Kronosaurus Korner in Richmond has a brilliant display of Australian fossils. All are extremely old remains of the dinosaur age when most of Australia was covered by an inland sea. It's well worth the visit. This is an exceptionally good display.














Without giving too much away, (you need to go and spend your own shilling), this inside shot gives a good idea of what you will see.














This is Minmi, the most complete fossil discovered yet. It had the skin fossilised as well as the skeleton.














The reconstruction of Minmi was developed from these fossilised bones.

Family history connections in Dinosaur Country, Richmond. Most people think I'm a dinosaur at times but I have a family connection that goes back to 1886 at least in this town. On top of that If you happen to wear your All Soul's T'shirt in town you get plenty of comment from all of the various old boys from various schools in the Towers. Here's one of the Good Old Boys. John Wharton and his wife Mary. All Soul's through and through, and the Mayor too boot. Hell I had the run of the town. Susan and I have spent 4 days here while I did some family history research. These people have been fantastic in ensuring I've been introduced to helpful people.


One of my grandmothers was born in Richmond. I believe at an outstation called Charcoal Creek on Richmond Downs station on 23 Dec. 1886. Well here it is today. Grant Lillyman, the grandfather of the North Queensland Cowboy player, knows this country like the back of his hand. He guided me to the spot and here we inspect the ruins of the outstation 120 years after my gran was born here.
My great gran who was the previous girls mother died at "The Northern Star Hotel" on this spot in 1889. This pub was on the coaching road to the west and a staging post for Cobb and Co. She died of dysentery after 5 days and was buried on the banks of the O'Connell Creek which joins the Flinders about 500 metres away. The pub that was here when the rail came through in 1907 was moved to the town of Maxwelton.







The whole time I was out in the bush I kept a sharp lookout for these blighters. While this one is in Hughenden, this was their playground as well.
The Muttaburrasaurus.

Charters Towers at night is quite spectacular. The Commercial Bank in Mosman Street and Henry's (Lawson) Restaurant














City Hall with the Information centre beside it. All of these buildings are Heritage listed.














Gill street on a crowded Wednesday evening.















Ludwig Leichardt's campsite on the Burdekin. This site was covered when the height of the Charters Towers Weir was raised by 2.3m, but the campsite was only a couple of hundred metres away from the weir wall. I wasn't aware of it, could have been sleeping through that particular lesson though.

Leichardt must have blazed a tree and this is a replica.

Back from the Tip and Weipa. While in Weipa, Dean my second son became ill and was flown out by air ambulance. This has been our main concern for several weeks. Glad to say he is on the mend after being under the care of a specialist in Townsville. Once back in Cairns though it gave Susan and I some time to catch up with my brother Warren and Nola and discuss their recent 8 week holiday which was a trip to Darwin in their caravan. We're comparing notes here in Shane's back yard in Cairns. Susan and I started our keep fit program of walking again in Cairns and spent quite a few days walking the Red Arrow climb on Edge Hill. Tough after a lay off.










We did not have long in Cairns as we needed to get to Townsville to support Dean who was in the early stages of diagnosis. Here he is with his motor bike. Anybody that knows my opinion of these things may find it a surprise to have it even on the Blog. Well it's his pride and joy and it shows him in his current state of health.









We had a couple of meals together. This was one of the best in terms of quality and venue. The Garden of Eating in South Townsville for Brunch. By this stage Dean was starting to relax after the specialist had given him fairly good news.
On the other hand, Susan and I were almost jumping out of our skins with energy. Believe that if you will! We had been in Townsville for 3 weeks and had walked the goat tracks on Castle Hill on all but three days. Some days the course was 7 klms long and took one and three quarter hours of walking and climbing. I know for sure now that I will bloody well need knee replacements. We are now on the road to Darwin