Saturday morning at the Mitchell cafe

Surrounded by decorative grasses and two life-sized concrete kangaroos -- yet alongside the Warrego Highway -- the cafe is a key place in Mitchell, outback Queensland.

This this morning we sat outside the cafe in the shade (it was too hot in the sun!) with three friends and caught up on the last five months.

Janelle (who owns and runs the cafe) treats us as guests and has a lovely outward going and friendly personality. Recently she won first prize -- in the Maranoa region -- for her home-made pies.

While drinking our coffee we had the opportunity to greet many other neighbours and friends.

All in all, it was heart-warming welcome back to Mitchell.

5 months since I walked the Maranoa River

It was like a pilgrimage. With my German shepherd Major on his halter-lead, I headed off along the Maranoa River.

The river red gums were bathed in late afternoon sunshine; 'my' mulberry tree growing beside the bridge was in full leaf; the murals painted on the concrete pylons look surprisingly good considering they've suffered flood waters over the summer period. People were fishing and a few kids were catching yabbies.

In the hush of evening the water looked mirror-like, crisscrossed with reflections of river red gums.

Yes, it's great to be back home in Mitchell.

Home in Mitchell, outback Queensland

Today's been a blend of loads of washing, unpacking boxes and having five lots of friends call in to welcome us home to Mitchell. Richard was a great help lifting boxes off the roof of the ute -- followed by a pot of tea and stimulating conversation on the verandah in the sun.

Daphne told me we had 58 inches of rain in Mitchell last year -- the normal rainfall is in the 20s. Consequently, the country looks fantastic: the trees, shrubs and grasses are green and healthy. Add to that, a blue sunny sky and 26°C and I call that close to perfection.

I haven't seen the Maranoa River yet. That is tomorrow's treat. But I have admired the river red gums growing along the banks, especially with the afternoon sun lighting up the white trunks and branches.

Home to Mitchell on the mighty Maranoa River

After 24 days on the road (between Phillip Island in Victoria and Mitchell in Queensland) we've arrived at Mitchell -- thankfully safely and in good spirits.

In our absence, Daphne has cared for our home and garden and has, as usual, done an excellent job. Everything looks great.

Katie (14 year old Siamese) stalked around the house inspecting her old haunts and giving the occasional yowl. Then she had some food, a drink, used her litter tray and settled to sleep on her favourite sheepskin bed. Major and Del were excited to be home and raced around the yard sniffing and wagging their tails. Stego lizard -- well, he was asleep in his carry box where he'll remain until tomorrow.

When we opened the lid of the toilet, there were six of the most exquisitely beautiful green tree frogs to greet us!

While travelling today, I remembered an experience we had at Yowah yesterday. We were talking with an opal miner and he described the discovery of a nest of Yowah nuts, most of which had opalised centres, when cut. His eyes shone as he spoke and I was able to understand the passion people have here in outback Queensland for this unique opal with its ironstone backing. After telling us about the experience he rummaged in the back of his Toyota 4WD and brought out a box which, magician-like, he opened to display one of the nuts. Its beauty drew my breath away.

I'll close now as this has been a long day and I'm tired.

Welcomed by donkeys at Toompine, in outback QLD

Saying, "Goodbye," to all our wonderful new friends at Yowah meant we didn't leave until late morning, but that didn't matter. Never before have I ever stayed anywhere with such honest, interesting and salt-of -the earth people. Their welcome was as open and spacious as the land itself: red dirt country rich in unique opal deposits.

En route between Yowah and Quilpie, a sign stating, "Pet animals for the next 5 km" explained the tiny community of Toompine to perfection. This tiny outback town is a pub with accommodation -- open eight days per week. As soon as I stepped out of our ute, two donkeys were in my arms, nuzzling me with their lips and meeting my eyes, their eyelashes long and their eyes dark and kind.

When we farmed on King Island in the 1980s, we had two pet donkeys as part of our family. It's been 25 years since I've cuddled donkeys and it was such a thrill!

In addition to the donkeys, Toompine has a herd of goats, alpacas, geese (a large waterhole is located beside the pub), dogs, cats, ponies and, it seems, any animal or traveller is welcome at Toompine Pub in Outback Queensland.

Yowah State School provides excellent education

Yowah State School Principal Lauren McGeorge provides an excellent education for the students who attend her school of only three pupils.

The school is a vital part of the community and participates in all events held in Yowah -- including the library activities. The spacious schoolroom is rich in interesting equipment and material and has an outlook towards a large covered play area, green lawns and gardens.

With a chook house containing 10 Rhode Island Reds and Whites and a productive vegetable garden, the children are learning sustainable living and care of living things.

If I was the parent of a school-age child I'd choose Yowah State School above any other school in Australia.

Opal Eddie from Yowah is a true artist

With a New Zealand background Opal Eddie is one of Yowah's greatest gems.

We were privileged to see his collection of opals and work created from pieces of weathered arid region wood. The combination of opal, wood, copper and sandstone creates magnificent sculptures.

Opal Eddie's collection contains pieces he could never sell -- they are that beautiful, that unique. His home is built using stone and all manner of other interesting materials, and has nooks and crannies where pieces of half-built sculptures wait for that next burst of inspiration.

Eddie drives around town in his 1939 Chev Coupe which he restored from bits and pieces found on stations far and wide. It's his pride and joy.

Generosity of spirit shines through Eddie's work and the unique creations he makes. The stone cairns built on the road up to the Yowah Bluff were his idea, and have taken off to the extent of being a true feature of the town. It was a privilege to meet Opal Eddie.