MT. ISA - WINTON

Winton photos are first. Still cannot get my printing to wrap around the photos.

MT. ISA-WINTON
Mt. Isa was a blessing to experience because it was the biggest town we had been in since leaving the Atherton Tablelands. I managed to get a haircut and shop at “Woollies”. Thought we were only going to stay a few days, but along with having the truck serviced and ordering new brake drums for the rig, it took longer. It was Wed. 7th Oct. and were told to expect the drums by Sat. but, to no avail. And still did not arrive till the following Tues. We did manage to get a good look around the district. Of course this is a mining community with a population of 22,000. It’s main financial base is the huge Mt. Isa Mine, the world’s largest single producer of copper, silver, lead and zinc. We were camped up in the Copper City Caravan Park and we had neighbours who also had a mechanical problem and took them 1 week just to get spark plugs for her jeep. Michele, her daughter Emily and their lovely lab. Shadow, kept us company also for a few days. They were moving to make a new home in Brisbane from Darwin. Thankyou, Michele and Emily it was a pleasure to meet you and we’re sure to keep in touch. Mt. Isa is also home to the biggest Irish Club in the world. Decided to check it out one night for dinner and was picked up by their courtesy bus. Last return bus for the evening is 12 midnight. Although we were home well and truly before that. The club is just amazing, most beautiful decor and so many different areas to meet all needs. Well worth a visit. Another really well appointed club in Mt. Isa is The Buffs Club who also provide a courtesy bus. Lake Moondarra is only a short distance from town and where the locals go to relax and picnic with boating and water sports. We took a picnic lunch just to check it out. What a beautiful spot. A truly oasis in the desert. After the new brake drums fitted we headed off on Wed. 14th Oct. at 6.00am. Stopped at a rest area the other side of Cloncurry for breakfast before 8.00am. then onto Winton via the Landsborough Highway, total distance 460klms for the day. Because we had a few stops we found the travelling quite comfortable.
The North Gregory Hotel in Winton has an area out the back for travellers where we stopped over for 2 nights. This is a free service, and as it was a little dusty around the van and quite hot, we patronised their hotel for dinner. Showers and toilets are available also for the travellers for those needing them. Winton’s population is 900 and the birthplace of “Waltzing Matilda” and our national airline, "Qantas". “The Waltzing Matilda Centre” is the only museum in the world dedicated to a song. We were so amazed at this place that it took us more than 3hrs to take it all in. Also, this is the first place that we were able to get a really good coffee, other than making our own. It has been put together really, really well. If you are interested in dinosaurs this is the place where you will find a lot of answers. Winton is one of Australia’s most concentrated areas of dinosaur finds, with Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways, the site of the world’s only recorded evidence of a dinosaur stampede. The Corfield and Fitzmaurice Building in town houses displays from the Australian Age of Dinosaurs fossil collection. Just behind the North Gregory Hotel is Arno’s Wall, over 10m long & 2m high in which everything can be found, including the kitchen sink.

LAWN HILL

LAWN HILL
1ST October and we left the rig at Normanton to travel to Lawn Hill National Park. It was a 200klm journey south to Burke & Wills Roadhouse then west for 148klms to Gregory Downs where we stopped and set up table & chairs under a shaded tree for lunch. The road thus far had been sealed, but the next 80klms was gravel before reaching our accommodation at Adel’s Grove for 2 nights. There are a few different accommodation choices there. If you were game enough, as many were to take their caravans along this track, the camping area was set amongst lots of trees and on the banks of the Lawn Hill Creek. There were onsite tents, which had small patios with table & chairs, and a few cabins, which was our choice. They consisted of 2 beds, air con, and power. Amenities were not far away, although the closest to us was a long drop and camp showers with large shower heads and all very clean. We preferred using these as to the modern ones a bit further away in the main office/restaurant/dining area. We opted for a dinner, bed & breakfast package which was the best deal for 2 nights. The meals were great.
For the first time for awhile we were able to use our kayaks. Access to the gorge was 10klms away, but we set off after breakfast to experience our paddling through the gorge. As it was in the morning the stillness was just beautiful and the light in all the right places. We had to paddle a certain distance before taking the kayaks out of the water and carrying them a short way before re-entering the water so we could carry on. At the end of the road, so to speak, we were able to have a swim in the cool water before our return. The whole distance was only approx. 6klm. return, but well worth it. We were told that the gorge is home to fresh water crocodiles, but do not bother you. Anyway, we didn’t see one, even though we were looking out for them.
As always we meet so many lovely people and we had the pleasure of one such family from Bowen join us for dinner one evening. Thank you to Steve, Kaye and son Clarke Mitchell for your company. The creek beside Adel’s Grove was used extensively for swimming and I also made use of the rapids as a spa. Needed to hold onto the rocks as it was so strong. Would recommend this for a stopover. As well, there was a camping ground at the gorge, where you have to obtain a permit. Adel’s Grove has a kayak service for hire there.
We decided to get away early for our return to Normanton, but 10mins.Into the trip we had a flat tyre. As it was early, around 8.00am the sun hadn’t become too harsh to change it. When we reached Gregory Downs, were able to find someone to mend the tyre so as we could have a spare. Along this stretch also we came across a road train with a load of huge tyres that had rolled over and was waiting for the recovery team to arrive. As Zinifex Century Mine is in the area, these tyres were destined for their large machinery. We were told that each tyre is worth approx. $30,000.00.
After being away for 3 days the rig had been invaded by Singapore Ants. Didn’t know what they were at that stage, but found that they get into the electricals. Found that out when we went to leave Normanton a few days later and had trouble with the slide out switches. Of course we didn’t know that was the cause at that stage. We continued our trip south to Cloncurry (289klms.) To cut a long story short, D’Arcy worked out that the switches were blocked with ants, so he proceeded to remove them and blow out with his compressor. It worked, but still had the problem of trying to remove these ants from everywhere. Have since learnt that these ants will even eat plastics and tents, so beware. I usually place talcum powder around all entry points into the rig, but this time before going away I forgot. Now it is the first thing I do when we pull up at a new spot. My washing machine is still not working properly, due to these ants.
After 1 night in Cloncurry we travelled west 120klms. to Mt. Isa.