29 August 2012 - Bundoora Dam, Peaks Region, Queensland

Why on earth was I concerned about being disturbed by road or rail trains?  I should have been more concerned about fellow travellers under the influence of alcohol. We were entertained, if that be the description, by a collection of van living youths full of liquor and foul mouthed ramblings that continued until late into the night. So much so that I would have to warn people from sharing such free camping sites made available by fair minded councils with anyone else but like minded middle aged people.

The police arrived soon after we finally rose this morning to make a courtesy call to the van occupants who may or may not have been the centre of the disruptive proceedings of the night. Fortunately for us, we had no intention of subjecting ourselves to more of the same and were soon on our way to the Information Centre for water and dumping and then to Coles for replenishing our severely depleted stocks of food.  Filling with food and a quick visit to the off licence followed and then we were off on our pilgrimage to meet with our friends Neil and Pauline.

Neil & Pauline's rig; a welcome sight

The red claw fishermen; Neil with helper, Chris

Emerald, contrary to my preconceived ideas of it being a more eastern Coober Pedy with dry hills and spasmodic mines offering precious stones, is in fact the centre of a thriving rural centre. “Emerald” relates to Emerald Downs, the station that was established back prior to1879 and named thus for its emerald green fertile lands, nothing to do with the precious stones that are mined further east and west. We passed through eighty or so kilometres of very gently rolling fertile lands offering proof of young grain crops, the residue of cotton fluff from the transit of that crop in weeks gone by and glimpses of  cattle grazing. Coal mining through this region is prolific but well shielded from the traveller on the main roads except for the many very late model 4WDs with hazard lights on the roof to suggest they spend most of their lives in the bowels of mines and the conveyor belts and derricks appearing above the tree line close to the German Creek Mine adjacent to this lake. 

In fact the lake was specifically established for mining purposes in 1983 and holds 10,000 mega litres of water when full. This, the mines purpose, accounts for the fact that mining vehicles have frequented the recreational area, and paid attention to the fact that the toilets are severely out of action.

Enjoying drinks before dinner

We travelled north on the Gregory Highway as far as Capella and then turned east to Tiera, passing entrances to a surprisingly great number of coal mines. To our north east lay the Peak Range, a collection of peaks and ranges standing proud above the flat plains we travelled across.  Just short of thirty kilometres, we reached the German Creek mine and turned abruptly north to the unmarked track leading to the reservoir on a few hundred kilometres of rough surface, soon identifying our fellow Lotus caravan travellers established above the lake edge and a level site higher up reserved for us. We parked up, embraced our dear friends, set up camp and lunched with them chatting nineteen to the dozen in an attempt to catch up on over a year’s chit chat.

The afternoon soon passed, we walked around the lake with Neil to check his red claw crab nets, helped him loosen them from their rocky snags, watched and appreciated their efforts in cooking an excellent roast beef dinner cooked in their iron “pig” fire and polished off bottles of beer and wine with uncommon pleasure.

What a joy it is to catch up with such excellent friends!