Wednesday 28th May Normanton Caravan Park

All the girls headed off this morning to the Op Shop to see if we could snag any bargains and Yahooooo 2 books for 25cents each.....Bargain.  The fellas checked out the fishing shop and were a bit surprised that the guy running the shop had no idea where to go fishing or what bait to use, very strange.  Then it was a relaxing day going for several swims, that is relaxing except for the infestation of ants in Carol & Maree's caravans. Ants, ants and more bloody ants how frustrating. Luckily for me the ants only found some sweet biscuits kept in a chinese take away container in our caravan. This evening we drove out to Karumba to sit on the beach and watch the sunset.  Great night, nibbles and drinks on the beach and then when the sun was gone we went over to "Ash's" for take away fish & chips which were very delicious. On our way home we ran over a huge snake on the road, not sure if it was a Python or a King Brown, who cares, it wasn't in the car so that's all I care about. Apparently Max & Carol also ran over it so it either has a very bad headache or is quite dead, I hope the latter. Unfortunately Max & Carol also sustained some damage to their car when they hit a small wallaby, there were quite a few along the side of the road.

Tuesday 27th May "Milky Way Free Camp" - Normanton

A little sleep in my for Barry & me (10 to 8) and then bacon and eggs before hitting the road at 8.30 to Normanton.  Really enjoyed being at the camp last night.  Managed to tuck ourselves to the back of the dedicated camp - very quiet, no bugs and millions of stars - Heaven. On our way up the road to Normanton we had to swerve around a little turtle first sitting in the middle of the road and then very slowly crossing to the left hand side.  Hope all the other cars, and the truck heading south, managed to miss it.
We are now camped in the Normanton Caravan Park for 2 nights and plan on dinner tonight at The Albion Hotel and fish & chips on the beach at Karamba watching the sunset tomorrow night.  Lovely pool here so it is now off for a swim......someone has to do it.

Long narrow road from Burke & Wills Roadhouse up to Normanton

Purple Pub during the Day

Purple Pub at Night

  
Dinner tonight at The Albion Hotel "Cheap Arse Tuesday" timimg couldn't be better...

Monday 26th May Mt.Isa - "Milky Way Free Camp" (112 kms Sth Normanton)

Late start today on our way up to Normanton.  Girls did the supermarket shopping (supermarkets NOT open on a Sunday in Mt.Isa go figure ??????) while the guys packed up and Max went to see about his faulty CB.  We are stopping at Cloncurry first to top up our alcohol and fuel, then heading  on towards Burke & Wills Roadhouse (for an ice cream) and then Normanton. Lunch stop at Quamby opposite the old Quamby Pub which was unlocked but deserted and not wrecked yet as I think it is only newly vacated.  2 old NEC TV’s on corner brackets, a wall air conditioner and some old caps still lining the walls – sad to see.  Got some photos before it is covered in graffiti.  Outside temp is now 32 degrees but have heard it is raining in Wonga Beach which is our ultimate destination on the East Coast.  Oh NO!!!!! we have just passed a dead eagle on the road approx. 120kms North of Cloncurry.  So sad, they are gorgeous creatures, maybe we should have stopped and given it a nice burial…..  Burke &Wills Roadhouse stop to stretch our legs and have an ice cream, really like this addition to our day….. Now need to seriously look for a free camp for tonight.  Heading towards Bang Bang which is 112kms South of Normanton and hopefully it is not too full.  When we arrived at Bang Bang I scouted along a track and found a fabulous camp away from the hoards and not too close to the road, it is actually at the back of Bang Bang and I have named it in my camps book  “Milky Way Free Camp” The sky is magnificent and we all stood outside the caravans with all the lights off just staring up at the night sky waiting for a shooting star.  Maree saw one, I didn’t manage to. 

Burke & Wills Roadhouse Ice Cream stop

Sunday 25th May Camooweal Billabong - Mt.Isa Caravan Park

Morning Tea @ David Hall Rest Area where we ran into a young man from Spain by the name of "Nacho" walking around the world while pushing what looks like a pram with his belongings in it...unreal.  Has already walked from Spain down through India and is walking from Darwin to Sydney before heading over to the USA.  Lovely young guy but made me tired just thinking of the kilometres of this "Trek"  He has a web site www.earthwidewalk.org

 "Nacho" walking towards Mt.Isa, still a long way to go.......has been walking since March 2013 OMG and still has 18 months to go.

Then it is on to Mt.Isa in the car for us where we will stay the night as we all need to do "stuff" in Mt.Isa tomorrow.  Had it not been Sunday today we would have been able to all do our business and keep going.  Never mind a dip in the pool later will be very nice and then I think it up to the lookout for "Happy Hour" pictures to follow....

Saturday 24th May Banka Banka Homestead - Camooweal Billabong

526kms to our next camp so a big day today.  The trip across from 3 ways to Camooweal is very boring with very ordinary camping spots so we have all decided to do a big day to get to the QLD border.  On the road at 10 to 8 so should be OK.  This morning at Banka Banka the pet calf came over to say goodbye and except for the flies I think Maree would have smuggled her into the Caravan, she loves cows.  Topped with fuel at 3 ways and then off over The Barkly Highway to Camooweal.  38kms east and there on the road is a huge Goanna.  Had to stop to make sure he didn't dart back across in front of us. Now that we are heading east the amount of caravans has thinned out a little, certainly not the same volume as coming up the Stuart Highway. Morning tea at 41 Mile Bore and then 117kms to Barkly Homestead for an ice cream and stretch the legs.  Max's idea about the ice cream....thanks heaps, love my ice creams (Carol has a spreadsheet with how many ice creams I am eating on this trip, she may have to add another column soon.....!!) Lots & lots of flies when you stop today and still a warm 27 degrees so quite lovely. Lunch stop at Wonarah Bore which was where we stopped on the way over and then on to Camooweal Billabong for the night.  Unbelievable how many caravans are set up along this picturesque edge of the Billabong.  I am sure many of them are there for weeks, couldn't be bothered myself when there is so much to see around our beautiful country. 

Friday 23rd May Daly Water Free Camp – Banka Banka Homestead

Woke up and headed off to a very foggy morning this morning.  Maree informs us that it is still 19 degrees so no complaints there.  Fuelled at Daly Waters and now heading to Newcastle Waters for morning tea and back to the tap we found.  A load of washing, stuck my head under the tap to wash my hair, and had the generator on for a little while to charge a few things.  I think Newcastle Waters is a great place for a stop under the shady trees right beside the old corrugated iron Church.  We have had a nice easy day today, only 306 kms and then stopping the night at Banka Banka Homestead.  Tomorrow we are planning on a big day to get across to Camooweal as the Barkly Highway from Three Ways to Camooweal is boring, boring, boring……