Mary Kathleen Township/Mount Isa 12th July

We left Mary Kathleen about 8:00am and headed to Mount Isa.Arrived just after 9:00am,information first stop,found a great parking spot,then on to hitting the shops.Peta & I went one way,Warren & Roy looking for men's shop (tools).meet up for lunch.The first Coffee Club we have seen since leaving Brisbane will make the most of it was yummy coffee 2 For 1. After lunch next stop Coles to full the cupboards and fridge.just about forgot to mention Beer and wine also it's so dam hot 35 and it's winter.We didn't have much of a look around far to hot and we where having fridge issues so,didn't want to lose the frozen meat.Left Mount Isa and looking for some where to camp the night.About 56km out found a old WW2 Air Strip,so red and dusty just like powder gets into every thing.Didn't take any photos not much to see.we didn't get much sleep with the road trains.
13th July
Left WW2 Air Strip just after 8:30am and heading to Tennant Creek.stop for morning tea at Camonweal about 180ks west of Mount Isa,1pub 1shop 2 petrol stations.Diesel $1.89 Litre.Then we crossed the border to The Northern Territory.Had Lunch At Avon Downs
rest stop 1 building only and it's a police station.Pulled over for the night at Wonarah Bore after driving 270k for the day.Very warm 30 again today.Meet a lovely young man by him self so we shared our dinner with him he's also heading to Darwin.these free camping spots sure are busy places first in best spot.Around about 30 vans/motor homes. Just had a storm go through so the rain will cool things down we hope.
4th photo is coming into Mount Isa
1 Camonweal
2nd photo border
3th photo sunset at Wonarah Bore

Mary Kathleen Township 11th July

We arrived this morning after driving about 5km,to have a look before heading into Mount Isa, after seeing the sign Mary Kathleen we decided to check it out and found a great camping site and decided to stay the night.it's an old mining town,closed in 1984,and every building went to auction.the only thing left is the concrete slabs, roadways and gardens. Really a complete town just missing the buildings. After talking to another camper we were told about the mine pit about 4ks away so we unhooked the caravan and headed off for a look in the prado.the Mary Kathleen township was once a flourishing community of 1000 people and was considered a very tranquil and picturesque area.the mine was named in memory of the wife of Mr McConachy who had died a short time before after the discovery in 1954 of Uranium. The size of the open cut mine is 1.2km in lengh.Warren walked around the mine,we only walked one side,then Warren and I walked down to the water edge.Back at camp we lit the fire for steak & Kidney cooked in the camp oven,Warren was chief cook. The
Meal was yummy washed down with a bottle of bubble by the fire.
Heading off tomorrow morning to Mount Isa.
The tree in photo is call a ghost gum

Corella dam 10th July

Had a great sleep in,after Breakie went had a look around Clem Walton park,which is through the gate and drive about 1.5km,sure is a lovely spot still happy where we are camped. There is weed growing in the river and killing the fish, the weed on the river makes it look like a road which is shown in a photo below.After having a cuppa we went fishing in the dam, could not believe it when Roy found a fresh water croc,about 35cms,photo below.no fish,Warren brought back to the camp last night some fresh water mussels no we did not try them with the algae,most of them where quite big.
11th Departed about 8:30 am heading west towards mount isa.

Julia Creek 5th July

Arrived at Julia Creek about 3:30 booked into McKinlay Shine Council Caravan park as we were wanting to wash bedding and heavy cloths and have a nice long shower and hair wash,by then 6:00 no time for happy hour.left van park 9:45am was told about a camp site 2km down the road so ended up finding it, it is great near a pond and a nice grassy area to camp on. Great as it's a free camp for 96 hours so decided to stay.so nice and quite,well guess what the last four camp site we have been at there's a couple in a fifth wheeler that keeps playing country music till late,turned up again tonight and yes the country music is playing.Peta,Roy & myself walked into town while Warren went fishing for red claw.No fires tonight blowing to hard. Roy and Warren placed pots in the creek about 1k downstream from where we are camped. They checked the pots at 5pm and Roy's had four blue claw but warrens had none. So pots were
Placed Back in and they will be checked In the morning.Warren used whisked cat food For Bait and Roy used tuna So maybe that's the reason.
Saturday 7th
Had a great day just chilling out catching up on house work and washing,after lunch went into town the only thing opened was supermarket and two pubs, we decided to pop in and Warren & Roy had a beer,Peta and myself had a wine,then back to the camp,hot day and wine early feel like wanting to have a siesta,instead put the feet up reading. Early shower.
Sunday 8th July
Had a sleep in after a very hot night,Warren and Roy went and check on the crab pot,after Breakie,no red craw so brought the pot back.went into town got Sunday paper and milk.Warren and I washed the van,then read paper under a tree,was 30 to-day so can not complain about the weather.Cooked curry sausages out side on the cooker.9:00pm and our country music man is still playing his music, Warren found out he's not going the same way as us,thank goodnessI think he needs a new cd keeps playing the same one
Monday 9th July
Packed up and leaving Julia Creek,water tank full toilet empty,now on our way 9:30 to Cloncurry.
Arrived at Cloncurry pick up fruit and vegetables then on to Chinaman Dam for lunch.2:00pm left and now looking for a camp site.3:20 have found a great camp site Clem Walton Park & Corella Dam,decided to stay 2 nights so going fishing tomorrow

Winton to Kynuna 5th

We have left Winton after doing toilet and water about 9:30 and heading to Kynuna,a car has just flipped a stone up and now we have a chip in the front window had to get tape out stop it running,bigger than a 50cent price.arrived at Kynuna at 1:40 had a drink at the Blue Heeler pub.payed $5:00 donation for the flying Doctors and wrote our names on the wall.we were going to head to Richmond then pick up Peta and Roy at Cloncurry,but the road was closed.we had cold bacon and egg pie that we cooked last night for lunch in front of the Blue Heeler pub.could not believe when we pulled up at the pub two Brolga birds were standing on the edge of the road so Peta and I feed them bread.left Kynuna about Two and heading to Julie Creek and arrived around 3:30 after traveling 100ks along dirt and bitumen road. Booked into the caravan park so we could catch up on our washing.

Winton 3th July

We left camp site 9:15,Roy dropped Peta and myself of in town as I wanted to get Warren warm PJ and myself a hottie, have been feeling cold,Roy went to catch up with Warren as he was filling van up with water and doing the toilet.then back to pick us up.Warren went to Toyota to buy a spare oil filter as he will need to undertake oil changes on the road. Arrived at Winton about 2:00.was going to stay at the back of the pub no room,ended up finding a great spot at Long Waterhole.
Winton 4th July
Was a cold windy night,sure was good with a hottie.After breakfast went into Winton and had a look through Waltzing Matilda Centre,very much enjoyed.went back to camp after stocking up with bread,wine.Warren lit the pig so we could get hot coals for the camp oven.Peta and decided to try meat and apple turn over pies in the camp oven, as it was state of origin night. Well I was happy how the pies turned out great,Warren and Roy were the cooks.made the night when the Maroons won.leaving tomorrow

Longreach

30th June
Just left camp site 9:15 and heading north west driving to longreach.Have arrived at ilfracombe a small country town that has set up for grey nomads
And tourists alike as they have several restaurants open on Sunday and numerous toilets. The best attraction is along side the side of the road where they have about a kilometer of old machinery. Amongst the machinery is a world war two tank that had be purchased after the war for five pounds by a machinery company, had the turret removed and a blade fitted then sold to a farmer to clear Land for five hundred pounds. We had coffee then headed off to longreach arriving just before lunch.Set up camp then had a cuppa.After lunch Warren and I went and had a look around the Stockman Hall of Fame,Warren brought a cow leather hat and myself a necklace. Headed back to Camp where the B's were set up and we had another cuppa. After having a cuppa we all went for a walk up the river. No time for fishing today and when we got back it was time for happy hour,then a very tough steak sandwich for dinner
1st July
We all went into town for a look around had a good coffee then to IGA a few stock ups.could not get over the price of fruit and vegetables,Tess tomatoes $14:99,Banana's $3.45.so no tomatoes or Bananas.Back to camp.After chilling out,shopping is so tiring.we went for a walk,Warren went fishing. Put Roy's fire on,which is a old ford 7inch brake drum as it is starting to get cold. It is the coldest night I have felt.We are heading away tomorrow