Dad

We had no reception at Banka Banka Station where we stayed last night, and as we drove into the service station at Three Ways this morning I suddenly got several messages from home, with the news that my Dad was in hospital undergoing a serious heart operation on a torn aorta.  The whole day has been somewhat unreal, and shortly after we reached Camooweal, just over the Queensland border, my mother rang to say that Dad had not made it through the operation. 
The children are a great comfort.  Esther has just been giving me big hugs and crying with me, while Arthur said, "I'm not sad because I know that when I'm old and it's my time to die, I'll see Opa in heaven.  I know he's waiting for me there, and he won't need to walk with a stick any more.  There is no sickness in heaven and no tears.  I love you Mum."

This photo is about three years old, but the only one I had with me.  The children will miss their Opa!

We will see how this affects the rest of our journey, but meanwhile, there may not be many updates on the blog. Right now I feel so far from my family...

Arthur and I walked to the lookout this morning to watch the sun rise over Banka Banka Station.

A family of birds nesting in the shade tree beside our caravan.

Crossing the Queensland border... fortunately the road was only like this for a short distance!