Mt. Isa to Mataranka

Well have finally arrived in the NT.  1,180kms later, a few big days on the road.     Well it could  be said I wasnt a fan of Mt. Isa,   Robin did take me out to Lake Moondarra for a drive it was really lovely,  after the township of Mt. Isa it is a small piece of paradise.  The temperature at Mt. Isa was 23.6 which I was loving, but the locals all have coats on and jumpers  and  were shivering.(  Bring on winter).  We left Mt. Isa considerably poorer, 2 new tyres on the Territory, 1 new microwave for caravan, accommodation, food and grog,  a bit over $1,000  for four nights,  blew the budget right out of the water.    Never mind we are off to do some free camping and head off into the never never.     567kms later we arrived at 41 Mile Bore (Free Camp).   We met up with Fay and Daryl ( who are doing the same trip as us), Dale and ? Bruce and Shirley and a couple from the Uk Phillip and Valarie, and had a happy our  or two.  Next day onto Newcastle Waters Rest Area (another free camp) only travelled 327kms today.   A truly beautiful stop on the highway  with the most magnificent scenery.  Dawson loving the free camping as he does not have to be on the lead. There were 5 other couples camping also, a young couple from Europe on there PUSH  BIKES sleeping in a little 2 man igloo tent.  I felt like I was living in the Hilton as opposed to those poor buggers riding along in the heat,   one very hot kilometre after the next.  We are into the real outback now with lots of Aborigines in the towns along the way.  The countryside changes all the time while we are travelling, we are both enjoying this very large country of ours, it keeps getting bigger all the time.  Now for the best part of this weeks adventure we arrived at Mataranke Cabins and Camping  Ground on Thursday, and I think I have found one of the most gorgeous spots of our stay so far.   We are camped on a large shady site, next to the amenities (pity we have to share the amenities, with green frogs, brown frogs, cane toads, geckos and whatever else might want to be there). but within a short walking distance my now hunter and gather husband is providing me with an abundance of freshwater shrimps and red claw and garfish, he is yet to catch me a barramundi. (Not that I am whingeing he is doing a mighty job).  After lunch I then have to go the natural thermal springs which are about 30c or above for a relaxing dip,  life is certainly tough.  I am getting younger every day by the time I leave here I should be in my early thirties  ha ha ha  the pool are so rejuvenating.  We have again linked up with Rob and Heather who we met at Dalmeny a couple of years ago,  great fun, and also new friends John and Bronwyn,  life does not getter better than this.    OK bye for now and a very Happy Birthday to my gorgeous son Adam,    Bye for now.

41 Mile Bore (Free camp)

Pretty picture

Sunset Newcastle Waters Rest Area

Flood Waters Newcastle Waters

Nut Crackers Seat

Yummy Pie

Reiny biggest fear has arrived

Off to the Springs

See how young I look

The Fish

Little fishes in our spa

I love Robin (he's the man)

The Natural Thermal
Spring

Robin and John my heros

Someone has to do the diry work



Mataranka Springs



Daly Waters Pub

Lovely Mt. Isa from the Lookout

Longreach to Mt Isa



Reiny on her road train























Well  Reinys getting the s---ts with doing the blog so its up to me this week.  Well I was about to start with Longreach but the one who didn't want to do this tells me she did that last week.  So we move onto Winton, meeting a roadtrain along the way which was broken down.  Made Robert the driver a cuppa and had a chat and of all places he was from Penrith.  Does around 1200ks a day at 41 cents a km pay.  Anyway stopped at a nice caravan park, and settled in for a couple of nights.  Drinkies with a few of the neighbours the first night then off sightseeing the next day.  Went out to the Australian Age of the Dinosaurs display which was very interesting.  Wondered around town and the had a lazy afternoon, after visiting the trunk museum and musical fence.  See some photos below of Arnos wall in Winton made by a some what eccentric old bloke by the name of, you got it, Arno.  Anyway next day moved on the Cloncurry or as its known out here, the Curry.  On the way stopped at Kynuna and met our first Brolga's, then onto Mckinlay for a drink at the Walkabout Creek Hotel, made famous in Crocodile Dundee. Not much to tell about the Curry so I won't bore you.   Arrived in Mt Isa on Friday and are staying till Tuesday, awaiting 2 tyres to arrive from Townsville.  Wondered around town went to Outback Mt Isa, and lookout with spectacular 360 degree views of the Isa and Surrounds.  I didn't expect the mine to be right in town like it is.  This morning we have been to the underground hospital, very interesting and soon are going for a drive to Lake Moondarra, but Reiny can tell you all about that next week.  Thats me for now and the next 3 months then it might be my go again Robin

Reinys new career path drummer extrodinare

Croc Dundees drinking hole

Reinys took this for the ladies

Note how green everything is , who said the outback was dusty

Rockhampton to Longreach



We stayed at the Emerald Ag-Grow ( it is where the Fields Days are held) Lots of cotton workers live here, there is electricity, showers and toilets, ( a trip to the toilets at night is a little bit on the scary side though) Green frogs line the toilet seat, hide under the rims,  yuk.     We also had a baby brown snake rear up at us, he was only about 6inches long, feisty little fellow though.     Lots of lovely people to talk to,  had a lady and her daughter who have an Old McDonald's Farm franchise beside us,   cutest little pigs, goats, sheep, ducks and chicks,  all way to cute.   Once we left Emerald we went to Lloyd -Jones Weir for some fee camping, no phone, tv etc.   Robin went fishing and came back with my dinner a couple of good size yellow bellies,   quite tasty.   They also catch red  claw there (a big yabbie with, you guessed it, a red claw)  but as we didnt have any opera house pots with us so we didnt catch any of those,    Our solar panels worked well, and kept the new fridge going perfectly,   Again about 20 or so vans and tents there with a interesting lot of people there,   one guy must have been about 60 or 70  a hippy from the sixties,   let just say he probably has had a few too many cigs, and alcohol, as we left at 9.00am he was already onto his first beer for the day.  A lot of pensioners there enjoying there fishing and  cooking by camp ovens,  learnt a few tricks of  the trade.  The wildlife was amazing, birds, emus, wombats, kangaroos and wallabies, and of course another little baby brown snake.   I really cant wait to get into crocodile county.  Friday we travelled onto Longreach, and back to civilisation.   Went out of town about 15klms to this beautiful lilly pond.   Robin taking me  out to lunch today for my birthday, will be having drinkies with our neighbours  tonight, who just happen to be one of my old girlfriends sister from Oberon.   The other couple coming over are from Emu Plains,   Cant hide from anyone.  Moving on to Winton tomorrow and then on to Cloncurry and then Mt. Isa.   If you dont hear from us   dont panic will just be out of phone reception,   Robin is going to get an aerial for the car and a patch lead for the phone so we might get a further 20kms better range, will let you know.   Loving the outback, bloody hot, and the flies are just starting to get a little bit bothersome.  but  one of my new travelling friends gave me a nifty little pressie to stop the flys from landing in my drink,picture attached.     Love to all

My special wine cover



Free Camp Lloyd Jones Weir



















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Road Train



My Man My Dinner

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