Day 13 - Clermont to Rockhampton

One of the benefits of my going out to do photographs and to buy milk in the afternoons is that I often come across where we're going to have our next breakfast.  This is how we ended up at Penny's this morning - hidden in the same complex as the IGA and beauty salon.  It was interesting. I liked that the gravy and sauces menu was printed on the same-sized paper as the whole of the breakfast menu. 

 I chose the savoury mince on toast - not an easy decision but a good one. 

Even better was that our waitperson was able to tell us where the piano tree is. I'd like to say I would have found it but given I was right across the road from it yesterday and completely missed it, it is doubtful. Admittedly a piano looks small in a huge gum tree!

Sunflowers can be more fun and we found some at Capella.  At the rest stop, as well as the photo opportunity there were also murals on the toilet block - and a lovely jacaranda beside it.  

It was an easier drive today with more places to stop - and even though we didn't at every one, it was good to know the option was there.  

We stopped briefly in Emerald including to see the Big Easel with a representation of Van Gogh's Sunflowers.  We didn't stop 15km on the Emerald side of Blackwater to see the minions - about seven of them, standing on a rise, gathered to watch the highway traffic go by.  We knew they were there otherwise we could have missed them.  When we check the dashcam photos we will know if we have a pic of them.

Sunflower anyone - at Capella.

We've stopped at the BICC in Blackwater before - and did again today. It's the Blackwater International Coal Centre and it has a coal museum, a cinema, a cafe, a craft store, a model coal loader, and a huge coal bucket or three in the grounds - oh, and a Japanese garden - oh and did I mention the cafe serves Merlo coffee?

At the BICC - and coffee!

 
We saw lots of trains today including one that was being loaded one 'car' at a time with coal.  Those trains are massive - one we saw had two engines at the front, one in the middle and two more at the end.  We were surprised that the 'cars' filled with coal didn't appear to have any covers on them and wondered what stopped it from spilling out.  

Coal being loaded onto a train

And we're still wondering where the cotton at the side of the road has come from - and whether birds or other critters find a use for it.

We passed through - okay we saw the signs for - Dingo on the drive today.  How do these little towns survive?  What do the residents do?  Where will they vote in the referendum on Saturday?

We checked in to our motel just after 4 and I did a quick transcription job and then settled in for the evening.  We are looking forward to not having to leave the room (read: drive anywhere) until morning because we are planning to have room service for dinner. 

Tucked up in bed for the night.

Update:  Good news - there were minions on the dashcam!