Well I have almost reached the end of what has been a full on week of traveling. I have encountered my very first Road Trains, some of them 4 trailers long, also my first WIDE LOAD, the ones we have back hone have nothing on this, this was a pull off the road as far as you can and think skinny thoughts wide load. Monday morning started with a 4am pick up for our long drive to Mt ISA. Having never been to Mt ISA I wasn't sure what to expect from the drive, or from the scenery, but I must say that I would definitely do it again (I know I must be crazy). Despite seeing plenty of "sleeping" Roo's we did manage to see a couple if awake ones. We stopped in a number of towns along the way to do some deals, and I think my AM Andy was starting to get Cabin fever. We stopped in Hughenden for a breakfast meeting at the Royal Hotel (nothing royal about it). Met a fellow Kiwi behind the counter, she'd come from Parongahau for the shearing and 30 years later found herself still there. There were a couple of surprises in Hughenden, of the prehistoric kind. The Royal Hotel was to be our overnight point for our return trip, looking around I thought " this won't be to bad".... Famous last thought's. When we showed up to check in we discovered that they had our booking for the next night and all of the units were fully booked, however we were able to have the "Ghost Cottage" for the night. Just what I wanted when I was already sleep deprived. Ah well better than nothing, and for how tired I was I thought if there was a ghost it could do it's worst, little did I know that the ghost would be the least if my worries. The interesting cottage had a eclectic array of furniture and bedding, as well as having a driveway running alongside the wall adjacent to the bedrooms. I did not see this as a problem until the Motels many guests started to leave at 4am. The other problem was the heater that did not warm up and a bed that was positioned beneath a window that didn't shut, by 4am I was wishing for there to be a ghost so at least it could amuse me :)
Next township we passed through was Julia Creek, we stopped here on the return trip and talked to Pat at Gannon's Hotel, one of the hardest women I have ever met.
Next on the journey plan was the Mud Hut Hotel, and after our early morning meeting I was definitely expecting a "Mud Hut". The crew there were really helpful and had a great bar. Whilst here we made more friends with some locals of the four legged kind :).
The last stop we made before hitting Mt ISA was Cloncurry. This town is a true country mining town. On our return trip we were able to pick Uncle Archie up from the airport and take him out to his camp. It was amazing the set up out there it was like a flash version of a hostel with a Gym, Swimming Pool, Bar, Tennis Courts, and Pool tables. Next trip we're getting a tour of the mines and I can't wait!
Finally we headed off to our furtherest destination on the trip Mt ISA. As we drove into Mt ISA I do know what I was expecting but it was not a built up well established town. This was nothing like the towns that we had passed through. The tagline for Mt ISA should be "More than you expected". Despite the 2 really bad nights sleep I really enjoyed my time there and the people that I met, I can't wait for my next trip.