Cloncurry to Banka Banka

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Friday 23rd April


The breeze we had yesterday dropped so it seems a lot hotter today. Went out to the airport which was the site of the first landing as Qantas. Also John Flynn started the flying doctor service. Lyle spoke to 2 generations of the Bob Norman family on a helicopter flight from Cairns to Adelaide.

Went back to the town bought a couple of things including new tubes for the lights, both lights failed including the spare! Looked at the Cloncurry version of a department store selling everything except food. From household goods to hardware & toys and every thing in between. They had just bought in a truck load of seedlings from Townsville. Not so sure how they were going to fare in the heat.

Left and went back to Gilberts Park to back up photos etc. Lyle cooked so I could finish then there were a few spots of rain and lots of clouds so thought we had better put the big tarp up in case there was serious rain. However it didn’t rain but I didn’t get the laptop out and going again.

The Red headed whip snake was just near the cooking area at Gilbert Park. It had taken up residence under one of the road markers in the park.


Saturday 24th April Lyle’s Birthday
Packed up and left by 9.15am for Camooweal Cave NP.

The landscape coming into Mt Isa is very hilly and sparsely vegetated, although there does tend to be trees in the gullys and flatter areas along the road. Most of the creeks are either dry or have a few puddles.

The mine certainly dominates the town and the smoke from the stacks can be seen miles before you arrive.

Stopped at Mt Isa & bought some wine to celebrate Lyle’s birthday. Fueled up before heading onto Camooweal.

Between Mt Isa and Camooweal area is much drier with the grass not as green but still lots of grass around and trees coming into flower.

Stopped for a drink at the pub with lots of locals, very noisy I guess there were lots there for Friday night as it’s a tiny town.

The sign coming into Camooweal tells us to turn left at the pub for the Park. We turn left and the road soon becomes a dirt track with a few muddy puddles along the way.

Pulled up to the camping area which has a concreted area with roof, tables and bench seats. There is a water tank not connected & a toilet, the toilet building is good but the toilet itself is damaged and needs moving.

However it is a great camp on the banks of a lagoon. There are a few birds around but no kangaroos or other animals that we have seen. Lyle put in the yabbi pot and caught some crabsj which nipped him when he let them go. Today there is no-one else here.

Had the wine and chicken Hawaii for dinner. Still reasonably warm at bedtime but not too uncomfortable.

Sunday 25th April Anzac

Woke at dawn, didn’t look much in the beginning but improved. There are quite a few little birds feeding on the grasses. The sky was clear this morning but clouds coming in this afternoon. Took a ride up to the Nowranie Caves, they are quite dangerous but the rock is interesting. Some very dark and others pale coloured with lines and marks looking like Egyptian script. The rock has cracks all through it and looks unstable so couldn’t get near the edge at all.

There are Corellas, Rainbow flycatchers, red back fairy wrens among others. Still not as many birds as I would have expected.

The wind came up mid morning and has persisted all afternoon. A small willy willy came and threw the chairs around and everything else that wasn’t held down. Almost no flies, and very few mosquitoes which is surprising considering the water around.

A French couple arrived and asked about where they could light a fire. We advised against any fires with the gusty winds and dry grasses a fire would have raced away.

The continued throughout the night.





Monday 26th April

Left Camooweal with Lyle driving. Took around 30 minutes to get back to the main road. Kept going until Barkley Homestead where we filled up with fuel and stopped for a quick coffee break. It is quite a long run today through to Banka Banka.

Banka Banka was OK for an overnight but wouldn’t want to stay any longer. Camped under a fig tree which had great shade but lots of figs falling down all night. The also had a corella that was running around the campground, some other people in a caravan tried to pat it and pick it up to which it objected vociferously and flew away. The managers then had to come out and catch the bird, quite funny as the bird was winning for quite a period of time.

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Comments

[Elizabeth]

Savannah Travellers
Hi Margaret,keeping track of your journey and wishing I were there.

[Wayfarermarg]

All in the North
You will be up in this area soon if you aren't already. Due to the number of closed roads we elected to travel across further south so will be in Broome 1 June then across the Gibb river road after that.