Day 21

Posted on August 3, 2016 by Judy's Trekabout

Saturday 4th.

Off to Cloncurry, stock up on food, fuel and anything else we might need for 9 days off the grid, heading to Gregory river to camp. We stopped and had a break at Quamby rest area then stayed the night at Terry Smiths Lookout. Nice camp spot, plenty of room, toilets, dump point, just make sure the water is operating.

Old remains at the Quamby rest area.

Just north of Cloncurry, the Albert hotel, aka, The Quamby Pub was built as the customs house in the 1860’s The word Quamby is aboriginal meaning being “stop”, rest awhile. The timbers in the building are beautiful, shame its all falling down.

Quamby Hotel,

View from the camper trailer at Terry Smith’s Lookout.

Day 20

Posted on August 3, 2016 by Judy's Trekabout

Friday 3rd

We decided to go kayaking today while its not to bad weather, bit of a breeze and we wanted to get photo’s of the crocodiles, they are fresh water so not to dangerous in a kayak.Rowed over to the island and some lovely wee bays. Didn’t see any fresh water crocodiles.

Don getting ready to take some photo’s. We are using our underwater camera’s not the good one’s.

Heading back home, nice and sheltered in this bay. I’m in Jacks inflatable kayak, hes paddling, i’m taking photo’s. 🙂 thanks Jack.

Looking at the Dam wall from the kayak.

Day 19

Posted on July 26, 2016 by Judy's Trekabout

Thursday 2nd June

Went into Mt Isa and spent the day pretty much there. The part we went to get cap for the toilet funnel but it hadn’t arrived yet, it had gone to Winton. We did get a cap for the pole pipe, so that was good, got gas and other wee nick nacks. Went to the lookout, amazing view, the town is built right beside the mine, its copper they mine. Traveling through was so beautiful, the countryside changes and the colours are incredible. All the rock seems to be a shale of some sorts. Got back here and had afternoon tea with J&A. Weather is fine, meant to be cool and windy tomorrow. Darwin and Uluru has had heavy rains. The scenery around this area is amazing, hilly, red rocks and short trees. Early tea. Met a couple and the lady is getting into photography so gave her some tips. Bed early, already it’s 9 pm.

Not many images today, this is a White Plumed Honey eater, its trying to shelter from a shower of rain.

Day 18

Posted on July 26, 2016 by Judy's Trekabout

Wednesday 1st June Day 18

Well it is raining, started quiet early after we went to sleep last night. Has rained fairly constant. The land needs this, as campers it’s fine overnight but nice to fine up now, well not a lot to do in the rain. Soaking the clothes to hang out when fine. Had a early tea, cleaned up and retired to the camper.

Just down the bank from our camp site, looking south. very overcast.

Looking up the opposite way. This dam is a lot higher than it has been, last year people were camping where the water is.

Our camp site.

Very dark skies tonight.

Beautiful Kite.

Day 17

Posted on July 22, 2016 by Judy's Trekabout

Tuesday 31st Traveling to Corolla Dam.

Set the alarm for 6 am, got up and had breakfast, got all ready to close the camper and I was on the phone when I saw a big bird in the tree, it was a Kite, not a wedge tail like I first thought. On the road by 8.20 am, what a beautiful drive, the country side changed many times, from really green to red, flat to really hilly out crops with a lot of rock, then as we got closer to Cloncurry the hills were amazing. Had morning tea at the Info center after we did the shopping at Woolworths. Nice town, not a lot of shops though. While we were at the info center a lady came up and asked if I was camping back at the rest area, I said yes, she said, you have lost 4 poles along the road back there. Went back to the camper and told Don and yes the cap for the tent poles vibrated loose off the pole carrier and we have lost 7 poles . Tried at Cloncurry to get some more, no luck, so will try at Mt Isa when we go to get the toilet cap. Saw a Wedge-tailed eagle today fly off a dead carcass on side of road. We arrived here at Corella Dam at 12.15 pm, quiet a few people here and the water levels are up as we can’t camp on the peninsula where J&A usually camp, so did a bit of a drive around, finally found a top spot, got all set up with only minimal things out as if it rains we have to move fast due to bad soil. No photos tonight as it’s very overcast and windy. Sat around a wee fire until 7 pm, we’re all pretty tired so have retired to our vans. Here are some photo’s of the days travel. A lot of these I take while Don drives.

Heading to Corella Dam, on the Mt Isa road.

Rocky outcrop.

The Town

I have noticed that a lot of the out back towns have beautiful wide streets, plenty room for parking with a RV. The bakery makes lovely fresh cream buns with real cream and jam,

Just a quick shot as we drove through town.

I just loved the scenery, the changing colours of the hills. Still lovely and green from all the flooding and rain they have had out west, we are very lucky to see it this way.

Another amazing hill.

Arriving ar Corella Dam.

Could not believe how many campers were here, but its a big area.

Wow, look at this for a set up. Lovely people, I was chatting with the owners, they have been everywhere, so interesting chatting . Continue with safe travels.

Day 16

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Judy's Trekabout

Monday 30th Fullerton Rest Area.

Early start this morning. J&A went on in to Winton to do a few things and we met up with them when we did the toilet dump and fueled up. Heading to Cloncurry, stopping for morning tea at a wonderful spot where there were some jump ups. Then carried onto the Blue Heeler Pub, had a bit to eat, lots of history in the place. On the road after lunch we saw Crocodile Dundee Pub, not the same looking as the movie. Fueled up as it was cheap. 1.15 liter. Lovely country side, flat as, dry as, so sad. We checked out the Combo waterhole, gee it was hot walking to the water hole, but interesting story as to the Chinese building the stone pathway. Saw lots of gibber stone. The road goes on forever. We are camped at Fullerton River rest area. Really nice stop over and stayed one night only. Did some milky way shooting.

Early morning at Winton at the Long Water Hole, packing up and heading for Cloncurry with a stop over night somewhere like Fullerton River Rest Area, but I saw no river. 🙂

Some very long Road Trains, if they have only 3 dogs they didnt seem so big after seeing many with 4 dogs.

The road goes on forever. Jump-ups in the distance.

A jump up.

A road train with 4 dogs.

Jump-ups.

Windmill not doing much good.

Many of these rest area’s every where we have traveled, so good, with toilets and shade for eating.

Very flat land and horizon, makes you feel quiet small, in the realm of things.

Heading into Combo Water Hole, that’s Jack & Alice up ahead, its so dusty we’er stay well behind. Got the air-con on its very hot outside.

Interesting.

Map to show where we are and where we’ve come from today.

Walking to the Combo Water Hole.

These are the stone walkways that the Chinese built and there’s water! There are many of these we crossed.

Interesting read.

Under the shade of a Coolibah tree.

More water. Its dirty looking but was still inviting, but to muddy to take a dip, dammmmm.

Lots of interesting thing here to read.

Heading out from the combo water hole, we have been so lucky to see so much greenery as it was very wet only two weeks prior to this trip.

Lunch is coming up.

Had a bit to eat, very interesting place. One can camp here if they want, there is a caravan park out back.

Well this is a pub with lots of history.

Walkabout Creek.

If you saw the Movie you’ll recognize this.

I’m very fascinated with Termite mounds. These are small ones.

Milky way at our rest stop. Fullerton River Rest area.

Day 15

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Judy's Trekabout

Sunday 29th

Got up for sunrise but was a bit of a sizzler. Made a cuppa and waited for the sun to appear. Got breakfast before the flies come. Still very windy and in the shade quiet cool. Sun is hot but having the wind helps . Caught up with Robert T, met him at Lara, now at Long Water Hole Winton. Had a good chat with him. We all did star trails, milky way. Photographed birds, cows and packed up what we could.

Sun setting over the Long Water Hole

Animals drinking just behind our camp site.

Who’s going to move for who.

Nice sitting in the cool of the afternoon at our camp spot. Long Water Hole.

White Plumed Honey eater

Crested Pigeon

Pelicans landing

Apostles, ones teaching the other one something.

Red tailed Black Cockatoo’s, a Kite hovering above.

Whistling Kite

Sand Goanna

Whistling Kite.

Got his lunch.

Red tailed Black Cockatoo.

Day 13

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Judy's Trekabout

Friday 27th Long Waterhole Winton.

Got breakfast over with and cleaned up, packed up and we hit the road at 9.30 am. Only spent the one night as there is so much to see and do in Longreach that we will come back and do it another time on our own. Had a great run through, very sad to see how the land is dry, no stock, no grass or water. But when we got to The Long Water Hole at Winton there is water. Good bird life. Flies bad, sun is hot. We had very bad winds last night and just got set up for start trails and one almighty gust of wind comes and lifts the annex, off comes the zip, annex falls, J & A came over to give a hand to hold it together while Don re zipped the annex back to get it off. Was cooler tonight sleeping, lovely.

Kites were everywhere so we had heaps of practice taking photo’s.

Very appropriate.

The landscape changes every few hundred kilometers.

Its black soil out here and all the fences are so crocked due to the rains they had, power poles were on a lean as well.

Rail inspection vehicle.

Road train passing. Very long some of them. We let them go.

Heading to Winton.

Homestead on a station. Jump ups in background.

Nice sign

Saw many of these.

This was exciting for me, been wanting to come here for some time.

Long Water Hole, Winton.

Sunset at Long Water Hole where we are camping , This is my view.

Campsite.

Day 12

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Judy's Trekabout

Thursday 26th

Away about 9 am from Lara, no hurry today. Stayed at Lillie’s Lagoon, very nice place. Only a stop over as there is so much to see in Longreach.

Wellshot Hotel at Ilfracombe

Inside the Wellshot Hotel, hats and money pinned to the roof, money goes to the Royal Flying Doctors.

Lovely big wind mill at Longreach Qantas.

These bras are in Longreach on a house fence. Took a shot as we drove pass.

Just outside of Longreach there are two camping areas, we chose to use Lillie’s Lagoon.

They have had a lot of rain two weeks prior and now look at all the salt like flowering plants, very pretty colours.

Lillie’s Lagoon.

Lots of areas to camp, we got close to the lagoon without fear of bogging, its all black soil.

Milky way to end it all.

Day 12

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Judy's Trekabout

Thursday 26th

Here are some photo’s on our last day at Lara. There wasn’t as many birds around at this time of the year, where as in September last year there were 26 different varieties that we photographed.