The rest of our journey north.......

Sorry it has taken so long to update. We are staying in Rick's late mother's cottage on his sister's 5 acre property up the hill from Cairns. This area is in a mobile phone and internet black spot, so we get very unreliable reception on our laptop and phone. At least Rick's sister has a land line and broadband, so we can come to her house to log onto the internet.

Last post we were camped at a place called Rockpool, 10km from Charleville, Queensland. We left there on 26th July heading still northward, through Augathella to Tambo, where we camped at Stubby Bend beside the Barcoo River. Our convoy has now grown to 3 vehicles as we met another couple, B & J, heading the same direction.

Next morning we drove 100km north west to Blackall where we all stopped for coffee, then another 107km north to Barcaldine where we camped at a roadside rest stop.

Wed. 28th July, pushing on through the outback, this route we followed is referred to as the Matilda Way, a great drive. 100km west along the Capricorn Highway we arrived at Longreach and found a large dry campsite beside the Thompson River; lots of travellers here. We met yet another couple who joined our little convoy.
We stayed a couple of nights here so we could check out the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and the Qantas Founders Museum. Very interesting.
The weather really started warming up by this time, so out with the shorts and tank tops.

Fri. 30th July we left Longreach, 180km north west to Winton. The "Highway" is rough out here; floods in the wet season. We camped a couple of kms out of town at Long Waterhole for 3 nights. There are some interesting places to visit here: Australian Age of Dinosaurs fossil preparation centre, Walzing Matilda Centre, Arno's wall, the musical fence.

Mon.2nd August. The others in our convoy left early, planning a detour through Boulia. We were to catch up along the road. When Rick tried to start the engine...............................................................................nothing!
Luckily there was a couple still camped who had a generator thingy and jump-started our Winny.
Into Winton to the laundromat, then we headed west towards Boulia. This is the long way around to Cloncurry, over 700km I think. The road is single lane most of the way to Mt. Isa, so care must be taken. When the big triple cattle trucks approach, get off the road!
We camped at a remote roadside rest area with B & J, who were waiting for us. The other 2 couples had gone on to another camp site.
This was a beautiful location; magic sunset, very peaceful.

Tues. 3rd August. Up early to watch the sunrise, it was very cold, around 5C and clear. The country around this area is quite speccy and well worth the detour along the not so good road. We stopped for a break at the quaint little Middleton Pub, the only building for miles. This is really the back of beyond.
Another 200km (approx) to Boulia; along the way even more scenic. Stopped at Cawnpore Lookout for wonderful views of the Jumpups (mesas?)

We caught up with the rest of our little convoy at Boulia, home of the mysterious Min Min light. At the Information Centre we viewed the "Min Min Experience", a sort of show relating people's experiences with the Light. Unfortunately none of our group saw the light that night, but we did look for it. Maybe next time we head out that way..................
We camped that night at a rest stop at Peak Creek, around 64km north of Boulia.

Wed. 4th August and Rick's 60th birthday!!!
Didn't start out the best though. Winny wouldn't start again. Good thing B & J waited for us as they jump started us.
Around 80km to Dajarra, we caught up with the other 2 vehicles again. We all decided to stay the night at the town's rest area, and because it was Rick's birthday we hoped to all have dinner at the pub. We went to ask, but alas, they don't serve meals; try the roadhouse we were told. So the 8 of us toddled off to the other end of town, about 100 metres LOL, and yes, we could have our celebratory dinner at the roadhouse. 3 small tables and 12 chairs, so there was room for our group and a few extra.
A pleasant evening was had by all.  :)

Thurs. 5th August Winny started ok and we all headed to Mount Isa, 152km. More scenic rocky hills interspersed with wide grassy plains.
Arrived Mount Isa at midday, finally back to 2 lane roads!
We camped in a big dusty paddock at the front of the R.S.L club; free camping here only because the big rodeo was on.

Fri. 6th August and Winny wouldn't start, again. B charged the battery for us with his generator, then Rick and I drove into town in search of a new battery. No luck. Amazing, a big town, several places that supply batteries, lots of trucks etc, and nobody had a battery to fit our vehicle.
To cut a long story short, we were stuck in Mount Isa for a week before we got the (sort of) right type of battery. Hooray, we are mobile again!

Wed. 11th August we have ignition and head east 120km to Cloncurry, then around 80km north to Terry Smith Lookout to camp. Very popular spot. We are back to 2 vehicles as the others went west then south to Alice Springs on their way home to Tasmania.

Thurs. 12th August another 110km northward to Burke and Wills Roadhouse, out in the middle of nowhere and very busy. We stopped for coffee before heading further north around 300km to Normanton on the bank of the croc infested Norman River. Definitely NO swimming around here!
Approx. 20km east we stopped at a campsite called Leichhardt Lagoon for 3 nights; beautiful camp, $14 per couple per night. A lot of people camp here for weeks to catch Barramundi in the Norman River. We were lucky that a fisherman gave us some nice fresh Barra and we didn't have to risk being croc bait ourselves.  LOL

Fri. 13th August the four of us drove into Normanton to look at the historic railway station, then 74km on to Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria. Major fishing here, all the caravan parks were full. We bought prawns and Moreton Bay bugs, yummy.
Back to Leichhardt Lagoon for the night.

Next day we all drove back into Normanton for a ride on the famous Gulflander train. The track is bumpy and the train is quite a rattler; this area is under water in the wet season. I am surprised the train track doesn't wash away.

Sun. 15th August and up early, ready to go at 8.30am. We headed east around 145km to Croydon, then towards Georgetown, another 150km east. Rick and I stopped 20km short of Georgetown at Cumberland Mine Historic Site where we camped beside a pretty waterlily covered lagoon. D & K continued on to Mount Surprise as D wanted TV and internet access.

Mon. 16th August drove to Georgetown and filled Winny with diesel, then 90km east to Mount Surprise where we met up with D & K again.
Rick was hoping to go out gem fossicking, but his sister phoned and said his mum didn't look too well so we had better try and see her soon.
D & K stayed another night at Mount Surprise while Rick and I drove to his sister's home, around 320km, arriving about 6pm.

Tues. 17th August we went to the nursing home to visit Rick's mum; she was not good. On morphine and unresponsive. We think she knew we were there though because she appeared to try and open her eyes.
She passed away peacefully on Sat. 21st August, no longer in pain.
So, we have been here since then.

A Few photos............click to enlarge

Inside the Wellshot Hotel, on the way to Longreach. Travellers leave hats and money which are pinned to the ceiling and walls.

At the Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach

A section of Arno's wall, Winton. Arno built the wall around his property using every imaginable piece of junk he could find. Quite a work of art!

On the Jumpup at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs fossil preparation centre, near Winton

Our Winny at sunset between Winton and Middleton.

The quaint Middleton Pub, between Winton and Boulia, the only building for miles.

View from Cawnpore Lookout, between Middleton and Boulia.

Another view from Cawnpore Lookout

View of road towards Boulia, this was a good section

Normanton Railway Station

The Gulflander train

A section of the track the Gulflander travels on.

Camped beside lagoon at Cumberland Mine Historic Site