Day 22 - Lakefield to Archer River Roadhouse

Today was pack up day with us continuing our journey north.  The pack up went well considering we had settled quite nicely into our home at Lakefield.  Dennis rocked up mid pack up and offered to take us fishing if we were interested.  We politely declined but given his recent form it would have been a good opportunity to learn from a skilled pro!  His tip for when we stop off at the Wenlock; "go down to the river at night and look for the little eyes it's the barramundi pushing up theoriser at night, the big eyes are the ones to avoid!  There is a big croc that lives up there and he patrols the river each night, you'll hear him at night chasing the barramundi!"

We decided to move on a day early to give the boys a chance to swim in the a Archer River, as well as a change of scenery.  Phoned up the national parks office via the 1300 number and it turns out that once a booking has commenced they can't adjust any part of it, so we lost a day's booking.  What was more frustrating is that site looks like its taken on the website when we know it's not.  Not wanting to blame a computer system but something more flexible would be greatly appreciated.

And so we were off, making our way to Musgrave roadhouse.  The road out of the park brought in more contrasts of forested trees through to the treeless Nifold plain where all you can see is anthills, grass and blue sky.

I haven't really talked about the roads as yet as we haven't really encountered anything out of the ordinary.  Yes there are the few corrugated bits that shutter around but overall the roads are well maintained, in some cases watered every day to keep the dust down.  This doesn't mean that there wasn't any dust, frequently the trailer would disappear behind the car as you hit a bull dust pothole or section.

After leaving the park and making a right hand turn on the Penisula Developemnt Road that all changed!  For the next 5 hours we were shook to the core, corrigations at their best.  Everything you have heard about rattling a car to bits, we can see how it could happen.  Charlie did really well through, no issues (touch wood).

Having said that we arrived in Coen just after lunch.  It's the last place for cheaper fuel at $1.88 and  also has a small shop to purchase key supplies.  We were a bit taken back by the atmosphere, very depressed with alcohol being a major part of daily lives.  Very sad really.

Filling tanks and jerry cans we hit the shop and $138 later for five shopping bags the car was loaded, water was topped up and then off to Archer we went.

We rocked into Archer Roadhouse and took a look at the free camp across the river.  Right on the river, which was warm clear and croc free!  Perfect.  That was until the locals took up residence for a bit of a celebration drink by the river.  The language used and concern about later that evening turned us off the free camp and we retuned up the road to the roadhouse.

A quick setup, warm showers and we settled in for a quiet evening.