Relaxed and refreshed

Well we left Mount Isa and hit our first dirt road after nearly 2100km. It was to get us to Adels grove, the grove is a private caravan park and camping area situated right on the side of Lawn Hill creek. The NP by the same name is the main attraction. There are two areas intense camp ground, fixed site vans that allow generators and dogs and then there is the grove with no fixed sites but closer to the river and both allow fires. We opted for the second option.

We arrived around 4:30 after popping into the World Heritage Riversleigh fossil site for a quick stop and squiz at some amazing fossils. They were quite you get at 430m years young! The walk around the hill and view from the top was just what we needed after a few hours in the car

Pic of big bird

Pic of panarama from the lookout 

When we got to reception at Adel's it was like we had hit Pitt street with a queue of people waiting to check on in, Queensland holiday traffic had found us!

We found a spot in the grove that was very secluded, so much so when trying to explain to other people we met where we were, we resorted to a general direction and a description of "in the bush that way". It was certainly a nice spot. We finished off the setup with a quick swim in the creek. Lovely and cool but not spanner water at the same time. Left us somewhat refreshed. 

The next morning we were greeted with a sunny day and a pre-breakfast swim. All but Katie was in the water before 7:39 and as it was a spring fed creek no temp change from yesterday!  So it was a quick swim indeed. 

We chilled for the rest of day mixing together a few house keeping duties of washing with another swim. Treated in the afternoon by one of camper lending us their kayaks to play with. The boys did really well and I think it has sealed the deal for their purchase this summer. At the end of a relaxing day we were in bed by 8:30!

We had booked into a cruise of the lawn hill gorge at 2:30 the next day. We headed to the NP around 10:30 which was only a short 12km down the road. We checked out the walks available and decided that something with a swimming option would best suit. We opted for a 1 km walk to Inidira Falls. And what a paradise awaited us. From the pictures below you can see that it was a lovely spot. 

Pic of falls 

During the boys swim they spotted one fish eating another. We just weren't sure how they match as one seemed quite determined to not be eaten. I.e long tom vs zebra fish

On our way back to the car for lunch a

we took a different track home that gave us views from the top of the gorge as canoes cruised down below. The cliff were stunning and has a great echo which Andi was more than proficient at using by the time we got back to the car. 

Impressive walk

We returned for a quick lunch and then off to the gorge cruise at 2:30.  It was a nice balance as it took us up to the same falls as before but in a different way. The cliffs as we went through were peticulary impressive as their reds and ocars came out in the afternoon sun. The other impressive feature was the figs growing on bare rock, with roots exposed and into some reaching the waters surface. 

A pic of a new sapling, it's a grey streak in the middle of the picture. 

The pace is settling

Well we have done nearly 2000km in the last 6 days and it's good to settle down into our first three night stay at West Leichchart Station. It's about 30 minutes from Mount Isa so all the shops and tours are close by, however it doesn't feel like your traditional caravan park by any means. 

When we arrived, our booked spot by the river was shared with a couple who were visiting their son who was working as apprentice stock hand. So a bit cramped, including some strange squeaking in the middle of night (😳), but they headed off in the morning, having now relocated to Mackay for work. So the place was ours with the bonus of a local fire pit. 

The staff who run the station are great and very friendly. The community fire which starts at 5pm brings everyone, staff and other campers together. Met some lovely campers from all ages, stages and heading both up north with us or on their way home. 

First order of business in town was to diagnose the winch issue as it would be a good safety blanket to have as we head into more remote parts. ARB store was fully booked ( 😁 ) so we wandered down to TGM to see if they could have a look.  They were able to but not till the arvo, it was better than nothing. So off we went to the info centre to book for the tourist mine tour. A bit steep but it was certainly worth it. We would need to wait till 9am tomorrow for that one. 

We now had time to checkout lookout points, shops. It was amazing how close the mine is to town, just across the railway tracks and it dominates the skyline from where ever you are. Not being allowed on site for obvious reasons it was a bit hard for the boys to get what was happening but Dad was certainly impressed but the shear size of the operation. The pick of the day was  the playground and water fun park to let the boys run off some energy, well worth it as they were an excited lot having developed playground withdrawal symptoms over the last few days.  Meant we could catch up on blogs as well 😀

Turns out the winch motor was the issue with the solenoid still operating. We have booked into ARB in Darwin to have a more solid look at it and recondition if needed.  So no winch this trip I feel. 

We also got ready for the 13 or so days food supply that we need as we head for Adel's grove. We were told not to rely on the stores having any more than basic bread and uht milk if that. 13 days meals for 4 was a challenge to ensure we had variety together whilst ensuring we used minimal fridge space given we only have 45 litres for everything, but Katie's superior organisation and planning skills had us tee up a menu in no time. 

The next morning we had an early 9am tour. We were in town on time which was new for us. The boys had a ball dressing up in overalls, hard hats and boots with their light and tags given made it a very authentic experience. The mine history was run through by Alan our tour guide before the dress up and decent into the tourist mine began. It was interesting that all the silver and copper refined products were trucked out to Townsville, no rail. Different approach to other west Australia and hunter based mines. They take the 99.7% pure silver and refine it to 99.9% at Townsville. That 0.2% impurities of arsenic and gold generates enough income to make it worthwhile. Fascinating process. 

We were able to see equipment in action including drills, little muckers (or diggers) as well as massive machines that they use today. No pictures allowed in the mine but a few sample of the dress ups below. 

We then picked up the last vac packed bits and pieces and headed back out to the station to chill, pack the new stock and get ready for tomorrow. 

When we arrived we heard that there were other kids swimming in the dam. We darted off to dip a toe or two, dam water was by no means warm but very refreshing. Only the boys went in and they had a ball with the kids who were mucking about with a canoe and kayaks. At the end the boys had a go themselves   Another first for them. 

   

The next morning was pack up day and we headed off for the first of our dirt road sections aiming for Adel's grove.  A stock on fuel in all the jerry cans in Mount Isa and we were off!

More running repairs, awesome after sales service by Trackabout

Well on leaving Mount Isa we noticed a tie down clip on the camper's cover had snapped. A quick phone call to Julian from Trackabout as the office was closed being a Sunday. Quicker than you say thank you and parts are arranged to be picked up in Darwin. Just can't beat this sort of after sales service. Three years after our original purchase. Just tops! Thanks Jules.

The fast trip to the north continues

Packed up and was on the road leaving Bourke by 9am.  We had to the obligatory stop for a Joey snap.

Joey is a lovely little creature that we picked up from one of the teachers at the boys school.  Joey, a little kangaroo's aim is see as many towns around Autralia and the world.  With the list of towns and cities visited already being quite impressive we thought that on this trip we would be able to add a few more out of the way places. Bourke was the second town on the list for us with a wet Nyngan being a damp number 1.  I am sure that we will add a few more on the way.

An easy drive to Charleville meant we go there by 3:30 or so.  Had a few flooded water ways to cross on the way but nothing too serious enough to cause any issues.  

With the cloud clearing slowly we waited to hear if the 7:30 cosmos show would still be on. It was like it meant to be. The clouds cleared exactly for the 1 or so we were there. We had the same fantastic. Telescope operators as last time. Her enthusiasm was contagious. The boys were also amazed by the retracting observatory roof to the tune of Star Wars, which was new from last time. 

The next day we rose slowly and had a much needed relax day. Journal writing and a bit of Ross school was the order the day before we headed off to the Bilby experience at the train station.  Cute little nuggets and with an awesome story of their conservation by the Bilby brothers both boys were keen to recognise Bilby day in September at their school.  Discussions ensue about what we can do.  Beaut sunset though. 

The next day we were making tracks again, heading for somewhere between Longreach and Winton (pronounced Winun to keep the flies out). But we only got as far as Ilfracombe after spending an hour recovering a camper van from a very muddy off road campsite. Silly bugger had got himself rightly bogged. Had to snatch him out in the end after finding out the winch isn't working! Doh. Will need to get that sorted before we head bush!

So we lost an hour or so getting him sorted, snatching a car across a highway with road trains was exciting to say the least. We were lucky that we didn't need to use the tea towel holding, dancing Katie to hold up traffic before getting the camper free. They were very thankful for the help.  We hooked up and cruised into town to Se if we could squeeze into one of our favourite parks from the Cape York trip.  Good karma meant there was a slot available and we jumped at it. 

Now being at Ilfracombe was always a good experience with Jesse and Cath putting on a good happy our with banter to suit. The down side was that it was state of origin night. Game 2 with series on the line and the happy hour shed was decked out in cane toad red and even had a little corner for some mild mannered blues fans.  It was an early night for stu. The result wasn't with staying up for and we had a bigger driving day to get to a station just east of Mount Isa some 600 kms away. 

Just outside of Ilfracombe, with fine skies and little wind we made our way north with some short Joey stops in Winun and on the long treeless road to Cloncurry.

And we off and running

Well first day down and it was certainly a big one in terms of kilometres. A total of 630 odd to get from Canberra to Bourke.  Getting into Bourke around 6:15pm in the evening. Learnt our lesson from Cape York where we took to long to get to the warmer areas!

A fairly uneventful drive with very little traffic being a Sunday.  In fact over the last 300 kms we would have been able to count the cars seen on one hand outside of towns etc. 

Well the weather is certainly encouraging us north. It pretty much rained from Molong onwards and it was getting pretty intense around Dubbo, Charlie was going to need to use his snorkel if there was to much more standing water on the road. He left quite a roosters tail of spray behind him. The caravan park was damp as expected, they had 50mm during the day, but we only here for a night before heading off to Charleville. Will be there for a couple nights so will be able to settle down a bit more. 

Now settling down with a few squares of top deck before teeth and bed. 

Northern Australia is beckoning

Well the warmth up north is beckoning with less than 40 days till we head off.  Lots of plans are slowing coming together.  The schedule is firming up without being to perscriptive at the same time. We learn about places as we go so booking into places can lock into a plan that can be difficult to change. 

So far we have booked in the one nights stops for the first 5 days or so.  That way for the more popular spots we have a guaranteed spot to hang.  Nothing worse than driving to the middle of no where to find there isn't any room.

Anyway, will be updating the central Australia page with things we are up to very shortly. 

Time away in the high country

Over the Christmas / New year break we took ourselves and brother in-law off to the King Valley in North west victoria. 

What is a pretty popular place at this time of the year turned out to be pretty quiet.  We stayed at the King Valley Camp (http://www.kingrivercamp.org.au) for four nights, as it turns out we were the only campers staying there with a number of others in the cabins.

Our site 

Over the four days we did a variety of activies. One day we did a four wheel drive trip up to Cobblers lake via long spur track taking in a number of the hills around the district.  Mountain No 3 at 1560 metres was a highlight with views from the top over to Mt Buller ski resort. 

Another day we took in a few wineries in the close area.  There is quite a good variety of both red and whites at very reasonable prices ($15-$35) and we purchased a few for later enjoyment

There is also Powell's lookup from which you can see the king valley in all its glory. Nice four wheel drive up there as well! Nothing like getting low range engaged and heading straight up a hill.

It was a great few days, weather was great with no rain apart from a bit up the top of the hills, a bit of wind but with the ability to have fires most evenings it meant we could finish it up with camp oven scones or a mud lizard whilst relaxing next to a good set of coals. 

The park was great as well, recently new to the park in January last year, Geoff and Glenda give you a lot of freedom with just a few rules. The camp was quite big and you could choose from a completely isolated camp near the river or one closer to the facilities. The facilities were basic but always clean. Prices for accomodation were $20 per night for the first two adults, kids $4 and additional adults and extra $10 per night. Pretty standard pricing but not in peak time. 

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