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Post Info TOPIC: Torrens Creek Flinders Highway Queensland


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Torrens Creek Flinders Highway Queensland


I wrote a poem about my experience

Torrens Creek

After hours on the road on a dusty outback track

Returning  to Townsville from a trip to Broome and back

We came across this outback town of Torrens Creek

 On the Flinders Highway 88 ks from Hughenden to the west

About 150 ks from Charters Towers to the east

Saw the Exchange Hotel and thought wed  take a peek

We were weary and looking for somewhere to stay the night

And noticed the pub had a mini van park on the site

 

Two caravans and a tent took up the space

A couple in a four wheel drive with a large caravan in place

Our poptop  van with legs down to stop the sway

Two  backpackers on bicycles not long arrived

On weary legs once tent  erected

Hoping to rest muscles and keeping cramps at bay

 

A walk around the town was needed

If those idle legs were heeded 

Not much to see of course

A railway station opposite us

 A wheelie bin enclosed in the foot of a dinosaurus

In a paddock not so far away, a horse

 

Come sundown we headed for the pub

Looking forward to some tasty  grub

A cool beer  to quench the thirst

 And a night off for the cook

any excuse will do in my book

On our trip this pub was not the first

 

Mine host the publican was on hand

Waiter, barman, cook, an all-round one man band

His partner was off in Townsville leaving him to cope alone

A few regulars, all  locals, wandered in for a beer or two or three

 And a drink or two thrown in for free

while I consumed a humungous hamburger, my partner  a rare T-bone

 

One could not wish for better entertainment

Than to listen to the tales of local bushmens attainment

And soak up the atmosphere of a pub outback

More than we imagined goes on in this small town

A local golf tournament brings entrants from far aroun

As witnessed by the trophies  on the wall behind our back

 

 

 

So used to green golf courses our curiosity was roused,

 where do you play golf in this barren countryside we asked

Why not far from here  they said with a  twinkle in their eye

Would you like to play at sunrise in the  morning?

It had been awhile since wed seen a sunrise dawning

And sensing a country challenge Wed love to play was our reply

 

Our  local guide was the manager on a cattle station nearby

A round of golf before work was by the by

A hundred kms to and fro was nothing in his day

And the golf course was only ten minutes drive away

 

While waiting for our host next morning,

Our attention was drawn to a helicopter landing

Not more than a few metres away,

Provoked  thoughts of an emergency

 But no, he was  picking up and delivering  mail to the agency

Reminding us city dwellers this was the outback way.

 

The golf course, nine holes in all, looked like an overgrown paddock,

Grass waist high the colour of yellow sand  much paler than a haddock 

The tees were bare patches of rust coloured clay

Place  the ball, take one almighty swing,

Your lucky if It lands near where youre  aiming  

From  tee to  green you hit the ball more times than on a normal day

For on this course your  lucky to  locate the ball  

 After playing hide and seek in grass so tall

 

Another obstacle on the course were crows

Who love to dive and snatch the ball to drop it on the dung of cows

 Eventually  you reach the Green made of sand the colour of tar

And a hole in the centre containing an old jam jar

With your trusty putter at the hole you  take aim

Over sand as smooth as glass, a few times you hit and miss, oh what a challenging game. 

 Enjoying it immensely around six holes we laughed and played

Eventually retreating in defeat

Having not had a more fun game before or since

Well not forget our sojourn in Torrens Creek



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