Mount Isa to Karumba Gulf of Carpenteria

Well after a lot of thought we are here in the gulf of carpenteria at Karumba the weather here is lovley its about 32 degrees at the moment.We left Mount Isa last Monday and headed towards Cloncurry,several people had told us what a great drive it is,definatly one of the best very up and down with the road cut through rock in places.Cloncurry has several claims to fame one being the hottest place in Queensland 54 degrees!and home to the founder of RFDS.The road started to dissapear once we left the town!down to one single lane though sealed the rule is if a road train heads toward you we give way why would'nt you?they say its easier to pull a caravan out than a road train!!I must admit I did feel a bit tense at the prospect and not the right time for me to have a go driving!We stopped overnight at free pull in only us there not a town for over 100ks bit spooky when we turned the lights out! the weather had warmed up we were in shorts for the first time since leaving sitting by our campfire looking at the stars wonderful.Great exitment the next day we saw water lots of it we crossed the Norman River at Normanton and there was water in it!!Now we are here in Karumba on the coast very low lying and once it rains cut of completly.The sunsets are magical sitting by the water or on it with a glass of wine mmm.The prawns here yum,so so big and cheap,prawns wine and sunset what more could you ask for?We are staying in a site while here ,has a nice pool which is good as you cant go in the ocean here,crocs may cause harm or death ,thats what the signs say.Poor Barney can't understand why he cant run on the beach and go for a swim we really can't take the chance he could become an entree !!Free fish barbie tonight just supply your own salad and wine and Jeffs playing the drums with the other muso's here,I did'nt offer to play my didgeridoo,might clear the place!Well its warming up,nearly time for a beer and a prawn or 10,we are kicking back here for a few more days here,then off to who knows

Alice Springs to Mount Isa

Do shopping Malls spoil country towns?In the case of Alice Springs they definatley do,it was not what I was expecting its certainly changed a lot since Nevil Shutes day,progress?As we stayed in the carvan site from hell we free camped to Mount Isa,no managers with attitude to condend with!We crossed the Tropic of Capricorn just outside Alice,met a guy who had been travelling since 1953!the evening was a lot warmer so wine time was outside .Wycliffe Well is a beautiful oasis that has a 10 acre lake it was one of the first places in Oz that could sell water 1 penny a gallon.Its also famous for its regular alien sightings 2 weeks previous 2 people saw strange happenings on the highway!the walls of the shop are adorned with newspaper clippings and stories we had no such luck though.We stayed a few nights at the Devils Marbles which are huge boulders that appear to balance (or is it aliens)when the sun rises and sets the colours are spetacular.Ive become very good at cooking rice on the camp fire in the billy seems to taste so much better.Everyone we spoke to seemed to be heading to Darwin but we turned east at Three Ways heading for Queensland we had no cars in front and nothing behind us !we began to wonder if there was something we should know!The Barkly Highway is the most boring road ever!it makes the Nullaboor seem like a scenic paradise thank goodness we have loads of cd's and thte ipod.They police set up a road block opposite our camp at Avon downs never a dull moment,though we must have looked honest we were waved through.Civilisation our first town Camooweal I thought I might stock up on a few goodies but $8.60 for packet of assorted bickies I thought better of it.We are here now in Mount Isa for 4 days,Barney is having a bath and groom tomorrow,Ive been to the hairdressers today and I cut Jeffs hair with the clippers so we will all be looking spruced up!!After here who knows we can't decide off to Townsville or up to the Gulf of Carpenteria decisions decisions,what a hard life!

Tumby Bay to Alice Springs

What an interesting week we have had,we have been to a rocket range,an opal mine,a underground house and campsite,had a didgereedoo lesson and arrived in Alice springs.When we left tumby Bay it was getting wet and chilly,after a overnight stop in the middle of nowhere the wind was really blowing and the heavens opened.We stopped at Woomera the home of the blue streak rocket the rain stopped long enough for a few photos the musuem really showed how technology has advanced since the 60's it amazes me that they did so much considering the equipment but I suppose that was all high tec back then.The scenery was changing so many lakes all full Lake Hart is huge.the next day we arrived in Coober pedy words can not really describe it.50%of houses are built underground as was our campsite though not caravans!They had a photo in the info centre of the planet Mars and Coober Pedy they looked the same!red dust covered by rocks not a tree or plant to be seen!But its a fascinating place,you see a hill with an aerial and water tank on top you know theres a house underneath.We went inside one built in the 60's built be 2 ladies using only a shovel and a pick its beautiful inside warm in winter cold in summer when the temp can reach 50 degrees.Coober produces 85%of the worlds opals but no big mining companies here some people still mine using a pick ,the machinery that is used uses $2000 of diesal a week.Water is as precious as opals here our campsite didnt have any we filled up our tanks at a 24 hour coin operated pump in town 20cents for 15 litres!We went in an underground cafe for a coffee that had the most beautiful handmade didgereedoos I love this instrument and couldnt resist I even had my first lesson.I practise everyday some days are better than others,for me and others staying nearby!Now we are in the northern territory and Alice Springs the days are warmer but the nights are so so cold thank goodness I bought those thermal beanies I acutally sat in bed having a cup of tea yesterday morning wearing it what a sight!The speed limit here is 130kph and it seems most people take advantage of that.The bottle shops only open between 2pm and 6pm and Jeffs driving license was checked to see if he is allowed to buy alcohol or banned!The scenery is beautiful the mcdonald ranges are spectacular the red colours changing through out the day. We are here for a few days then heading up to the devils marbles,Tenants Creek then on the Barkly highway across to Queensland,it will be getting warmer!