Richmond 16th September

Situated on the Overland's Way,halfway between Townsville and Mount Isa, the town of Richmond sits on the banks of Queensland's longest river the Flinders.
Richmond has the world renowned Kronosaurus Korner where you will find some of the most unbelievable fossils and dinosaur skeleton in Australia. We stayed at the caravan park over looking Lake Fred Tritton which is a great swimming and fishing area for the town and apparently the Richmond fishing Classic had just finished before we arrived. We went fishing the next day and I only caught weed. A young country boy aged about 10 and his cousin were dropped off by his mum for a bit of fishing. What an entertaining morning it was, he was telling us how to catch the best fish, said his cousin had no idea as she was from the city,(Cloncurry) While he was catching little fish for bait for us as well I happened to look down and here's this huge Barra about 80cm swimming past under the wharf we were standing on. And yes we did have our lines all in the water but about 20 metres out from us and you guessed it the barramundi was right beneath our feet. Around lunchtime his family arrived with their jet ski's so no more fishing for the kids. It sure was a entertaining day.
The following day we left Richmond and went onto Charters towers then headed north 40k to Fletcher Creek as it is a free camp.
Fletcher creek is 42k North of Charters Towers and the camp area is very large and it is located on both sides of a fast flowing creek. You can camp either side of the road by the creek and we turned to the right side of the road and picked a good spot and then set up camp and Warren Put the crab pots in the started Fishing for Bream and sooty grunter.
We stayed 5 days and caught numerous fish and each night got good feeds of red claw which are delicious to eat and taste like crayfish. Each morning we had 2 visitors for breekie then they would head off into the thick long grass, then at dinner time they would come back two gorgeous looking red roosters (photo below) and yes I did share my fish and red craw with them and it was really hard leaving them behind.
Thursday 27th September
Left Fletcher Creek and on our way to Funny Dunny which is located 25km south of Home Hill. We had heard some good stories about the camping and fishing there so thought we would give it a try.

Funny Dunny Park/ Bowen River Hotel

Funny Dunny camp 27-29th September
We have heard so much about Funny Dunny camp so thought why not go and have a look at it as the fishing sounded great. Funny Dunny camp is about 25km south of Home Hill and is signposted "Wunjuna" Township, you turn off the bruce highway and head along 15k of dirt road into a very small camp area. Sadly there were plagues of bloody midges that drove us mad at night plus no TV to watch the footie final Bulldogs/ Storms so we made up our minds and left and headed for an old country pub that was in a brochure we had, anyway we had no luck with the fishing so may as well find a better place to camp. We had phoned ahead and yes the Bowen river pub had good telly reception and yes they were going to have the football final on so off we went.
Bowen River Hotel 29th sep to 2nd Oct.
Bowen River Hotel is 32km west of Collinsville which is just over 80km south east of Bowen. We arrived just after 3.00 and found we were the only ones camping at the back of the pub, for $10 per night it was a great deal with hot showers and toilets provided. What a great couple that run the pub Claire & Ringo,it's been a long time since I have called anyone Ringo since my uncle Ring. Ringo took Warren down to the Bowen River and showed Warren the best spots for fishing. Not long after we had set up camp there was this real loud scrapping dragging noise coming from the roadway outside the pub then a vehicle appeared up the driveway a 4wd towing a boat trailer that had no wheel on one side only the rim was dragging along the road. They parked next to us and unhooked the trailer with the boat on it and apparently one of the leafs on the trailer gave way and then the spring hangers snapped off the chassis and it all landed on the road. Once Kerrie and Cory worked out what parts they needed they hopped into the car and headed back home to Mackay to get the parts and they said we will see you guys tomorrow and off they went. Sunday about lunch time they arrived back to start fixing the boat trailer then once it was fixed they would be heading home straight away so they could watch footy at home. It was late afternoon before the trailer was repaired so we talked them into staying the night and watching footy at the pub with us. The pub had a few locals from Collinsville and local station owners coming out for dinner and watching the footy.Turned out to a great night,great company, great food,and great pub. The Bowen Creek Pub was established about 1860, then the building was donated to the National Trust of Queensland in 1974 by Ted Cunningham of Strathmore Station.it lay abandoned until 2003 when it was rebuilt. Such a lovely place for chilling out and fishing,that's on our list to go back some time.

Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta National Parks

Wednesday 5th September
Uluru is 443kms from Alice Springs.
The whole National Park is a World Heritage area for both it's natural and cultural values. Uluru (Ayes Rock) is 348 metres high and 9.4 km long.
Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) Aboriginal meaning many heads is a series of 36 rounded pecks the tallest being some 200 metres taller than Uluru.
We Arrived at Uluru just after lunch and stayed at the camping ground as no free camping at Ayers Rock so $36 a night for unpowered $45.00 for powered we decided on unpowered set up camp then packed a bag with wine,beer,cheese and crackers then headed off for the sunset over Uluru. What a lovely relaxing time waiting with about 100+ other people also waiting forth sun to set over the rock. After dark we headed back to camp about 8.30 and guess what no where to park the prado as they put a camper trailer in the car parking bay where we had parked also on the other side of us a dam whoosh bang van with two froggies in and they were parked just about on top of us so for 2 night no dam sleep Whoosh bang,whoosh bang all night for those that don't know what a whoosh bang is its a van that has a side sliding door. Thursday morning up early so we could watch the sunrise up by 5.30 out the door by 6.00. We took the gas cooker and some bread so after the sunrise we had a cuppa and toast in the carpark to warm up. Temperature at daylight was 3 degrees so bloody cold. After breekie web drove back around to where the track goes up the rock (Uluru) as there was no wind Warren would have the chance walk up Uluru as no many opportunities as its always windy and they shut down the climb. My hip is still playing up and as it is so bloody steep I was a bit sick of myself for not be able to walk it so decided Instead to walk around the rock which was also hard going walking in soft powdery dirt like walking in soft sand. It took Warren 1hour 40 mins from the carpark and return including spending 30 minutes at the summit.
Warren has a video of his descent that will be posted at a later date after Melinda is able to edit and post it for us. We left Uluru and went the 50 k onto the Olgas and found a great place for a picnic lunch. Just as we where unpacking another couple from Germany decided they wanted the picnic table all for themselves (seats at least 12 ) and we said we will share the table with but they got the shits and packed up and went to another table and spread out all their gear. They had words in german about pack up then left oh well we had the table to ourselves. Must try this tactic again when we have whoosh bangers around us. We then went into the Olgas Warren and I walked the gap track and I got half way then decided I had had enough of gaps they all look the same some with rocks some with stones so I left Warren to finish the walk and I went back to the car park. There was another walk about 7.4k which took about 4 hours getting to late for that one so headed back to camp.
Friday 7th
Left Uluru and now driving back to Alice Springs, we were going to stay at the Wintersun caravan park where our friends Ken and Marguerite are staying but after ringing up and wanting to book for a night the manger wanted my credit card details and i wouldn't give them to her I didn't like the caravans parks owners attitude so after driving the 500 k into alice Springs we stopped at the Heavitree caravan park and set up camp with television reception so we could watch the NRL semi finals. Go the doggies eh!!

Alice Springs

Alice Springs is the centre of Australia
Max Temp 19-36
Min Temp 4-21
Annual rainfall 279mm
Population 28,000
History
On the 11 March 1871 an Overland Telegraph Line (OTL) surveyor,William Mills discovered a waterhole and named it Alice Springs after the wife of Charles Todd the superintendent of Telegraph for South Australia.
Arrived in Alice Springs just after 11.00am, called into NT Vehicle registry so we could find out about the law with our windscreen. Only have 28days to get fixed so up the road to a windscreen shop, book in, then on to a van park drop off the van so we can get the car sorted out. Drop car off then walked into town while waiting hoping to get a haircut, been trying since Darwin. That was no luck with two hairdressers they don't take booking you just que up like a barber shop. Let's hope better luck tomorrow. Got a phone call around 3:00 to say car was ready to pick up with the new windscreen fitted. We then drove up the road to the inspection centre and queued up in the line of vehicles that were waiting for inspection. Eventually it was our turn and the car went over the pits, brakes were Checked, steering etc then we were given a clean bill of health then the defect Notice was removed From Vehicle and we were
Wished a happy time in the Northern Territory by the copper. All we Are
Waiting for now is the mail that had been redirected from Melinda. Went for a look at the east and west McDonald ranges on Saturday then got back in time to see the All BLeeeecks wip the Aussies in union.
Sunday 26th
Went to kmart to stock up on small gas bottles, a 12v dust buster vac and some other items we Needed, then noticed cars Parked everywhere on the side of the highway and everybody looking north with their cameras ready, at the roundabout I asked a lady what was going to happen and was told a hall of fame Truck procession was Coming. We parked on the side Of The road as Well as we could see The line of Vehicles Coming.
What a great spectacle with all the highly polished vintage and new trucks honking their air horns and driving real slow and the driver and passengers waving to all the crowds. Next to the van park there was a Sunday market happening so we decided to go a have a look see. The usual shit that we all throw away at home was there and the local abos were going through the clothing boxes trying to update their wardrobe I suspect. Warren was eyeing up a second hand push bike suitable to stick on the back of the caravan and ok for both of us to ride, the older guy selling it said it was his sons and had been sitting in the shed for two years gathering dust, he had $80 on so Warren offered $30 and got it for $50 so he rode it back to camp where he freed up the brakes, gears then adjusted the seat and it works good. Ideal for a cheap bike that is going to get covered in red dust and crap.
Monday 27th
Went into town decided to have a look around. Our new found friends Ken & Marguerite rang they just arrived in Alice Springs,so we met up with them and had lunch together.
Well at long last I got my hair cut. I don't think she was having a good day would hardy talk and only took about 20min. Lucky I am wearing hats. After the bad mood hair dresser,went over to Ken and Marguerite for a cuppa as Ken wanted a hand.
Tuesday got up early packed up and got van ready to take off. We went back into town waiting for the post office to open while waiting pick up some meat,bread and milk then onto a coffee club which we could not find. Ended up at a small cafe nice coffee but no 2 for 1. Finally got our mail after 3 weeks. Back to van park hitch up van and now heading south.