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We've had so many long drives the last week - it's taking a toll. We took a four hour drive from Four Ways to Normanton then on to Richmond. We had no idea if we could get games or just rollup. We had to get up early. THURSDAY It's such a long drive from Mt Isa to Normanton. Over five hours in fact! We stopped to sleep at a little place called Four Ways on our way. We arrived for a rollup and found the bowling club all locked up. It's only open two days! We couldn't even get in to take photos! We drove three hours back to Four Ways. FRIDAY We drove 3 1/2 hours to Richmond. We thought we'd leave early in case they had Friday bowls on. We arrived 12:30 to a little shock. "Nobody bowls on that!" Mal cried. We were very disappointed. It's been a while. Normanton - population 774. Richmond population 648. Not surprising really! We asked the guys at the pub in Richmond what happened to the bowling club. They said all the members got old and died so there was nobody left to keep it going. 😞 Richmond and Normanton - oh when, oh when can we play some bowls!

When we were at Cloncurry yesterday Adam told us that, though there's two bowling clubs in Mt Isa the Services Club is the only one with members. He gave us a number to call to organise a rollup with some members there. It's a nice little clubhouse - bar as centrepiece. The outdoor area looks well-used. Some good Pennants and Sides results. Arty was waiting and rolled up with us. He told us all about the mines - copper, silver, lead and zinc. Jean asked why all the houses are weatherboard. He said bricks are too expensive to cart up here. The brickworks closed a long time ago. It's a good grass green. Runs true. There's a lone palm tree. We liked the home-made scoreboards. Jean had a go. She was happy with her line and weight. Mal ventured out. He managed shot though he struggled. Jean drew very close. From the other end we couldn't see who had shot then Arty tapped Jean in. Mal had trouble working the green out. We came inside for a drink. A rollup at Mt Isa - we could almost smell those ores!

We drove a loooonggg way from Winton to Cloncurry for a rollup. When we arrived we met Adam who is the Games Director here. Adam introduced us to President Graeme McDonald. Jean wanted to get a photo of Greame's shirt with the temperature gauge. It's rumoured Cloncurry had the Highest temperature ever recorded. 53°. Fourth highest in the world. It's a nice, relaxing clubhouse. We liked the Bowlsy sign. The boys decided to give us a game of three-bowl pairs. Mal and Graeme against Jean and Adam. They put the shades out. It's a good-looking grass green. The Peter McGee Green. The owl protects it. It used to be part of RSL. There are remnants. Jean and Mal both claimed shot! Jean was happy with her consistency. Mal did really well. The photos don't reflect the number of times he took kitty or the bowl for multiple. Jean saved her best to last. She wouldn't reveal who won. Surfices to say it was 17 to 4. Adam found us one of the old club shirts. Adam rang his boss at Mt Isa to arrange a game for us there tomorrow. So good - a game at last at Cloncurry.

We drove two hours from Aramac via Barcaldine to Longreach. We know that Longreach social bowls is on Sunday but we're there on Saturday so just a rollup for us. Then we drove on to Winton for a little surprise. The clubhouse is small but nice. A darts championship was going on when we arrived. We came in and asked Kelly on the bar if it was OK to roll up after the rain. She checked and said yes. She organised a mat and kitties for us. There's a great photo on the wall of the 'Invitation Fours' from twenty years ago. And the original Office Bearers Over the bar is the 'World's Greatest Stirrer'. Not sure if 50 Cents is a person! Cerise who is a bowler came to chat. We were introduced to Gail who beat Cerise in the Singles. She's a star in the club who gets grants and help from the Council for the club. There's a nice smoking verandah which overlooks the green. We saw they have auto pull-out shades. And nice modern permanent shades. It's one grass green. Like Aramac it's a bit patchy but still runs well. It's the Frank L. Searles Green. Jean tested it out. First end she got a resting toucher! Mal was determined. Jean said "I've got shot!" Mal replied "No way! I'm in by a mile!" Mal had to make sure Jean understood. But Jean finished up with another resting toucher. Even so, after the rain our bowls got a little grubby. WINTON Free-camping at Longreach looked dodgy after rain so we drove 2 hours on to Winton. We were uncertain what the sign meant when it said "Beach Volley Ball". It became obvious. There's a shaded verandah outside - with grass growing up. It's a really old synthetic green. Someone at another club had told us Winton was wrinkly. They weren't wrong. It seems to be marked out for some other game. There's an old small green. We think this is where the Beach Volleyball is. Nice roll at Longreach - not so at Winton!

We drove two hours from our stay at Blackall to get to Aramac Bowls Club for a rollup. The first thing one see is the white bull. It seems to be a bit of a thing in Aramac (Story later!). Jean got a photo of the bar through the window. The club seems part of the Community Centre. There's a really long verandah! With beautiful murals. One of bowlers And the other of a kangaroo and emu by the fire. The plaque says the green was opened in 1966. It's a nice grass green. A bit patchy in parts but it runs well. It took us a while to find the mats and jacks. They were hidden in the seats! Jean went out to roll up. She was happy with her grass. Mal had a go. He did Ok. We both did. Jean was over the moon with three! Mal did really well but Jean forgot to take photos of his good bowls! Good grass! On the way back to the caravan park we stopped to fill up. We met Barry. Jean asked him what was the thing with the white bull. He told us that Captain Starlight stole some cattle and took it to Adelaide. Apparently there was only one that was branded. It was a white bull and it was his undoing. Barry told us there's a creek on the property he manages where some cows came from. Aramac - no bull here!

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!