How time flys while you are having fun, 5 weeks has slipped by and nothing added to blog. Our first 2 weeks in Darwin was great fun and relaxing after a 4000k drive. Maz swam each day and I even had a swim some evenings, 30 degrees daily and about 20 of a night, only clothes that came out of the cupboards were shorts n singlet every day.
Lee Point Caravan Park Darwin
We camped beside Keith and Wendy from Rye and the great crew from Vic who camp together every year. Everyone made us feel welcome and happy hourssss were great.
The boat trip at Corroboree Billabong
The wild driver and the wild life
We enjoyed trips with them to Corroboree Billabong, a fantastic day cruising the waters and seeing the amazing wildlife, dinner at Stokes Wharf, a Sunday night ritual, Mindel Market, and great nights at the Speedway.
I had a fantastic 3 days at the V8's, great event.
On friday 25th June, Maz flew to Sunshine Coast to have a week with Jade and Matt and then to Byron Bay for a week with Hailey and Damian. Hmmm so its me and the bus, only for one day tho on Saturday Fred flys in for a little 3500k drive to Townsville. 2 men in a bus you say !!! yeah I would look at 2 guys traveling together!!!!
We had a couple of days in Darwin before heading off. Had a great night at the speedway, meet some friends for the motorhome club and dinner with Fred's friends from home, which we were taken on a tour of the Naval Coonawarra Base.. fantastic
Monday 31st June, Fred and I hit the road, out to Jabiru (250k), into C/park, promptly set up camp and then to the bar n pool, good happy hour and dinner very nice.
Tuesday, up and into it early, we had a tour of the Uranium mine,
then out to Cahills Crossing, amused us for a few hours, only a few
crocs but great watching vehicles doing the water crossing.
Woops Great to watch
We then did a walk to Ubirr Rock (aboriginal paintings) and the great views atop of the rock.
Hmmmm not a good pose
Was a late start but we drove from 3pm 300k south to Edith Falls, bugga the park was full at that time of day, so a free camp 5k away did the job.
Wednesday, we did a 3k walk over the waterfalls at Edith Falls, Fred had a swim and we got on the road, stock up of food at Katherine. We were going to do a breakfast tour of Katherine Gorge but they were booked out for 2 days, bugga. 100k south and Mataranka. Booked in c/park and had a swim at Bitter Springs at dusk, sensational clear warm water.
Bitter Spring C/park Bitter Springs
Thursday packed and an early morning swim in the warm waters then a look at Mataranka hot springs, fuelled up and off to Tomato Island, 250k east, 100k of that is dusty rough road,
The Roper Hwy
Met Clive and Leslie from home, camped beside them. Great place about 40 other campers which is amazing after 250k and no towns and very few cars, then coming across so many campers.
Camp and happy hour at Tomato Island
Friday, did some repairs to trailer then put boat in water and found out there are catfish in these water.
Boat Ramp Tomato Island
Saturday Fred and I followed Clive about 25k downstream and fished with great success, 3 nice Barramundi, made the trip all worth while.
Early morning start
The biggest of 3 Barra
Back at camp for happy hour and packed boat for trip back to Hwy.
Sunday said our goodbyes and hit the dust, we sat on a faster pace where possible as the bus traveled much better over the corrugations.
The Roper Hwy
3 hours later we were back on the Stuart Hwy and 2 hours south we had a great evening at Daly Waters Pub. Mud crab and Barramundi for dinner.. yumm.
Daly Waters Pub
Monday a 7am start.... unheard of... but we have near 3000k to travel to Townsville and not a lot of things to see and do in between, also need to get there to see car races. A huge drive 870k
in one day, strong head winds and lots of fuel,
Fuel up in the middle of nowhere
we finished our day at 7pm free camping at Avon Downs 60k from Nt/Qld border. A few bevvies nice dinner and snzzzz, a big day.
Late night arrival - Avon Downs
Tuesday, bloody hell, up at the crack of dawn, on the road in the dark, still head winds, another day of big klms. A stop at Camoweal for breakfast some rain to go with the wind, then 2 hours and running on empty we pull into fuel stop at Mount Isa, told there was no diesel at any stations in town, we were at the Shell which a tanker had just pulled in so we did a walk around the shops while waiting.
Waiting for fuel at an overcast Mount Isa
I had a chat at the Telstra Shop as my laptop modem would hardly get service, no help there but after a chat on the phone to bigpond a new modem would be sent to Townsville P/O, thanks Mumbai, easy ! (to be continued). Fueled up, and on we go driver,
"Did you see the size of that truck"
I am more than happy to sit in the passenger seat and give directions, driving, driving, pushing into head winds, no point stopping, the weather is not flash, so we may as well keep driving, finally stopped about 6pm at Julia Creek a small town along the way. A few bevvies, the driver cooked and cleaned .... great stuff.
Julia Creek C/Park
Wednesday, another 7am on the road, still head winds, these are great little towns we are traveling through but we are on a mission to get to Townsville so we miss the good points of these places. We stop at Hughenden, fuel and a pie for morning tea, we can see we will be in Townsville by the end of the day, the winds have stopped, we power on, camping 30k north of Townsville at the Rodeo grounds with and Karen, great friends Maz and I meet and traveled with last year. Set up camp, dinner, and a very long happy hour.
Camped with Graeme and Karen at Rodeo Grounds north of Townsville
Thursday, got a call from Melissa at home to say there was a parcel for me from bigpond at home in Rye, just great, bigpond had disconnected my ailing modem and now sent the new one in the wrong direction, now I will have to wait for Aust. post to excel. The rest of the day was sightseeing, food stock up and mmmm happy hour.
Looking over V8 circuit from Castle Hill
Friday, Saturday and Sunday were great days at the V8's Fred and I were in our element, we had great seats, easy parking, all good.
Three great days at the races
Monday, good onya Aust. post my new modem and back online, lots to catch up on. Over to the ferry and a 20 min trip to Magnetic Island, picked up and given a great tour of the Island and lunch with Sid Kinch and Bell, fantastic. Happy hour and dinner was with Eric and Rita from
Rye who now live on Magnetic Island, great to catch up
Magnetic Island looking toward T/ville
Eric, Fred, Rita, Alan
back on the ferry at 9.30pm pick up bus and back to Rodeo Grounds by 10 pm snzzzzzz. Tuesday, early start yet again Fred says bye to Graeme and Karen and then to the airport for Fred's 8.30 am flight home.
The happy (odd) couple!!!!!
A great fun leg of the journey and the last time I will look strangely at 2 guys traveling together ... haha. A tidy up, some food stock up and back to pick Maz up from the airport at 4.30 pm, great to have her back to start our travels south to home.
