Barkly Homestead

As we predicted, the second night at the rest area was a nice one. There was a difference though: Just the four of us last night; the second night we counted 22 caravans and motorhomes. And because our fire was lit, it worked like a honeypot: we ended up with 7 couples around the fire. They brought their chairs and drinks and we had a fablulous evening. Next morning one by one the vans left, and so did we, on or way to Camoweal. We arrived there shortly after noon, set up camp in a caravanpark, and rushed for the toilets and showers. In the afternoon we walked to the local pub and had a drink, but the far north is an expensive area to buy a beer: $4.60 !! . Next morning I took just the car to fill up with diesel and had another expensive experience: $ 1.98 per liter (although this was expected to be that way). After hooking up the caravan we left around 10 am.

The first rest area was not what we expected, so we decided to move on to the second:  Soudan. Nice place beside the highway, a dingo just crossing the road in front of us, plenty of room for a nice camp under a few trees. Later the afternoon a few other vans joined us and we ended the day again with a gathering around a quiet camp fire.

We woke up around 7 with the sound of howling dingo's just across the road. We could not see them but there were plenty of them. Quite impressive, I had never heard them this close. Again we left around 9 am and had in mind to stop for another night in the bush, but the area was not too inviting, so we decided to drive to Barkly Homestead. And that's where we are now. On our way we passed another caravan who had an accident and tipped on its side. Thank God no injuries, fellow travellers where with them and professional help was on its way. No need for us to be of any assistance. It just reminded us to drive carefully. We will stay one night here at Barkly Homestead and move on tomorrow in the direction of 41 Mile Bore; a restarea just before the "Three ways" : the junction where the major north-south highway (the Stuart Higway) and east-west highway ( the Overlander) meet. At Three Ways we will turn North towards Darwin, our first stop is to be at Banka Banka Station. We plan to be there on Wednesday and propably stay a few days.

On the road to Camoweal

Unexpected, but we do have an internetconnection here.
We are somewhere between Mount Isa and Camoweal at a rest area besides thehighway. Just out in the bush, in the middle of nowhere. We left Mt. Isa yesterday morning, together with Kim and Terri, a couple we met in Karumba and who are heading in the same direction as we do.
We pulled over for a coffee in the morning and had the same thought: Why move on, its beautiful here. So we set up camp, pulled the gennies (generators) out, chairs and a table, and cracked a beer.
After a rest (cool caravan thanks to the gennie and the aircon), we started to collect firewood, got the bbq and prepared for a beautiful afternoon and evening in the open. Fire lit, because the evenings get cool. We had a lot of fun and drinks. We watched the moon rise over the horizon, heard the skippies hop around somewhere, and had a star-canopy that you can hardly imagine. Glorious.
In the morning we had enhough wood left to start the fire again (it was f.cking cold at 5:00) and we decided to stay one more night. So that is what is going to happen today: another fire and bbq and maybe a beer or two.
Life is great folks !!

Mount Isa

Wednesday evening, Mount Isa. We left Karumba as planned on friday morning and had actually a pretty boring trip via Normanton to Burke and Wills roadhouse. The roadhouse caravanpark was a pretty nothing, though they served a good meal and beer. The nicest part was the early morning: a hay-loaded road train stopped, the driver had his breakfast, and within a few minutes the cattle came out of the bushes and started to eat from the fresh hay. Great view. We took off early again for the next part of the trip to "The Curry" (Cloncurry). Cloncurry did not keep us very long: just one night. Sundaymorning we headed for "The Isa" (Mount Isa"). This was a beautiful trip. Great countryside to watch, beautiful road; we enjoyed every second. As we approached Mt. Isa the road trains showed up again. This time loaded with cattle. Three trailers behind the truck, each loaded with 144 heads of cattle on TWO decks. Roughly calculating: 144 x 3 x 600 kg = 260 TONS load.
I added a new photobook for May 2008.

Ready to move on

Thursday afternoon, we just have to wind in the caravan legs and the awning,ready to leave Karumba tomorrow. It has been the perfect weather and tide last few days (actually the weather was perfect all the time) for the fishing guys and girls to be out on the water.
You can see how the park looks like when they all are gone with their trailers and boats.
For us, it's time to move on. Tomorrow we will travel south from Karumba towards "Burke and Wills junction", and from there to Cloncurry. In Cloncurry we can turn west towards Mount Isa. Mount Isa is the largest town in north-west Queensland and we will propably stay a while there. We plan to arrive there on Sunday, and till that time we propably will not have an internet connection.
Will be continued...