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Hi guys, well I have to tell you about Daly waters, we were there a night and that was enough.It is more known for its pub. It is an out back town with a pub, a caravan park attached, a couple of 'wedge tail eagles' and really good pub grub. Hugh had a pig fall for him and follow him around a little bit when we went to the pool. The pig also fell in love with my camera, he tried to eat it. Funny little b*****. Pigs mum came and got him a bit later, he protested and carried on, and you would think he was a child throwing a tantrum. Anyway we paid our money for the barra and beef which was to be served at 7pm, took a little look around Daly waters which took about 4 minutes and went to the pool where we met the pig. As we were enjoying the peace at the pool with the pig we ere summoned back to the vn by the park owner.....pip was playing up and disturbing th peace. That was ok, we then went to have a romantic shower for 2 in the tin shed and got ready for the wedge tail eagles we were promised along with the local entertainment. I was looking forward to the wedge tail eagles which ended up being two bantam black chooks. We were sitting on own own having a few when we were then joined by a 4some. They were from Canberra and were good fun - they asked me if they could borrow my salt..... We got to chatting and by the next bottle of wine we were laughing it was then that the waitress, very embarrassed asked me to keep it down because my laughing was disturbing the customers an they could not hear the joker on stage! Imaging, Me, making too much noise....PLEASE!
Next stop Bank Banka, south east NT. It is a cattle station that provides caravan facilities for travellers. It is a lovely stop that is becoming more popular as the caravan sites get more expensive and have more permanents and the fuel prices creep up. The van park was fairly basic and it was like MacDonald's farm with the calves roaming around, the border collie trying to herd pip every time she strayed from the caravan, the Billie goats that would come to the door of the caravan and invite himself in, the donkey (Dusty, Slim his mum died last year) yodelling in the night and loving a bit of attention and I almost forgot the geese! The water was the nicest I have ever tasted. Straight from the artesian spring and tasted like nothing I have ever had before. Banka is owned by the Kidman (not Nicoles)family which bought it from AMP some years ago. To give you an idea of the size of the station, there are 2 guys employed just to go around the station and maintain the pumps. They rotate the sites as the station is so big it takes 2 weeks each half of the territory. The managers of the van site do a power point presentation every night for the tourists about the station.
On our way to Mt Isa we stopped off road at Avon Downs. What an experience that was. Hughie decided to try and teach me to back the caravan into position..that alone is almost grounds for divorce. We only needed to stay for the night and that was enough. All we heard all night was the road train screaming past oat 130 ks - frightening stuff when you see how big they are! The wind was blowing a gale and we had to put up a baracade so we could get the fire going to cook the steak which was beautiful!
Mount Isa is in the far south west corner of QLD. It is a mining town and is renowned for its lead and copper. We did a tour of the mine. It took 6 years to dig and prepare as a tourist attraction. They use to take people through the actual working mine but a lady fell and broke her leg and that was the end of that. The tourist one is suppose to be real life like and it certainly seemed to be the case. I tell you; those boys in the early days earned their money. It is a dirty, dangerous and lonely job. Mt Isa does not have a lot going for it, apart from the fact that it has Riversleigh about 2 hours away which is archaeology protected and world heritage listed site. It holds the oldest fossils known to man. We did a tour of the replica animals they have reconstructed and it is quite interesting. Other than that I would not bother about going to the Isa. It is a dirty, unfriendly place. Mum and I did our washing that day and hung it out to dry. That night when we went to collect the washing mum discovered that her hand towel was put back on the line after someone had used it to wipe down the BBQ. Can you believe it!?!?!? The lady across the lane from us had her tinea thongs stolen! All night the local indigenous and their dogs would howl and fight and bark and scream abuse and basically demonstrate what a disgrace they can be!
On our way to charters towers we stopped at Richmond, a little town on the Flinders highway.It was so nice and inviting we decided to stay for 2 days. The mayor and the town put in a manmade lake, it took 5 years but it is a real tribute to the town and how close and proud they are. There is a local elder and people but they are a proud tribe and keep to themselves and are involved in the community in a positive way. Such a nice change to what we have experienced thus far. Last night the local bowls club put on a BBQ to raise money - it was a great night! We met the locals and the rest of the van park. It really is a frienldly way to travel!
Pip and carrie are enjoying the trip I think. Pip is never far from our side, she has taken to parking herself in the front seat as we are packing just so we don't go anywhere without her!. Carrie is great, although she is blind and deaf she really came in to her own when we took her around the lake, she was in her element!
We are now in Charters towers and on our way to see Jules and Chris in Townsville. We will update the journey then.
Hope you are all well and not missing us as much as we miss you. Loving life on the road.xxxxx
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