Croydon

Hi,

 

This and the other 2 email were sent from Croydon.

Our next town will be Georgetown, maybe tomorrow yet, as we might camp at the Chamberlin Chimney, 20 km this side of Georgetown.

Mt. Surprise will follow that and Greenvale, 3 Rivers Hotel, and Charters Towers.

 

Must roll along now.

 

Des.

PS Will catch up on those other email, and add more photos when we get home and use the fast and unlimited broadband.

Normanton

30th July 2015

Normanton. Qld.

Nothing really exciting today.  Just the usual wide open spaces of nothingness.  A little bit more shopping in Cloncurry this morning before heading up the Burke development road and stopping opposite   the Burke & Wills Roadhouse for lunch. We had decided to camp at the Bang Bang roadside rest area but on arrival figured that we could be in Normanton by 4.15 pm, so carried on to stay in the caravan park with the lovely swimming pool which was very refreshing after the temperature having reached 31.5 as we neared the town.  By being in town tonight we can re-fuel in the morning before going 24 km south to Leichardt’s Lagoon to stay with Pat & Wayne for a short spell.

I have been trying to think what I had written in the email that got lost a few days back.  One thing that I do remember is that I had attached a pic of a bird that Bev had taken in one of the irrigation channels at Kununurra.  What she didn’t realise what was in the photo until we down loaded the pics was quite a large fresh water crocodile.  I will try and get this email to go out with that pic attached.

We might not have any phone signal for a few days now, so everyone will get a rest from my stories.

Best regards from Des & Bev.  

Our friend crashed & burned

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/29114072/pilot-dies-as-kit-built-helicopter-crashes/

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-29/missing-wa-helicopter-pilot-confirmed-dead-in-crash/6658164

Our friend Rossy died on Tuesday afternoon in this helicopter. (Pictured at Indee station 1July 2015.

RIP Rossy.

Des & Bev

Corella Dam.

29th July 2015

Corella Dam, Clem Walton Park 67 km east of Mt.Isa.

Only travelled 330 km today.  Bought diesel @$134.9, petrol for the generator & gas for hot water and cooking in Mt. Isa.

Also had lunch and shopped to stock up for Leichardt's Lagoon camp.

We stayed at this dam 2 years ago.  It was built as a water supply for the now Mary Kathleen uranium mine.

I forgot to mention last night that yesterday we travelled a 73 km straight stretch of road before and after Barkly Homestead roadhouse. Boring!

Next email sometime.

Regards,

Des & Bev.

Avon Downs NT

Tuesday 28th July 2015

AVON DOWNS Police Station rest area.

Will have to do a quick catch up tonight to beat the battery.  The last email that I prepared was at Daly Waters Historic Pub, but the email got lost somewhere.  It was showing as being in the OUTBOX but could not be found!

From Matherson RA we went to Katherine & washed the MH for $14.00, bought fuel and moved on to Daly Waters HP, where there must have been about 100 others camped.  The old pub is really rocking these days with great meals & entertainment at night.

Yesterday we pushed against the wind nearly all day and decided to camp at Banka Banka station at 1.30 pm.  Cost $20 and really good showers and toilets.  No phone signal.  Had bought $20 worth of fuel @ $1.85/ ltr at Renner Springs to make sure that we got to The 3 Ways where we filled up this morning @ $1.75/ ltr.  This should get us to Mt. Isa if the wind is kind to us tomorrow. We are about 54km west of the Qld. border and not far from Camoweel (?) which is 200 km west of MI.

After we shop etc. in MI we will probably go on to stay at Corella Dam, where there will also be no phone signal.

So will put this into the OUTBOX now and hope that we can get it away tomorrow somewhere.

Best regards from Des & Bev. 

Catch up

Saturday 26th July 2015

MATHERSON Rest Area, 10km West of Katherine, NT.

Thursday,s Ord River Boat Cruise was a nice experience.  We were picked up at 11.30 am and taken to the boat which was equipped with 2 350 hp V8 Honda outboard engines.

These soon has us ripping along at 50 to 55 kph up the river for 55 km.  Had a few stops along the way to have a look at the birdlife, crocodiles, points of interest etc.  The last few ks before the dam wall was exciting as the water was running much faster and shallower, with some slip sliding going on.  Most of the journey back to Kununurra was more leisurely and we pulled into a hidden grotto for a nice afternoon tea. Occasionally we met up with another Triple J boat and had a bit of a drag race for the last 20km back to Lake Kununurra to watch the sunset just after 5.00pm.

Friday we went to the Hootchery, the longest legal still in WA continuously operating to have rum cake with rum cream, and coffee for morning tea.  In that area we also visited the Sandlewood factory. TSF and bought some products.  From there we went o The Rock Art Gallery where we met Colin from Condobolin, who we had met out there in 2009.

He let up pick our own 1kg. bag of Zebra rock offcuts.  We then had mango cheese cake and mango smoothie for afternoon tea.

Looks like battery getting low so will finish and sent tomorrow,

Des & Bev

Kununurra WA

Wednesday 22nd July 2015

Kununurra WA

Left Willie Creek on Monday morning for a long driving day. (416 km).

Drove 45 km in & 45 out to Derby to have a Barra burger @ $17.00 each for lunch. Did not need much for tea that night though.

Camped Monday night at a big roadside camp, Ellendale, where there were about 28 caravans & motorhomes etc.

Next day we travelled on to Fitzroy Crossing for fuel, water, and booked a 55 km boat tour on the Ord River at Kununurra for Thursday. (tomorrow).

Also booked a caravan park for 3 nights.  At the information centre we met Mitchell Mansel form Taree working there.  He is the son of Mick Mansel who is also living at Fitzroy crossing.

Camped at Mary Pool, 275 km East of Fitzroy Crossing,108 km west of Halls Creek for the night with about 55 other campers.  It is a large area where we have previously stayed.

At Halls Creek the Coles Shell Express servo had no diesel, but luckily the Caltex had received fuel overnight.  There was a big bank up of cars, caravans, motorhomes & camper trailers in Halls Creek!  We decided to drive 392 km to Dunham River to camp last night leaving only 105 to Kununurra this morning.

We went to the Zebra Rock gallery & workshop on the way in this morning where we bought some unpolished rock to take home.

At Derby we bought another carved Boab nut from Robbie Johnstone, a local artist.  Much cheaper than in the information centre!!

That's all the news for now from Des & Bev.