1st August 2011 - Mt.Isa

Had a business catch up day with collecting mail, posting mail, bills etc.  Car was also serviced, windscreen repaired (large stone chip!!!) and all bits & pieces now back in order.  Met a lovely couple from Perth, Peter & Pam, who were camped next to us.  They are leaving here and heading to Kakadu before going back down the West Coast.  Had happy hour with them as well as Joy & Wayne before going out for dinner at the Buffs Club.  What an experience that was……….rang Buffs Club to get the shuttle to pick us up.  Lester the shuttle driver looked like Grumpy from Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs and sounded like him when he yelled at us to “put our seat belts on” as we got into the van.  Then it was off on a 35km drive to go 2km to the club.  Dropped off & picked up all over Mt.Isa at breakneck speed.  Joy & I were in the back seat hanging on for dear life as we hurtled around corners and screamed to a halt at intersections.  I eventually had a fit of the giggles thinking we were actually on a ride at Luna Park.  Fantastic meal at the Buffs club and then it was back into the van with Grumpy Lester  to do it all over again on the way home – very funny…..

31st July 2011 - Mt.Isa

Amazing what you find when you actually turn the corner......We were doing a bit of sightseeing around Mt.Isa and decided to go for a drive out to Lake Moondarra and found an absolute little oasis.  Really beautiful and quite interesting.  We also went to have a look at the underground hospital but unfortunately it was closed.  Hope to get back there tomorrow, as it looks really interesting and I would hate to miss it.  Drove up to the lookout and had our picture taken by a lovely french guy traveling around Australia with his girlfriend for 12 months. Very interesting the stories you hear when you stop and talk to the many travelers out here......Tonight we are really looking forward to some junk food - fish & chips......lovely, and tomorrow the car gets serviced, then it is on towards Cloncurry.

30th July 2011 - Soudan Bore - Mt.Isa

This morning the landscape resembles The Nullabor - not a tree in sight, 323kms into Mt.Isa and still haven't seen many Eagles - 2 actually and have now done over 5000kms. Stopped at the QLD/NT Border for pictures after coming approx 80kms on the Barkly Hwy which feels more like a camel track than a highway.  Very rough and very patched - more patches than actual road.  Morning tea @ Camooweal and then into Mt.Isa to the family parks caravan park.  Amazing the people you meet.  We just ran into a couple at the rest area at Camooweal that have been free camping near a lovely billabong on the Georgina River.  They have been there for 5 weeks and were raving about how beautiful it was. They are originally from Geraldton and have been travelling for 4 years - now that's the life.

29th July 2011 - Starry night Free Camp - Soudan Free Camp

Barry & I must have really slept well last night, didn’t hear a thing and according to Joy & Wayne there was another camper come into our camp around 1.30am & leave at 6.30am – Heard nothing!!  They were up peering out their window and most concerned with thoughts of “Wolf Creek”.  Luckily we all survived to journey onto the next free camp.  Our plan was to be in Mt.Isa by Sunday but it appears that we will be there Saturday as we have made up quite a bit of time.  Another glorious day in Paradise – again not a cloud in the sky, no wind and heading towards 30 degrees.  Brunch was at 41 Mile Bore (The bores were used to water the cattle before there were road trains to take the cattle to market) and then onto Barkly Homestead for an ice-cream and a stretch of the legs.  It is a long haul across “Route 66”, on the way to QLD border & Mt.Isa.  Tonight we have tucked ourselves right down the back of Soudan Bore Rest Area.  Cooked some ribs in the “Baby Q” for dinner and no fire tonight. Played a "Truth or Crap" game with Joy & Wayne, similar to trivial pursuit....good fun.

28th July 2011 - Katherine - Starry Night Free Camp

A big day today.  Need to do quite a few kms to get to Mt.Isa in time for the Patrol to be serviced on Monday morning.  Shady Lane Caravan Park at Katherine was a lovely quiet and very clean park.  While we were in Katherine I bought myself a new Motorolla Defy Phone.  It is going to take some time before I am proficient in it’s use.  Very frustrating – feel like throwing it, but Barry wont let me!!!!!  Beautiful country.  I am sitting watching the landscape pass by.  One side of the road has been burnt, so the trees have black trunks and the undergrowth looks like lawn.  On the other side of the road it hasn’t been burnt and the undergrowth is quite dense and looks like straw. This goes on for miles & miles.  Morning Tea @ Larrimah and alas Fran’s Pie Stall is closed.  Didn’t really matter we still have fond memories of the great pies on the way up, and Barry is on “rations”anyway.  Magnificent day, no wind, no clouds and expected to get to 32 degrees – too good!!!!!.  Lunch was under a huge shady tree at the historic township of Newcastle Waters inside the church grounds. The church is made of wrought iron and there were no windows in it.  Not much else here to see…..Free camp tonight behind a gravel pit approx. 15kms North of Renner Springs. Had the camp fire going and cooked spuds for dinner.  After dinner we turned all the lights off and watched the stars to see who could see the first shooting star.  (Wayne won)  Magnificent  black sky with no clouds and billions of stars.  This is why I named the camp site Starry Night.

27th July 2011 - Katherine - HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIN

Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter Erin.  Wish I was there to give you a big kiss & hug.  Thinking of you with lots & lots of love.

26th July 2011 - Adelaide River - Katherine

Nice easy day, left Adelaide River around 8.15am and called in to have a look at Edith Falls.  Beautiful spot, didn't go for a swim but had a nice walk around and took some pictures.  We were going to stay at Edith Falls on the way up to Darwin but got a call on the CB to tell us that it was full.  I am thinking that was because it was still school holidays here.  Today it was nice and quiet. Joy & Wayne went ahead of us this morning and booked into the Caravan Park at Katherine.  Nice park and the pool is right behind us and have already been for a swim. They went on the Cruise through the Gorge at 3.00pm so were in a bit of a hurry.  Nice quiet caravan park and have decided to stay an extra night and go and have a look at the Hot Springs that are here.