2018 - Almost Half a Lap: June 2018

Saturday, June 30, 2018

Day 38: Sat 30 Jun – Mt Isa to Barkly Homestead Roadhouse

Drive: 453km; Total towed: 3892km

14-27 deg C

We were on the road by 8:15am after re-filling the water tanks in preparation for our “free camping” over the next few days. Once we left the mountains and hills behind, the scenery was flat but varied due to the changing country sides. We didn’t see any live kangaroos today, but plenty of dead ones. We saw a few herds of cattle on the sides of the unfenced parts of the highway and one or two dead ones as well. We were reminiscing about the last time we were on this road; in Jan 1998 we drove two vehicles up to Darwin from Brisbane, and in 2000 we drove one car down to Sydney. Whilst we have both been back to Darwin since, it has been by plane.

Mornos was at Camooweal which was probably once a thriving outback town near the QLD/NT border. We refuelled the truck with relatively cheap fuel and then found a quiet back street where we made our coffees to go in the van and left. We were hoping to make it to Barkly Homestead for lunch, however the rather gusty cross-wind made going a bit slow so we stopped in the middle of nowhere and had our salads.

We were checked-in ($30) to the unpowered zone of the Barkly Homestead Roadhouse van park just after 2:30pm and went for a walk to orientate ourselves and stretch the legs. We were surprised at the number of powered sites there are and although quite close to the generator, would have been a suitable alternative as there was only $8 difference in price. Wendy reckons if you have to pay that much for an unpowered and unwatered site, you may as well stay in a free camp, especially when you include the dinner price! Or pay the extra $8 and have relative comfort.

Pre-dinner drinks were had with G&Y before making our way to the pub for dinner. We had forgotten we were in the NT and were supposed to turn our clocks back 30 minutes, but still got to eat about 6:30pm NT time. We both had the Barkly Pie which had a base of creamy mashed potato and mushy peas with chunky meat on top, all covered with a large pastry crust and gravy. We were both really hungry but this was a BIG meal. Greg had to finish Wendy’s for her. The short walk back to the van was really not enough to settle dinner, but we were so full we couldn’t waddle any further.

Leaving Mt Isa

A windmill seemingly in the middle of nowhere

Crossing the border from QLD into NT

A sign reminding us the "headwinds increase fuel consumption" and indeed it did

Our new speed limit, it used to be unlimited when we were posted here in1998

Barkly Homestead Roadhouse

Our bit of dirt at Barkly Homestead Roadhouse, no power, no water, but a strong wind - note the table prtecting the fridge gas pilot light from going out

Mornos at Camooweal

Friday, June 29, 2018

Day 37: Fri 29 Jun – Mt Isa

13-25 deg C

After a quick walk up and back down the small hill adjacent the caravan park we had breakfast. Wendy then got stuck into a days’ work and Greg toured the city. He did the Info Centre first and then tried to find a few other tourist attractions but the maps were a bit off and there were no signs to indicate anything. We were going to do a mine tour in the afternoon, but at $80 ea we thought it was a bit steep. We were also going to do a self-guided tour of the underground hospital, but lack of guidance dissuaded us. Greg spent both mornos and lunch in the great outdoors whilst Wendy earned another few $ to keep the dream alive.

After work we took a drive to the Lookout but the sun was in the wrong position to take any meaningful photos, so off to Coles it was to acquire a few items we forgot to get yesterday. A refuel on the way home sees us all topped up for the next leg of the journey.

We had a post dinner drink with Y&G after they got back from their dinner date at the same pub we went to last night.

View of the van park from the hill, we are top left

From the top of the hill overlooking the van park

View from the other side of the hill - Mt Isa

The 8am QANTAS into Mt Isa, van park is underneath the light path

Discovery Park Argylla #10 (unpowered)

From the top of the hill looking West

From the top of the hill looking East

Murals at Mt Isa Info Centre

Info Centre

Miner Monument at Info Centre

Mt Isa Cenotaph

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Day 36: Thu 28 Jun – Terry Smith Lookout to Mt Isa

Drive: 259km; Total towed: 3439km

13-26 deg C

We left earlier than usual this morning, just after 8am for no other reason than we could. We were cognisant of the fact there may be kangaroos and other wildlife about so had our eyes wide open. The only thing we saw was an emu and he seemed to have a bit of road sense.

After stopping at Mary Kathleen Centre at Cloncurry for a wander, we brewed up in the van and took it with us to our next stop - the John Flynn Centre. Rev John Flynn was instrumental in getting the RFDS up and running and Cloncurry was its birthplace in 1928. With QANTAS being conceived in Cloncurry, the aerial links and partnership between the two became reality when QANTAS donated a modified aircraft called Victory.

After a short walk through the old main street of Cloncurry we decided to push on to Mt Isa and have lunch there. However, not even 25km out of town the fuel warning light came on telling us we only had another 80km left to go. Instead of turning back immediately, Wendy quickly looked for a fuel station up ahead and the closest was 87km away. So, we did the right thing and turned around. By the time we had finished refuelling we decided to stop at Chinaman Creek Dam for lunch which was just outside of Cloncurry. Greg had the final bit of his fish stew and Wendy had a nut paste and honey sandwich.

We arrived in Mt Isa about 2:30pm and set up beside Y&G in the unpowered area of the park. We then went shopping as our fridge was quite empty and the cupboards almost bare. Dinner was at the Overlander Tavern which was only 1.4km up the road. We walked there and back which both sharpened the appetite and settled the dinner nicely.