Sunrise Hervey Bay
Rockhampton To Darwin
Saturday 17th July left Leighs place near Yeppoon to head to Mt Isa to meet our fellow travellers. Had spnt Friday with Leigh and Charlie and had a nice meal at their local resturant. Did a quick tour of Yeppoon and did some necessary shopping.
Got about 100ks out of Rockhampton when we realised we had left our rump steak in Leigh's freezer. Oh well!! Just getting fuel in Blackwater when Leigh rings and tells us we have left van keys on his kitchen bench. Thank god or heads are attached!!! No probs as we can access van so he is to post to Darwin as that is to be our first real stop.
That night spent just south of Winton at free camp spot then off early in morning with aim to arrive Mt Isa mid afternoon. Stan has to stop at McKinlay for a beer at Walkabout Creek Hotel where Crocadile Dundee was made. On way there he decided to see haw far we would travel on main tank as the guage was not reading accurate. Well he found out as run out about 7ks before McKinlay. Didn't tranfer from Dual tank qiuch enough so had to sit on side of road waiting for fuel transfer.!!!!
Met up with Barry, Denise,Phil and Barb in Mt Isa and prepared for departure Monday morning with Banka Banka Station our target.
After a long day made to a great camp spot at Banka Banka where we had a donkey as our neighbour. They put on a slide night which gave a great history of the station and life in early NT.
Tusesday on road to Daly Waters to stay at campground beside the oldest pub in the NT. Very interesting place. Enjoyed there beef n barra dinner and enjoyed the show with the Bald eagle??? or was it a rooster.
Wednesday on the road to Katherine. At Jen's request we stopped at Larrimah for morning tea so she could get her coffee fix. We stopped at Fran's Cafe. What an experience she was hilarious. Very bushie. She told us to “SIT DOWN” if we wanted to be served as she was buisy and her help was not in yet. We all had devonshire tea's and the scones were great. Fran provided the entertainment with her carry on. Told on bloke to say “PLEASE” if he wanted any service and told anoyther in the same party who asked what was the flag she was flying by answering “The bloody NT Flag you fool” Cracked us up. Jen wasn't too happy as it was her shout for morning tea and it cost $13 a head total $78. Her jaw nearly hit the floor.
Visited Mataranka and went to the hot springs and looked at the replica Elsey Homestead which was used in the movie We of The Never Never. Also visited Bitter Springs. They were very pritty with the water very clear and beautiful color from the minerals.
Stayed the night at Katherine wher unfortunately Denise had her wallet stolen from their van as they had dinner at our campsite. The got $500 but luckily she found her wallet in the ladies with all cards in tact. That saved a lot of problems.
Thursday we got going once again with Tumbling Waters Caravan Park at Berry Springs our target. This spot is about 67k's south of Darwin and we plan to stay for a week. What a relief after travelling every day for 8 days to be able to settle for a little while. Uneventful trip and now settled into our base where we will explore Litchfield, Darwin and surrounds from.
This will allow Denise to fly back to Melbourne to settle a legal matter and Jen and I to fly back to Brisbane for medicals arranged by our solicitor so we can settle our claim. All happening here.
Next we will tell about our time in and around Darwin before we head through Kakadu and on towards the west.
