DABUS TOUR

May 2010

2010-10-06T19:10:00.001+11:00

On The Road Again

This year our plans are to head to Taggerty for a motorhome get together, then on to Nardoo Station (Cunnamulla) SW Queensland for Mothers Day Weekend, then Darwin, over to Townsville, then follow the coast back home in early September.

Entry 3 Darwin to Townsville

2010-07-15T16:51:00.055+10:00

Tuesday 8th June - Tuesday 13th July

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.

Maz at Mindil Markets

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.

Entry 2 - Mount Isa to Darwin

2010-06-09T11:15:00.044+10:00

Sunday 23rd May - Monday 7th June

We had an enjoyable few days at Mt Isa, was great having our own ensuite bathroom, weather has been warm during day, but we did have a night of rain and when it rains here it pours. The bus did not get fixed (exhaust) seems to be going well, bit noisy, maybe fixed in Darwin, and replaced wheel bearing on boat trailer and bought a spare bearing which I will pull with the other spare one I found in the boot.

Back on the road and great roads they are after the single lane bumpy roads we had been on.

Lots of open plains Phew its a big country

After 200k arrived in Camoweal, border Qld/NT and topped up with fuel $1.65 ouch after the $1.22 in Isa, then 50k onto a free camp at Avon Downs in NT, no town, just a Police Station and a free camp opposite. We had dinner over open fire and chatted to 2 girls from Europe traveling Oz in a tiny van.

Avon Downs free camp Dinner yum!!

Awoke to trucks and cars slowing in the morning, hmm Police don't have much to do round here, so lets block the Hwy and the campsite and do brethos and car checks. 210k west and we are at Barkly Homestead, a fill up at $1.80 per litre. Would not be good on a gas car here at $1.25 per litre.

Guess Dabus just doesnt go fast enuff!!

Turned right onto Tablelands Hwy. long way between fuel stops around here

150k north and roadside camp for the night. Once again dinner on the open fire, sensational night with the stars and windmill, but getting very humid and we both have a head cold grrrr.

In the morning is a 235k drive to Cape Crawford, which is a caravan park/fuel stop. Glad we didn't need fuel $1.99 p/l

Then onto to Borroloola and then 35k to King Ash Bay, set up camp beside river (McArthur River) and did nothing for 2 days as the humidity and flu took its toll.

My plans were to wet the boat and do some fishing but got to know the people beside us who had been here for 6 weeks and was their 6th year here, he offered to take me out and was great, traveled to mouth of river and Gulf of Carpentaria (35k) seen fantastic sights, huge crocs and came home with lots of fish, dont ask how many I got.

After a week of great company and eating all sorts of fish we headed off on the 25k of dusty corrugated road then 400k to the Stuart Hwy at Daly Waters, to far to travel in one day, so a camp along the way, then onto Daly Waters Pub for a good shower, some electricity phone, internet, really good feed and a great fun night.

This place is amazing, we arrived at 10.30am and not a caravan/motorhome/tent to be seen, then by 3pm the place is packed by 5pm the blocks over the road have vans/tents on them, then the next morning everyone has gone and on the road and so it starts all over again. After 5 weeks on the road this is the first place that we have been to before in our travels.

Friday 5th June, had an easy drive north on the Stuart Hwy. nice tail breeze makes a good run, onto Mataranka and to hotsprings, Maz is into the water in a flash, then back to where we stayed last year at 12 mile camp another great spot.

Saturday, I am getting the hang on the southerly wind, luv it, 100k to Katherine, shopping and fuel and happy to get outta here. 60k north to Edith Falls another of the places we liked from last year 2 nights here.

Maz enjoys the swims and we did the walk up over the waterfall stunning place. Monday, 300k drive, tail breeze, only stopping at

Berry Springs, 50k south of Darwin (one of us needed a swim) arriving in Darwin about 3pm. Booked into Lee Point C/P again for 2 weeks to enjoy the weather, car racing and company.

Entry 1 - Rye to Mount Isa

2010-05-03T20:41:00.055+10:00

Friday 30th April to Saturday 22nd May

Leaving Rye was not such a hard thing to do weatherwise as the rain, wind, cold temps and all our camping neighbours had left the beach. Friday 30th April we headed off to Taggerty 160k north. We arrived about 5.30pm ( held up from overturned logging truck ) to meet others from CMCA forum motorhomers.

TAGGERTY CREW

The weekend was a great success great weather and happy hour ss. Monday head off about 10am over to Hume Hwy then onto Mulwala and caught up with friends, Ron and Teresa. Over to Newell Hwy and then to Jerilderie for the night, camped by the river. Need some work done to the bus in the morning as the exhaust seems to be in 3 parts and she sounds like a truck

Tuesday was a good camp spot last night, away from Hwy traffic and beside river. First thing to mechanic, bugga, they dont have facilities to fix, but they sent us to local welding shop.

EAST END WELDING JERILDERIE

Jobs done and on road by 10am. Bus needs new exhaust system but this is a temp. fix till we get to a bigger town.

On to Griffith and found a Muffler Shop, the guy could replace all but the leaking flange gasket, which he was having trouble sourcing. We decided to leave for another town.

COVERED IN LOCUST

An afternoon drive to Hillston with strong head winds and locust plague sees the bus having a hard day.

Wednesday 5th May

Great free camp at Hillston, leaving about 8.30am. Seems we have a tail breeze, first so far, not sure how long it will last but enjoying the drive, It really makes a huge difference to how the bus travels witha tail wind. The countryside is far different that we had expected, green paddocks and even ground cover up to the roadside.

An easy 255k drive and we are at Cobar, check out the town and a fuel up and back on the road, we still have a long way to get to Cunnamulla. (planned arrival Thursday noon). Another 161k and we are in Bourke, seems a town that has its share of problems, with most shop windows covered with timber, could be a rough place. Having driven 416ks today a camp spot would be good, still 254ks to Cunnamulla.

The afternoon drive was so easy we kept going and after crossing in Qld.

Qld/NSW Border

Decided that we would do the last 100k to Cunnamulla even tho it was getting onto dusk and we were in roo country. After traveling 670k today, the most we have ever done in one day we arrived at what we thought was Cunnamulla showgrounds, which turned out was the rifle range and there was 6 other campers there for a target meet this weekend. They said we could camp for the night showers, no power but free.

Thursday, checked out Cunnamulla, small and quiet, then north 40k to Nardoo Station. We were amazed to see the amount of caravans and motorhomes already here for the “Music in the Mulga” weekend.

All the campers at Nardoo

We camped beside the owners ( Dave and Carmel) Homestead. Matt and Jade arrived about 5pm and set up beside us.

Friday, more vans etc arriving, hot weather and people everywhere. The final count was 235 caravans/motorhomes. The campfire burns all day, musos sing along all afternoon. Meals as in, roasts and stews are cooked in the campfire, great atmosphere.

The artesian bore spas

Meet my new mate Rosie

Saturday, stage is prepared, bar and shade tents in place and music starts 1pm and finishes 1am ... huge, great music and food all day/night.

Monday, still most campers here, campfire burns all day, people soaking in the hot springs, Matt takes us for a drive to see a small part of the 110,000 acre property.

Our drive on the farm took in a picnic at one of the dams and the yabby pots went in, but one of us has to get stuck in the mud

Dinner was a roast and fed about 50 people.

Tuesday we went for a short 110k drive to have a look and Eulo, visited the Date Farm and purchased date wine and liqueur, not much between towns out this way, dinner, back at Nardoo home grown chops, fed about 40 people.

Wednesday, bus got a wash, dinner, roast, fed 40 from bus tour that just arrived and choc pudding ..mmm getting the hang of this, but spent a while on the end of a tea towel in the kitchen.

Thursday, after a great week at Nardoo Station we say goodbye to Dave and Carmel and to Matt and Jade as they head back to the Sunshine Coast. We head to Charleville 160k north easy drive although the roads are along way from smooth. We hit the shops in Chalreville and stocked up, caught up with phone calls and internet as we had none over the past week, checked out the Cosmos Centre all good and tomorrow (friday) is a public holiday cos its showday,how could we miss that.

We camped on the banks of the Ward River, great spot, chilly nights.

Friday, take a drive through town, looks like a ghost town, till you get to the showgrounds, very enjoyable, real country stuff. We fuel up and hit the road at 3.30pm, only did 45k and camped beside the Warrego river, great spot cooked dinner out on a fire.

The Warrego River

Saturday 15th

Easy drive up to Augathella, stopped and looked around the mural painted town,

Augathella's murals

then onto Blackall, small country town which was a major part of the wool industry, we camped out back on town with a dozen other campers. Sunday, packed and off for a tour of the Wool Scourers, interesting place with steam driven engines (all refurbished) that powered and operated all the equipment.

Blackall Pool
Then to the local pool for Maz to have a swim, all the water in the area comes for The Artesian basin which comes out of the ground hot, so the towns have trouble cooling water. An easy 2 hour drive north and we are in Barcaldine, needed to park in town so I could TV reception for car races,

Tree of Knowledge

Maz checked out The Tree of Knowledge, then 2k out of town camped with about 12 others. Problem was we set up camp at dusk and as we sat to have dinner the noise above, thought we were about to get run over, only to find we had parked at the end of the airport runway.

Monday, strolled the town, fueled up $1.35L, not bad for the outback. The drive 100k to Longreach was easy with tail wind, the Qantas jumbo greets as we drive into a surprisingly large town. We had been told of a free camp 4k west of town where we found a big flat area beside river, great clean amenities, and about 50 other campers.

Longreach free camp

Tuesday, Bight sun into shorts and shirt for breakfast, none of that winter stuff. Off to town and to Stockmans Hall of Fame, what a place, lots of displays, movies, photos and reading, took 4 hours and not sure we did it all.

Stockmans Hall of Fame

A bit of shopping in town and back for happy hour. Wednesday said bye to campers we had met along the way, back into Hall of fame to see a great live Stockmans show,

then to Qantas display, lots of history around this town.

On our way to Winton, 180ks, the road is a main hwy but sure could do with some repairs, the huge road trains that travel these roads really give it a hard time. Our stop over is behind the Great Northern Hotel, the pub where the first Waltzing Matilda was sung.

Camped at rear of Great Northern Hotel Winton
The amenities need more work than the run down Hwys!!, should have known not to have a meal in the pub!

Open air picture theatre

After dinner Maz went to the open air picture theatre fitted out with the original metal framed deck chairs.

People around Winton have to much time on their hands

Thursday, strolled around town, Maz had her hair cut in Pinkys on Cobb Lane, the stopover for the Cobb and Co wagons. Fueled up and drove out of town past the (as we had been told) very unfriendly local cop, who had pulled up the guy driving in front of us.... phew.
We had decided to drive to Mt.Isa via Boulia, (200k longer) than the Hwy as we had been told its a more scenic trip.

The road was hmmm different, bitumen wide enough to carry a road train, just, and when you see one coming you slow and get off the road completely, as they dont get off the bitumen at all, would have liked to see one coming from each direction. 200k of the 360k to Boulia, about 30 cattle grids and more ups and downs and bumps than luna park we camped at a wayside stop with one other couple, happy hour under the amenities provided.

Camp between Winton and Boulia.. and birds nests

Friday, bit of a sleepless night as a road-train had also stopped over late last night and the motors driving his refrigerated containers ran all night. I am sure this is outback Qld, nothing around, only a few fences, most of the time nothing stopping the cattle strolling along the road.

The Qld floods earlier this year has most creeks and rivers flowing and in some parts plenty of ground cover for the grazing cattle other areas ...

Bloody cattle grids, hit one a bit to hard and rattled the back teeth, stopped and checked everything, only to find a lose wheel bearing on trailer, a much slower drive to Boulia.
Arrived in town early afternoon and into caravan park, our first C/P since leaving home. Tightened and greased wheel bearings, need to replace one when we get to Mt Isa, walked into town to the tourist info and toured the fantastic Min Min Lights interactive show, a part of Australian Folklore.

Saturday we checked out the the original stone cottage and museum in Boulia fantastic display of dinosaur fossils and old machinery.

The drive to Mt Isa 300k had the bus off the road quite a lot with road trains with limited passing spots as per photo.

This is outback, well outback with sealed roads

some of the road from Boulia to Mt Isa
We were happy we took the detour as we seen amazing landscapes, some not unlike the Kimberly and Pilbra of WA.

Mt Isa lookout
We arrived in Mt Isa late afternoon Saturday and booked 4 nights into C/P, spoiled ourselves with and ensuite. Will get exhaust and bearings fixed before moving on.