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We have just discovered that it would be quicker to post photo's than upload so you can all come round for a nice slide evening when we return.
More free camps after Warialda for Anzac Day and at Meandara the local publican was from Newcastle. Visited Monty’s Garage at Glenmorgan where he had a fantastic collection of old cars and service station memorabilia including a copy of Jack Murray’s Grey Ghost from Redex Trial ,days.
Three days in Mitchell with morning and afternoon visits to the artesian spa was next .Supposed to cure all ailments,(don’t believe it !) then off to stay on a working farm near Charleville for 2 days, what a great place to camp, a lovely young family running farm and park. They were looking for part-time managers, very tempting!!
In Isisford we free camped by the town river just a short walk to Clancy’s pub where we met some local characters, one was a pom who had lived there 45 years and he shouted us a drink! The museum was run by a former Gosford woman who knew Alice from Big Fresh Supermarket days her name was Julie Faulkner for central coasters.
Longreach and Winton we
revisited because we had to and met up with a couple from Bundaberg who we camped by Combo Waterhole with, supposedly the area where Banjo Paterson wrote Waltzing Matilda. Funny , so many towns up that way lay claim to Banjo.!!
Cloncurry at a c’van park for 3 days for washing and clean-up was pleasant before heading to the Gregory River where we camped beside the beautiful river only feet from the van and we swam and floated for days. Sandra and Lee arrived while we were there and we left the vans and took tents to Lawn Hill national park for 2 nights. We accomplished all the walks and swam in the waterways there even though there were fresh-water crocs about ! Back to our vans at Gregory River which we were now calling home, and after 7 days departed south to Camooweal . The road we planned to use was the Savannah Way from Bourketown to the NT, but because of the heavy wet they had ,it was advised we did not.
Another free camp very near Camooweal where we got fuel, gas, water and food. Don’t let anyone tell you the grey-nomads don’t spend money in the
towns! One more roadside camp and we were in Cape Crawford. The only Cape in Australia over 100 K’s from the water. Must say the park there is like an oasis , green grass and obviously no worries about water. Off to Booroloola very near the Gulf, where we turned off to King Ash Bay another one of those places renowned for fishing. We spent 2 nights camped maybe a little close to croc infested water where Lee and I had no luck with fishing from the shore except for my catch of a shark all 6 inches of it ! We visited the fishing club where the locals told us the water was too cold after recent rains and the fish weren’t biting! Never know when to believe them, we have learnt that ! Everyone there has a boat and why not with 500 K’s of waterways. On leaving , we went out to Bing Bong, the loading facility for the silver and zink mine where we spoke to a couple fishing on the breakwater keeping an eye on a local croc.
Next stop was another free camp 90K’s from Daley Waters where we propped for 2 days ,
the schedule included playing cards, reading books, crosswords, Alice cooked pumpkin scones in camp oven, Lee cooked damper, Sandra and I ate them and an afternoon exercise programme was led by Ross.
Into Daley Waters C’van park where we finally met up with Robyn and Phil Wilshire our compatriates from Gosford. Now we were 6, meaning even more fun .The Daley Waters park is renowned for it’s entertainment from 4.30 till 10 pm. We managed to dance and sing those hours away of course with the help of the odd drink or two. The “ chook-man” has been there for years, imagine a 67 year old man with a hat the shape of a house in which two chooks nest , he calls them eagles ! and he performs on stage for an hour !! Yes, maybe he has been there just a little too long ! Very funny exhausting night.
We were now north-bound along the Stuart Highway , stopped at Mataranka for a swim in the natural springs there. Five years ago the springs were infested with bats which made such a mess you wouldn’t put your foot in. Apparently they arrive in July so we were saved.
That night we spent at Elesy National Park on the Roper River where they had a croc-free zone for swimming and an 8km walk to work up a good sweat. One more road-side night stop before hitting Katherine ,our first major town since Cloncurry in Qld. If you hear stories that C’vanners don’t spend money in the towns, I can vouch “ not so”. Add up supermarket, fuel, gas, batteries, micro-wave,( the other one fell off it’s perch on corrugated roads) and of course a restock of the bar. Beer was fine at any time, but for wine casks we had to queue with the indigenous population at 2pm for two litres only. Your driver’s licence is scanned and filed to ensure only that amount is purchased per day.
That night was spent at a camp along the Victoria Highway to Kununurra. We were joined by 5 backpackers, 2 Swiss and 3 German who we entertained with a lot of slang and laughter. Two more National Park nights at Gregory River, passed through the beautiful Victoria River and then to Keep River national Park which was 15Km off the highway but what a beautiful walk at 7am before that heater
in the sky got too vicious. The Bradshaw Bridge, very near the camp was a very well constructed bridge at tax payers’ expense leading to Bradshaw Field Training Area. We were now on the border of NT / WA and 35 K to Lake Argyle. The scenery here is stunning and the amount of water just incomprehensible. 54 times Sydney harbour - Amazing!! This should be the food bowl of Australia with the water available but the amount quite equate !
We are now in Kununurra where we intend to leave our vans and take the tents to El Questro then on up to Drysdale Station and the Mitchell Falls followed by Kolumboru.That should give us 10 days adventure without mishap and will try another blog then, wish us luck !
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