3 June 2015. We are now in Mt Isa after taking 3 days to drive down from Karumba. Karumba Sunset Caravan Park was full of friendly people who were always glad to have a chat or give the girls a treat. Very nice people who visit there up to 5 months every year. Very dusty place as they have been in drought, but it was worth the visit. Click here to view video of KarumbaFish were not biting either, so I was glad I didn't book a charter. We had dinner at the Sunset Tavern one night in Karumba and watched a great sunset. The girls had a great time walking someones dog around the beer garden. We stayed 3 nights and then headed south into some strong head winds. Hate them as they make me use too much fuel, but not much you can do about it. We stayed at a couple of free camps and I only took vision of one as it was too windy at the second one. Girls played in the dirt and looked like they'd been to a Corroboreee !
We also came across a large herd of Cattle being pushed along the Highway by about 10 Jackaroos and Jillaroos (good sort as well). They had a Helicopter and had caused a number of Road Trains to stop and drive slow passed them. I think I took some nice photos and will upload them late...I also took some vision off my Dash Camera so you can see that here with the Cowboy cracking his whip and stuff...it was 30 degrees at the time....hard job by hard working people and something you don't see everydayClick here to view video of Cattle Herd
We are staying about 2km from the CBD and are waiting for some mail to arrive before we head further west into the Northern Territory. I have also booked my car in for a Major service here in The Isa, which includes the replacement of the Timing Belt and this can't be done until next week as they have to wait for parts from Brisbane...3 days ! Oh well, time for some rest instead of driving again. The Golf course looks a little rough, but I will try and get a game on there this week.
8 June 2015. I forgot to say that we travelled on a one lane highways where you move off the road if approaching a Truck. That way they can stay on the single lane bitument and not flick rocks up on you as they pass. All works well, or so it should, but the first one lane roadway we came across and the first car moved off the bitumen to pass us but did not slow down and flicked a couple of rocks up and chipped the windscreen...bloody hell. Not too bad and I fixed it up pretty well with a repair kit I had.
It's been pretty slow here in Mt Isa over the long weekend. We visited the Overlander Hotel across the road last night for a nice steak and a couple of cold drinks until Keira told us we had to go home and we had to hurry up and drink...hahaha. I played golf on Saturday and it was a shocker. No grass oin fairways due to drought and every shot was like hitting the ball out of the bunker. Shocker !!! We've met some nice people in the van park and others just look right through you...weird.
We visited Lake Moondarra a bit out of town, which is Mt Isa's water source and a very large water way with picnic grounds, fishing, water skiing etc.Click here to view video of Lake Moondarra. Mt Isa..A nice place for a relaxing picnic.
The alcohol Laws in Mt Isa are a little different than N.T. At some venues you are allowed to purchase wine casks after 12pm...others are 4pm....but the rule for the one after 12pm is that you HAVE to have a vehicle and you cannot WALK away with the Cask. So, the local indigenous catch taxi's to the drive through bottle shops right on the dot of 12noon !! We are probably paying for that as welll....they load up with a bunch of casks each and drive off to who knows where. Would hate to get in the taxi after them as they smell through lack of hygene.
15 June 2015. We had to wait at Mt Isa until Wednesday for our mail which turned out OK as I had the car serviced on Tuesday. I pumped up the caravan tyres on the Wednesday morning and when I hooked the van up, one of them was nearly flat...do'h! I pumped it up again and adjusted the valve and all was OK so must have had a little dirt in it. As I was driving out of the van park, one of the fuses blew and I had no radio or other dash accessories, so I stopped to fix it. I found it in about 30 minutes, but then the engine light had come on...another do'h! We went back into Toyota and they put the computer on it and showed an error code with the accelator. Turned out that I had moved one of the other fuses whilst the engine was running (as the kids were in the car with a/c going) and it had a hiccup. Removed the code from the computer and all was well. Finally leaving Mt Isa about 1.30pm
After another 180km's we pulled into the Camooweal Billabong and found a great spot to ourselves and set up for a couple of days about 2km from the highway...and so bloody quiet. Beautiful birdlife once again with Spoonbills and Brolgas, along with Hawks and Kites. It looked like rain after 2 nights and we were advised by locals to leave if it did rain as the black dirt turns to black mud fairly quickly and you get stuck in there. We left just in time I think, as it rained quite a bit just down the road, so all the others in there may have been stuck until it dried out. Beautiful sunsets there as well.
Another drive of about 300km across the Barkly Highway saw us arrive at a place we had been to last year, 41 mile Bore rest area, about 80 km short of Three ways and the Stuart Highway. Click here to view video of 41 Mile Bore Rest area Spent a nice pleasent evening there and moved on in the morning and headed south into Tennant Creek for some groceries and a look around...and that was enough :) Thought we were back in South Africa with the bars around the place. I couldn't get beer as they were closed until 2pm so we left and traveled north to Banka Banka Station for $10 each per night. No power, but beautiful spring water and hot showers. Washed the car and van, had a few drinks at the bar and I headed back into Tennant Creek the next day and got some beer....one bloke wanted $70 a carton !! and the other bottle-o charged $53. Steph's wine was $26 for 1 bottle. We left the van at Banka Banka. Staying there for 3 nights as there is also GRASS for the girls. Click here to view video of Banka BankaSteph had a bit of laundry rage again when a inconsiderate woman left her washing in the machine and made everyone wait for her. I told the woman she was wrong :) Selfish ! It gets quite busy here and there would be about 50 vans all up and most just stay 1 night and head off. There are also a couple of horses in a paddock right next to us, so we have had the girls feeding one of them carrots and apples...Zoe loves it and Keira is getting a bit braver. The horse waits for them now :) I've got the generator going today to charge up a bunch of batteries, but as there is no phone service, I can't upload any photos etc. We will be leaving here tomorrow (Tuesday 16 June) to continue north to maybe Daly Waters, Mataranka and then Katherine
20 June 2015.Here we sit in Katherine at the Boab Caravan Park...one of our favourites. Click here to view video of Boab Van ParkGrass, great sites and a bit of entertainment from the locals out the front some nights :) After leaving Banka Banka we went to dusty old Daly Waters Pub van park and were crammed in like sardines. We had a lovely dinner of Beef and Barra and watched a bit of entertainment. Mass exodus from the van park in the morning and it looked like no one had been there. Good for a stop but only once now as it is not as good as it used to be.
Mataranka Homestead Van park was our next stop and it is the home of the movie ..We of the Never Never....which was based on a true story of some pioneers in the early days. Good entertainment on in the evening with a young bloke who was the world champion whip cracker...very very good. To be followed by the 2nd State of Origin which had a fabulous result with the Blues winning...great night except for a rabid Qld supporter which I won't say anymore about :) Had a swim in the thermal pool...a bit smelly, but ok. Had a drive the next day to the Elsey Cemetery which are the people the Movie was made about. Why they settled there is beyond me as there would've been absolutley nothing. But I suppose we are glad they did, as in all of our pioneers. Anyway, we will be staying in Katherine for a couple of weeks to slow down a bit....and save a little fuel money. I don't mind Katherine and it even has a Maccas and Red Rooster....and Golf club :) Our neighbours here at Katherine have a little boy the same age as the girls, so they are all playing and sharing toys. Its great to see.
Have a quick look at these road trains....Click here to view video of Road Trains 28 June 2015.Still in Katherine and leave here on Friday 3 July. Our neighbours left with the little boy, but the girls found someone else to play with...and plenty of, as they call them, puppy dogs...and there are even some pussy cats here as well, getting walked around on a lead ??? Steph leaves her laptop on top of the toaster, near the door and the other day Keira pulled the cord and the laptop fell out the door and stuffed up all the LCD screen. It isn't cracked or anything, just can't see a thing. I get into trouble for leaving stuff they can get their hands on, so Steph will have to wear this one :) It is currently at the shop and should be ready this week they say and cost around $250. It isn't a real worry as we are going to Darwin for a week, then have to come back through here to start to head west, so if it isn't ready this week, we can get it next week.
We are in the Boab Caravan Park (used to be called the Red Gum) and it is a great van park with beautiful grass and well laid out sites. We can watch the girls run around in the middle area, all on grass. We have stayed here before and think it is one of the best we have stayed in. It only has around 35 sites, 6 motel type rooms and a pool. It is booked out everyday. It also has a shop, alcohol and fuel.
I was talking to a Police Officer the other day in the drive in bottle o and he told me they are doing an enforcement here to try to stop the indigineous getting their grog and drinking it all over town. They get really feral after a day on the grog and cause all types of dramas...rapes, murders and general anti social behaviour. Mostly within themselves and there was even one bloke the other day trying to have a fight with another bloke...but it turned out he was looking at his reflection in the Post Office window. They leave the rubbish all over the place and it is left for others to pick it up.
Visited the Katherine Club the other night for dinner, via the Courtesy bus, and had a nice feed and even won a meat tray. The next Day we drove out to the Katherine Gorge and the girls had their first Chocolate Heart Ice cream...hahaha...funny to watch and they loved them. I was lucky to get a bite !
Steph is looking forward to the 1st July as it is Territory Day and you are allowed to purchase and let off fireworks on this day only...place will burn down :)
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