Dinosaur Meets Flat Tyres

Before we could even leave camp this morning Bob had to change a blown tyre. So we didn’t leave as early as planned. We headed back along the Cork Road toward Larch Quarry. After about 60 kms the recently fitted spare tyre delaminated so it was a torturous trip into Larch Quarry. Bob tried to get RACV  service as he now had the left hand rear duals reduced to one inflated tyre. After viewing the spectacular Dinosaur Stampede (I would seriously recommend this site to everyone – its the only example in the world) we waited for the RACV to confirm that they would provide assistance. After waiting for hours we decided that we best head back to Winton while we still had daylight. Off we headed and got 40 kms down the track when the delaminating tyre spat out some more tyre and dragged the inner mudguard up onto the duals. This meant we had to jack up the vehicle on the side of the road, remove both wheels, straighten the inner guard, put the original blowout back on and head back into town at a reduced speed. We made it back to the Long Waterhole free camp where we celebrated with a fire and a few drinks while watching the stars once again. Into Winton tomorrow for new tyres for the Turtle.

The crack pit team carrying out roadside repairs.

Popped a Cork at Old Cork Homestead

We left Julia Creek free camp and headed south to Kynuna then onto Winton. We decided we would like to visit the Dinosaur Stampede site at Larch Quarry, so headed down to stay the night at Old Cork Homestead, an abandoned homestead originally settled in 1865 and finally abandoned in the 1960s. The ravages of time and thieving visitors have taken their toll but it was nice to spend the night on the banks of the Diamantina River watching the shooting stars in an outback astral show. It turned quite cool and as there was a strong breeze so no chance of a fire. Off to Larch Quarry tomorrow.

The old cheese at Old Cork Homestead

Reached Julia Creek

We travelled on roads new to us today, from Burke and Wills Roadhouse down to Julia Creek. A leisurely days drive we settled into a very nice Free Camp set up by the local shire. Self contained vehicles only.

We fuelled up at Normanton at the almost defunct roadside bowser(the BP servo was shut on a Friday)

The roadside bowser at Normanton

The camp at Julia Creek has Optus service so the Willies are happy!! As I said, nice camp if the Grey Nomads hadn’t parked so badly that only half of us have access to the water – but, hey, its free.

Our free camp at Julia Creek

Fish For Dinner

Well done to Bob and Jenny! They caught fish for dinner tonight aboard the Kerry D Fishing Charter. Everyone in the caravan park is complaining that there were no fish today, only two or three returned with fish. Our intrepid hunter/gatherers returned with 3 blue nose salmon and a skipjack between them, enough for a big feed of fresh fish tonight. Jenny’s got the bug so she down fishing off the beach –crocodiles or no crocodiles.

The hunter/gatherers return aboard the KerryD

Hey Karumba

Well we’ve arrived at Karumba after spending a night in the company (real or imagined) of the Norman River crocodiles at a free camp on the banks of the river at Normanton. You have to camp at least 50 metres from the river’s edge for safety’s sake. Only a short trip from there to Karumba Point to stay at Sunset Caravan Park in the hope that we can get our fridge and freezer back to normal after several days of uncomfortably hot weather and only 12 volt power supplied by the vehicle and the solar panels. We loaded the freezer with ice to try and get it back to normal temperature but its a slow process.

The Norman River at Karumba Point

 

Beyond Mount Isa

Lobbed into Mount Isa to top up on supplies (the usual suspects – meat and grog) before going to have a look at the Underground hospital. Very interesting Museum associated with it, displaying all the instruments of torture used by surgeons (I’m glad we have general anaesthetic so we don’t see these things).

Part of the Mount Isa Underground hospital.

From there we headed to Cloncurry before turning North on the Burke development road. We pulled into a free camp at the Terry Smith Lookout Rest Area. Jenny and I then spent half an hour cryovacing the meat we just bought with the cryovac machine we just bought. We’ll beat the hot weather blues of our freezer by fair means or foul (it uses to much power when we are off grid meaning that we have to turn it off overnight. In warm weather it thaws.)

Made it to Queensland

We refuelled at Barkly Homestead before heading on to Queensland. We went out to the Camoweal National Park where we had lunch and a look at the Camoweal Caves. These caves were formed when the roof of a cavern collapsed leaving a large opening. Sadly public access is not allowed because of the unstable nature of the rocks. Very interesting.

The large cave at Camoweal National Park

We left there and headed on to our camp 54 kilometres outside Mount Isa. Quite a contrast to last night, with the drone of the grey nomads/gonads generator. Still we managed to still do our star watching, with the promise of a meteor shower to come (as promised by Star Walk 2)

We Depart for better fishing

After repairing a blown tyre (caused by a rock catching between the rear dual wheels) we departed Borroloola for points south east. We travelled to Alroy Downs on the Tablelands Highway and camped out in our preferred location – a gravel pit. It was a great night in the middle of nowhere, watching the stars until the near full moon broke over the horizon. We listened to Golden Oldies in the moonlight. Life can be sweet.

A desert sunset Alroy Downs, Tablelands Highway

Arrived Borroloola

Back on the road at a leisurely pace arriving in Borroloola around lunchtime. We set up camp at the MacArthur River Caravan Park and Bob rang his contact at the local constabulary to see how fishing looked. Unfortunately there are strong winds in the gulf at the moment and the weather doesn’t look like it will clear until Thursday at the earliest. Dylan suggested that they may be able to do a fishing trip in his boat along the river Tuesday so everything was a bit up in the air. It was decided that we may as well head over to the other side of the Gulf and go to Karumba, so we will have a few days here relaxing in the sun before leaving on Thursday to head toward Karumba. Meanwhile Bob and Jenny can fish from the riverbank while watching out for crocodiles.

Shady spot for a fish – MacArthur River, Borroloola

Towards Borroloola

Spent the day travelling toward Borroloola, stopping at October Creek Rest Area at around three and setting up camp. Before to long , grey nomads started drifting in and quite quickly the small camping area was full. We spent the afternoon and evening enjoying the balmy weather and identifying the different bird species as they came into camp to drink from a water bowl we provided (while we drank from the wine glasses we also provided)

Bush camp enjoying a quiet drink