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We've started our trek north to Weipa. This morning we took the short drive to Giru. Jean's been in touch with President Ian via Messenger. Ian told her they have a championship on later today we can watch. We arrived early. Nobody there yet. Jean gave Ian a call and he was happy for us to park our caravan at the club. It's a good little clubhouse but no EFTPOS! The ladies had a win in 1992! There are a few plaques. Two for the 1967 opening and the lights ten years later. Then there's the 50th Anniversary and club extensions unveiled. The under-cover verandah is pleasant. The club has one eight-rink grass green. It's a little patchy in parts but runs ok. There are nice, old permanent shades. Jean went out. She took blood first end. It was Mal's turn. Second end Jean tried to drive Mal off but she was unsuccessful. Jean usually likes 👍 a slow green but Mal was all over it today! Jean was in there too. Since we were staying, we wandered over at 2:30 to meet the folks and watch the game. It's the Open Singles final. It has an impressive trophy. Ian is also the Greenkeeper. Earlier we watched him roll the green. Con turned up with his sandwiches. We met Jeff who's playing today. He saw us at Home Hill the other day. He explained the name of the town is pronounced "Girroo". He said it's named after a type of sugar cane. He showed us the back of his 👕. It has a Barramundi on it. The boys told Jean "Here we're all about sugar cane and Barramundi - oh, and mozzies!". We watched Bradley and Jeff play for a while. There's a sugar crushing plant next door. Ian told us when the sugar crush starts (which is now) the Giru club goes dead. We had a crush on at Giru! PS: By the way on the last end it was 23 all. Bradley came in and got three for a win!

It's our last day staying at Home Hill. Jean contacted nearby Ayr Bowling Club to get our names down for a Saturday afternoon game. There's a big logo on the wall. We met Joe, Pam and Arthur at the table. Pam was the one who Jean spoke to on Messenger. We're blown away by all the sugar cane around here and saw it burning 🔥 last night. We were told at Home Hill BC that this is one of the last places where they burn cane as the local mills can't handle raw cane. It's a pleasant little clubhouse with a big bar. There's an impressive framed photo array of the original club. The ladies seem to have done well in Pennant. There are two greens. The original synthetic Which was installed with the shade in 2005. There's another synthetic green . Not sure what surface. It's the Tapiolas Green. With a pull-over shade. It was installed 2019. It's triples today. We selected tiles again to get our teams. It was Jean, Henry and Wayne (visiting from Woodgate Beach near Bundaberg). Against Rob, Arthur and Paul Then Mal, Elaine and Sam. Against Margaret, Alec and Dot. It was a full green. Popular event! Everyone was friendly - joking around. We felt welcome. First end Jean put two in then Wayne and Henry consolidated for five! Skip Mal put in a beauty second end. Even with the super fast green Jean was happy with how she bowled. We had smoko at 3pm then came back out. Jean'steam was ahead the whole first half. With three to go Jean's team was down three. They got two initially the went down two. They got killed second half! Mal was frustrated. He said he couldn't get the grass. He missed a lot - just! But he won by five shots! We came inside and Sam found Jean a badge for her hat. A nice welcome at Ayr.

We're staying at the Home Hill Showground so we took the 19 minute drive to Brandon. The folks at Home Hill told us yesterday they have social bowls on Sunday. We'll be gone. Noone had responded to Jean on Messenger. It's our usual experience when we roll up in a small place like this, someone always drives past and curiously checks us out. Not so at Brandon. Hardly a car drove by. Jean took a photo of the clubhouse through the glass. The shady outdoor area is nice. Like Home Hill It's a plastic synthetic. Mal ventured out. Jean thought she had shot but was disappointed when she got up there. Jean had her go. She did it. She was happy with her weight. That was enough for Mal. He took it back! Jean just managed shot on the last end. Noone for us to meet at Brandon.

After our great game at Gold City Charters Towers yesterday we arrived this morning at Home Hill in time to play this arvo. We came a bit early and met Trevor and Judy who put our names down. It's a pretty little clubhouse. With a lovely old painting of the clubhouse. At the bar we met Yogi who's the Caretaker. Yogi lives on-site. When we were at Gold City they told us the club had been de-affiliated. We don't know why but Judy told us they're back! Mick, Bob and Bob (the Vice-president) are the selectors. They make up the teams. The boys sat for a quick beer before the game. There's just one plastic synthetic green. The Rummeny Green. It's named after a current player Karl Rummeny who's over 100. Karl is here today. He only plays one direction. Another bloke fills in for him. The green was opened originally in 2009. Then replaced last year. It cost $12 each to play but that includes the 3pm smoko Judy puts on. It's three-bowl triples today. We took tiles from an ice-cream carton. We had Wayne and Jean Against Ray and Garry. Then Helena, Mal and Yogi Against Mick, Henry and Saul Jean's game bowled all four at once. First end Jean got three then took kitty back for one. In fact, Jean was loving the slower green. Jean asked where 'Home Hill' comes from. The guys told her it's a place from the Crimean War. One of them came and gave Jean a badge for her hat. He said "Rare as hen's teeth!" Jean tried to get photos of Mal's bowls but he was Skip so his good bowls didn't really show in the head. Smoko tea was delicious. Lovely sandwiches. After smoko we kept the same teams. Last end Jean got a Resting Toucher but Ray took it out. Next bowl she got it back. Wayne and Jean won 24 to 12. Mal lost 13-17. Jean finally got a shot of his bowls! We came inside for celebrations and commiserations. Jean and Wayne won the money. Wayne said "Only because I had a good lead!" Jean was over the moon to have played well! To top it off Mal won the meat tray in the raffle! Home Hill - best Smoko around!

When we were at Hughenden the other day Graeme told us that Charters Towers has Pairs on Wednesday. His Dad John plays there. We arrived Monday so stayed three nights so we could play. Our first night we free-camped at a truck stop. We watched the huge four trailer trucks come in and turn right in front of us. Mal loved the Kenworths with all their lights. When we arrived on Wednesday we met Bob in the office. He's from Canberra. The clubhouse is small and cute. There are some great teatowels on the wall. One from Lismore And one funny one on bowls terms. Over 400 clubs we've done. Every one has a photo of the Monarch but we're yet to see a photo of the King. There are some nice Pennants. Some from quite a while ago. The club has a game time bell presented by Innisfail Bowls Club. There's a nice under cover verandah with bowls to help players off the green. They've planted a garden out the back with tomatoes, watermelon and paw paws. One of the guys Terry brought OJ who first growled at Jean then wanted pats from her. It's the first time we've seen a time capsule. We hope there will be a lady President to open it in 2035! The rinks are a memorial to Rhys Davies. It's a nice carpet synthetic. Jean's favourite. The greens came from a grant. It has pull over shades. It came over for us. We met Hughenden Graeme's Dad John. There was an odd number so we played one 3 against 4 and a game of Triples. Jean and twelve blokes. We played opposite. Harry, Dennis, Terry and Mal. Against Jean, Bob and Pop. The green was super fast! Jean's first bowls rolled slowly into the ditch. Mal did better. Next end Jean hardly swung her stick. She picked up the kitty. Next end it was short. Jean slowed it right down. "I think I'm getting the hang of this" she said! We played ten ends. Mal's team shellacked Jean's! We went in for smoko then swapped teams. This time we had different games. It was Bob, Denis, John and Mal Against Ken, John and Terry. Bill, Jean and Harry. Jean was having a ball as the boys were so friendly and encouraging. She played Pop, Tom and Errol. It took Mal until the second game to do a photo-worthy bowl. Three in fact! Mal didn't get shot but he called Jean over to take a photo of his bowls. Jean felt she bowled well but got killed both games. We came inside for the results. They spun the wheel. Errol, Tom and Pop won with Highest winning margin - against Jean! Mal won his game 14 to 9. Jean's not sure she likes paw paw but she got one - and a badge for her hat. Charters Towers - what a friendly game!

We are so excited that after weeks of just boring rollups we turned up at 3pm in the little town of Hughenden, on the edge of Outback Queensland, for an afternoon game. It's a cute little clubhouse. Everyone writes their name on the board and marks down what drinks they have and settle up after the game. There's a great under cover barbecue area. The guys welcomed us as soon as we walked up. They were Glen, Geoffrey, Shane, Graeme and Graham. It's a pretty cool social shirt referring to drinks and music. It's an ageing 2009 carpet green with a pull over cover. There are plaques for rhe green and the cover. We played triples against each other. It was Geoffrey, Jean and Graham. Against Graeme, Emer and Mal. There were a game of Fours and one Triples. First end Jean started with three but Mal took two out! She did it again but they were short and narrow. Mal got in there. Jean was very happy they played country music in the background. It was a very friendly, relaxing country atmosphere. Jean went off the boil a bit then took shot. We all had our grass right. We made a caterpillar. Despite that, the grass was really hard to work out. 😪 Mal struggled a bit. He said "I can't get them there!" Then he put in some magic. We played until 5:30. Jean's team won 24 to 13. Then we came inside to enjoy the company. Jean bought a shirt. Hughenden saved us!

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!