. A kangaroo guards the pokies. Tables have ads on them. Never seen that. The club has two grass greens. The Triples comp was in full swing as we arrived. We saw a nice memorial by the drink fountain. All the seats are sponsored. There's a bowlers area by the back green. It has a good ✏️ drawing of the clubhouse. With pictures of the Lady Presidents And the Male Presidents. We played on the far green against each other. It was Fours. Des, Jean, Hale and John Played Tony, Val, Graham and Skip Mal. Jean struggled a bit on the very slow green but she finally scored two (with a little help!) Mal was all over it - having a ball. At one point John's team had shot then Mal took the kitty back for four. Problem was his great bowls were never in the head! Jean started to work it out. Mal was The star of the show with his weighted shots but he didn't need to do much because his team played so well. 27 to 12. Kallangur - Mal wins again!

We were going to leave the big cities for a few years but Jean had to get her Thermomix serviced in Brisbane. Geoff from Brighton had been following our trip and invited us to play Friday. Of course we had to come! Geoff is the Greenkeeper. He saw us arrive and met us at the door. He told us this is the friendliest club around here. We met Gary, Jimmy and Steve at the table. It's a nice little clubhouse. It's 'Barracuda Stadium'. The bar has 'Lamenter's Corner'. We guess if you have a big loss! They are proud of their last year's Pennants. There's the Merv Chant Memorial. Apparently Macca is the "Stirrer of the Month". We met Senior Vice President Jack. Michelle the club Chairperson came specially to meet us. There are two good grass greens. We played on the front green. The T. Clark Green. The guys decided that because Geoff and Graeme are "The Ambassadors of the Club" they should play pairs against us. We played together. There were two greens of bowlers. There was a boom box with old groovy music. Jean's first bowl was brilliant. "Might be the only one. " she said. Mal put three in. Jean had four. She said to Geoff "Don't you mess up my photo!" He did! But Mal fixed it! Mal was playing so well! There's another club Eventide that got kicked out of their clubhouse. They play here Tuesday and Friday. Michelle said we could park our van here. We'll stay Sunday to Tuesday and come and play with them. We were 11-all going into the last end. They scored one. Jean thought we were evenly matched although Graeme is left-handed but played right-handed due to surgery. We wouldn't want to play him when he's normal! We came inside for presentations. They have lots of prizes. They take photos of them all. At the end Michelle presented us with a gift. A shirt, stubby holders, pin, a cloth and fly stoppers. Brighton - Geoff was right, a very friendly club!

We came to Warwick on Tuesday on our way to Brisbane to get Jean's Thermomix repaired. We checked out Warwick Bowls Club - one of the three clubs here. The club was closed. The sign said it's only open two hours a day. Bowls is the 3rd Wednesday of the month that's tomorrow. The park next door is very pretty. Jean photographed the tiny little clubhouse through the glass. A nice photo of the official opening in 1913. Oldest club outside metropolitan Brisbane. We saw the nice Centenary memorabilia. There's an under cover area by the green. With memorial seats. There's a dedication of the opening of the current clubhouse. The club has one grass green. When we came back we met Pat, Carol (Secretary) and Little Faye in the office. Parking is hard to find. We had a chat to Barry about it. He said the club has 40 members. Inspector Russell Reynolds came to chat with Mal. He told us lots of history about Warwick, Brisbane and surrounding cities and towns. Four games were arranged. Two triples and two pairs. Mal played pairs and Jean played triples. It was Jean, Geoff and Ray Against Pat, Ken and Jim. Mal played with Faye Against Clark and Michael. The green was tough. It was so narrow on the clubhouse side. Jean had to bowl backhand at the jack. She got shot a long way away! Mal was doing well. Jean was over the moon to score a Toucher then Ray came and got one as well. The opposition was five shots up. Mal put one down with weight. He took the kitty for one! We came in half way for a lovely afternoon tea. We came out. Jean got the Skip's hat off for her Resting Toucher. Then she lost it 😞. Mal's team went down. Jean's team was down the whole game. Second-last end they got a five to make them even going into last end. They pulled a rabbit out of the hat with three beautiful shots and a win! We came inside and sat around the table. Mal's opponents won the donated KFC vouchers. Warwick gave us a good game.