Day Three of our trip. We awoke in Dalveen to the sound of birds in the bushes outside our van.

Val had to replace a rubber bush in one of his shock absorbers (he had a spare, so the repair was completed at the campsite - I told you the men I am travelling with are very capable, didn't I?)

We drove to Stanthorpe to refuel and do some grocery shopping. By then it was 9am and the Tourist Information Centre had opened. We picked up some info and headed off.

We went to a cheese shop and winery. Liked the cheese. Didn't like the winery. Consequently, we have some nice cheese in the fridge but the wine rack is looking a bit empty.

The day had only just begun. We took a shortcut along a road which went past some amazing granite rock formations - this is the Granite Belt after all. We then joined the road to Texas. The Queensland town, not the US state, obviously. From the tourist info I learned that our Texas is named after that other Texas, I am sure you know the one.

The Stanthorpe to Texas Road follows the Queensland tradition of naming roads after the towns at either end, lack of imagination or what? But it is amazing. If you haven't driven it - do yourself a favour (am I starting to sound like a broken record here?). You HAVE to drive this road. You have to. I can't describe it. Once I upload my photos you will be able to see some pictures taken from a moving car. There is no way they do it justice.

The landscape changes from the Granite Belt high altitude country to sweeping open valleys full of farms, with a lot of lonely looking countryside in between.

Not only the scenery is incredible, but the road signs are amazingly predictive.

When the big red signs come up telling you to slow down and sound your horn, and not to swerve because you WILL hit a tree, and that crests reduce visibility, you still don't expect to see fresh feral pig carcasses on the road just over said crest. But there they were, straight after the signs telling you that animals cause accidents on this piece of road.

In Texas we met some fellow motorhomers, and the boys had a big natter. I took some time to look over the tourist info, and suggested we head for Goat Rock, which was over the border. Time to say Goodbye to Queensland for a few weeks.

The first thing we noticed about Goat Rock Rd (Goat Rock was an 11km drive down this road) was that it was dirt. The second thing we noticed was that there were emus right there! Only a few feet away. Mostly we got to see the backs of the emus as they high-tailed it out of there.

Once we got to Goat Rock we saw - you will never guess - goats! A billygoat, his nannies and kids. He was a bit of a fearsome looking goat, but no braver around a campervan than an emu.

We paid our fees at the honesty box and drove down to the chook house. Haha you guessed it - chooks! Plus ducks, geese, guinea fowl and one lonely peacock who strutted around on the roof of the chook house like he was king of the castle. Because it is spring he had his full tail and looked quite spectacular. No displays though.

Goat Rock itself is accompanied by its friend Balancing Rock. Balancing Rock is a giant granite boulder suspended on - well actually I am not quite sure what it is suspended on. Whenever I looked under it I could see daylight on the other side. Perhaps it is magic. Once you walk past Balancing Rock you can climb Goat Rock. From the top of Goat Rock you can see the whole world! Well, maybe not the whole world, but certainly a large part of the local area. The boys were trying to see the sea, but that was too far away. I had to laugh at the guys who are scared of heights (eg my husband). You were nowhere near the edge Brett, and neither was I!

Goat Rock Rd is an amazingly good piece of dirt road. Once we got to the end of Goat Rock Rd, we turned onto Atholwood Rd. It was dirt too. Much better than the bitumen roads we had been on earlier that day, and 10 times better than the Mount Lindsay Highway from yesterday. I would have to say it was one of the most enjoyable roads to drive. Except maybe for all the cattle grids, they got a bit old after the first four or five.

By now Val was having more shock absorber trouble so he was anxious to get to Inverell. Brett and I went straight to Tourist Information while Val and Steve found a mechanic. We chose a caravan park to stay in. Home cooked meal again.

Reading back over this entry I realise I have left out so much! We saw lots of wildlife including kangaroos and wallabies. I saw many flocks of Apostle Birds (one of my favourites). There were also a lot of shiny things and rusty things in paddocks and farmyards.

I will quickly upload this blog, pictures will follow. Maybe tomorrow.