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

Barkly Homestead Roadhouse

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