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Day 12 Thursday 3rd July
Normanton to Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria (72km)
We broke camp at around 7.45 am and we were not sorry to leave Normanton! One feature that Normanton does boast though, are wonderful wetlands just a few km to the north. These wetlands are meant to be spectacular places to view bird-life.....but they dry out to less than a few little billabongs in the dry season (which is now). Nevertheless we did see some water birds as we passed along the road through the wetland area, and even stopped to attempt some photography....unfortunately the birds were a little camera-shy.
We reached Karumba too early to check in to our site at the Sunset Point caravan park. So we had our coffee by the waterfront in town and then did a bit of food shopping.
Once settled in to our camp site.....which is a huge improvement on the last one.....we had a stroll around Karumba Point (about 5km from the 'town').
It is really picturesque here, but of course the beautiful blue waters are home to many salt-water crocodiles, so as inviting as they may look, a swim in the pool is the preferred option!
(Not that we were tempted....it's pleasantly warm, but not hot).
However, the fishing is apparently great and so Karumba is full of fisherfolk with their boats and rods and reels and bait. We don't think we have seen so many people fishing in the one spot anywhere else!
We did a load of laundry and had a shower.....very clean amenities.
Then we had a beer and lunch at the tavern, walking distance away, and overlooking the water, and then sat a while along the beach to watch all the boats come in from their morning fishing trips. This was quite a spectacle with a large queue of vehicles and trailers all lined up waiting for their turn to back down the boat ramp and haul the 'tinny' out of the water. (All the boats were lined up too!)
I asked someone why they were all coming in at the same time.....I thought it might be because of the tide, which was going out, but was told it was because the fish were no longer biting! However, judging by the number of people cleaning and filleting fish at the fish station in the caravan park, lots of fish were caught, so they must have been biting at some point!!
A cool breeze came up this afternoon, necessitating jackets.
After spending some time writing the blog, looking at maps to make onward plans, we headed to the beach for sunset.
We bought a bottle of wine at the Sunset Tavern and watched the sun set over the water. It was low tide, which made it a little more interesting; but it wasn't really spectacular tonight.
Back at camp we had soup for dinner. Since our arrival this morning, all vacant camp sites have filled up and I have a feeling it will be noisy tonight. Fortunately we have quiet neighbours either side of us, and no-one at the back. Across the way it is a different story with a large group noisily chatting already....but it's only 7.30pm, so lots of time till bedtime!
The campground feels very crowded mainly because almost everyone has a caravan, a 4WD and a boat!!! Also, it would appear that many folk come here to stay for months at a time; almost like Eastern Australia's answer to Broome.......although nothing like Broome at all really!!!!
After we leave here we have decided to head 'bush' again! We need to take the road less-travelled, at least for a couple of days.
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