HOME TO KARUMBA

AROUND AUSTRALIA TRIP 21/5/2007

After having Dinner with the Mums and Dads, Kids and Grandkids on Sunday night the day has finally arrived.
The day we leave on our trip of a lifetime, although with some sadness as well as the excitement of the next 12 months. Sadness because we will not see our Parents, Kids and Grandkids for the next 12 months, and we will miss a lot of changes over this time.
After saying goodbye to Darren, Melissa, George and Riley we started to hook up the van for our trip. First I tried to wind up the van jacks only to discover that the handle was now hitting the new taillights that I had installed. Out came the welder to extend the handle, after putting the welder away I decided to hook up to the car only to find that the stabilizer bars fowled on the outboard motor and stand. Out came the welder again to make another handle for the stabilizer bars and the angle grinder to cut out a piece of the stand.
Finally hooked up, time for a shower and then away we go, then find out that the car wouldn’t start (Flat Battery so we thought). Hooked up the Battery Charger, until we started the car. Finally left home at 10.30am and headed into Taree to check the charging system and Battery. A new battery fixed our problem.

At 11.30am we finally left town on our lifetime adventure, stopping for lunch at the lookout on the Thunderbolts way at the top of the big Hill. The view was wonderful crisp and very clear. After looking at the Map, decided to head to Inverell for our first night.

We are happy with the Gas conversion on the Landcruiser; Diane could even feel the difference from the passenger’s seat.

22and 23/5/2007 we stayed at Moree at the Gwydir Carapark on site W3 where the Thermal Pools are. We met Allan & Val Lee who lives at 3 Gannet Cr Old Bar and also Doug Clifton who used to own Cliftons Furniture in Taree, but now lives at Forster.

There are 4 thermal pools with temperatures of 34, 35, 37 & 39 degrees; we found that you could only stay in the hottest pool for a short time. Every Wednesday afternoon they have wine tasting (Woolaway Wines) which originated in the Hunter Valley at Broke, but is now in Moree.

Lindy from the Office at the Caravan Park introduced me to Jason from Harvey Norman who fixed our computer and set up the Web cam. I found him to be very good and he didn’t want to charge me for his work, so I gave him $20.00 for a beer, which was certainly worth it.

24th we left Moree and travelled to Mitchell Qld and stayed at a camp site called “Neil Turner Weir” which is 3.5km out of town on the Western side of town. The Weir is on the Maranoa River and has a very nice picnic area with toilets and electric Barbecues. We crossed the border at Mungindi and had lunch at St George.

Both Di and I can’t get over the number of Kangaroos killed on the roads out here.

On the 25th we left Mitchell heading for Blackall visiting Augathella and Tambo on the way. Tambo has a great roadside stop where we had lunch on nice green grass. After getting into Blackall at about 2.00pm we decided to turn left and head for Isisford where we camped on the Banks of the Barcoo River, which is only about 300 metres from the main street.

BARCOO RIVER ISISFORD

Diane had her first drive for about 100k’s between morning tea and lunch today, finding the triple trailer road trains a bit scary. Decided to have dinner at the Clancy’s overflow hotel. They had a baby Kangaroo at the pub that they were looking after as its mother was a road kill. Diane went over on her ankle on the way Home (Very Dark no Torch).

Today 26th we decided to stay at Isisford as the local show was on, which we found good with Sheep Dog trails, Horse events and the usual show stalls (Not Side Shows).
Started our Generator for the first time tonight, thanks to Bob who lent us some fuel as the only fuel station was closed due to the annual Show.

Went for a drive out to Oma waterhole in the afternoon, which is another camping area, but it is very dusty.

The camp fees here are $2.00 per night per car, which included hot showers and Toilets behind the Shire Chambers there were also septic toilets on the river bank.

After Isisford we went to Winton via Ilfracombe and Longreach. Roads were narrow until we arrived at Ilfracombe, but sealed.

We had been told that Barcaldine and Longreach were expensive by other travellers and we found that to be true at Longreach, I bought a packet of Mentos at the Service Station which cost $2.60, the next day after Winton at the small town of Kynuna the same packet of Mentos cost $1.40 (not a bad profit).

The countryside has flattened out now with less trees and huge open spaces. The road kill has decreased due to the open spaces and you only see dead Roo’s where a band of trees are near the road.
Weather is now very warm with about 34degrees and at night we are sleeping on top of the bedclothes in Summer PJ’s.

At Winton we stayed about 4 K’s south of town at the Long Waterhole with about 6 other campers. A nice spot were we had a campfire to boil the Billy and to cook Bacon & Eggs for breakfast. We must be getting used to this life as we didn’t leave the waterhole until 9.30am, with about 350km’s to Cloncurry.

Arrived at Cloncurry on 28th May 07 and stayed at the Gilbert Park Caravan village, which is nice and has very clean amenities where we intend to stay for two nights. We tried to set up the Austar Dish but couldn’t find the satellite. We even borrowed a Sat finder from Trevor and Margaret who were camping next door to us and he couldn’t get free to air reception on his dish either.

I called in to see Adrian at Access Electronics in Winton, who said that our Dishes weren’t big enough for this area. I purchased an 85cm dish and assembled it only to find that I still couldn’t find the satellite. Adrian came up to the park at 5.30pm and placed his meter on the dish and found the right satellite, we were on the wrong one.
I think in this area you have to be so precise and you need a good sat finder to find the C1 satellite.

We have had a look around the town and did some shopping before we head out of town on 30th. Went to the John Flynn Place Museum and found it to be very interesting with a lot of reading and two videos. Alf Traeger developed the pedal radios over many years, improving the radios as he went along, it was great to see their development and also the different planes that were used over time.

The Flying Doctor service is a great service for the people of the outback and is a credit to the originators and to the people who keep it going today.

Quantas started in Cloncurry and we went out to the airport where the original Quantas hanger is still used today.

Left Cloncurry at about 9.30am on 30th May after looking for a 10 litre plastic jerry can to put unleaded fuel in it for our generator. Stopping along the way for lunch at the Burke & Wills roadhouse. They have a camel there called Lulu. The Road became a single lane Bitumen road at places along this trip.

Travelled to Normanton and stayed at the Normanton Caravan Park for two nights. We will not stay there again as the dogs and aboriginals kept us awake both nights, as the aboriginals came home from the pub the dogs would bark.

On the 31st we went for a sight seeing drive of about 200 k’s. First we went to a Station called Broadwater where there are numerous Billabongs, with waterlilies and fresh water crocodiles. We counted 5 that day. Broadwater is on the Croydon road; you turn off to the right about 30km from town just after you cross the Norman River.

The second leg of our trip was down the Burketown road where you pass the Burke & Wills cairn, this was his last camp before he turned around for his trip back.
One kilometre before the Little Bynoe Bridge you turn right down a dirt track and follow it until you come to the junction of the little and Big Bynoe Rivers. We had lunch on the banks of the river under the shade of a paperbark tree (another nice spot).

1st June the day we travel to Karumba where we will stay for a month at the Sunset Caravan Park at the Point. It is only 70k’s from Normanton so we arrived at 10.00am. Spent the next two hours setting up camp, putting up the full annex, Austar, boat/trailer and rearrange the car.

Had an unpleasant surprise when I took the cover off the outboard motor, the cowling has been hit by something and broken, and we can’t understand what has done it. But after thinking about it if you jack-knife the van far enough it will hit the outboard motor.

Saturday we mucked around the Park all day setting up fishing rods, checking out the boat ramp and taking a drive around Karumba. Also called into an Engineering works to arrange for someone to come out and weld one of the brackets for the stepladder onto the back of the van, which had broken off somewhere along the way.

KARUMBA

3rd was our first day out fishing in the Gulf, we couldn’t go very far as the wind was up. No fish but we now know how the boat handles. Spent 3 hours on the water, Diane caught a big Green toad. Spent the rest of the day around the park and went up to the hotel to watch the sunset and have dinner (dinner was very good).

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we did some fishing one day I went out by myself in the afternoon and Wednesday afternoon we went outside but it was to rough for the little boat so we went up the river to the wreck where we fished the day before. No fish on Wednesday but the day before we caught 6 grunter, 1 fingermark and a flathead all undersize.

On Tuesday there was some very good Grunter caught outside, some fish were up to 600mm long.

Thursday was a windy day again and the weather has turned cold it must have got done to about 12/13 degrees overnight. As it was no good for fishing, we decided to go for a drive to the Gilbert River which was 256km round trip. We headed back towards Normanton and turned left at Maggieville station onto the Burke Developmental road (which is also an alternate route for the Savannah way). About 70km along this road we came to the Gilbert River Bridge, where we stopped for a fish and lunch. Herman, Marilyn, John and Robyn came with us and Robyn was the only one to catch fish.

They are about to build a new bridge over the river as the old concrete bridge has cracks in it, but is still able to be crossed at the moment. This is a pretty spot, where you could certainly camp for a few days.

I went to watch the bowls on Thursday night; well if anyone at North Haven ever complains about the Greens then they should come to Karumba and have a game.

Friday morning and the weather has turned cold it was about 10 degrees overnight and the wind is blowing. No fishing again today. Shops are either shut or only open for half a day as it is the Normanton Show this weekend.

With the wind blowing so strongly I have had to cut an extendable tent pole in half to brace the Austar aerial as is keeps losing the signal.

We are in for a treat tonight it’s my turn to cook dinner, if there’s no more diary written then you will know that my cooking did it.

Saturday and Sunday the wind was blowing again, we went shooting on Sunday afternoon (with the Camera that is). We now have photos of Brown Falcons, Figbirds, Black faced Wood swallow, Red tailed Black Cockatoo and Black Kite.

Monday morning and we are determined to go fishing today. The wind has dropped; we decided to go up the river fishing. On the way we put in the crab trap and scored one Jenny mud crab that we let go. Our fishing was successful with a bag of 2 King Salmon, 2 Jewelfish and some undersize Jewelfish. Not knowing the fish we let the Jewelfish and one King Salmon go, only to find out that the King Salmon is one of the best eating fish in these waters.

Monday night we played Bowls; Diane won both of her games but missed out on the trophy of a Bowls cloth from Karumba Bowling Club. I won one and lost the other by one shot.

Tuesday, I put the Landcruiser in for its 120000 km service at 7.00am. The service only cost $398.00, which was pleasing as I thought it might have cost more. Our next-door neighbour put our boat in for us to go fishing. We went up river trolling some of the way and fishing with bait the rest of the time.

We went up as far as the power lines, which is about 6km up the river. Total catch was one Grunter, one Mud Crab and a lot of undersize fish.

Tuesday night we went to the Hotel in Karumba for there 2 for the cost of 1 Dinner, which was very nice again.

Wednesday we went shopping for supplies in the morning and fishing at 1.00 o’clock. We got one more Mud Crab from our trap and then went to the Wreck, which is not very far up from the main town centre. Had a good afternoon keeping 5 good size Grunter. They are good fighting fish on light gear.

Diane’s seat in the front of the boat broke today, so we are trying to decide whether to get it fixed or to change the base and put the base into sail track so that the seat can be slid from side to side. It would allow for better vision if the seat could be slid to the side whilst travelling. (Do you think that would be a good idea TIM)?

Thursday I took John Wilson from Wollongong out fishing to the same place as yesterday, then up river to the power lines and didn’t catch a fish. It was disappointing for John because he had not been out in a boat up here before. Diane and I played bowls on Thursday night

Friday the high tide was early so we fished from 7.30am to 11.00am without even getting a bite. I caught our biggest Grunter (60cm) at 11.00am then 2 more in quick time and then nothing again.

Fixed the boat seat today before going over to the Tavern for a couple of drinks and to watch the sunset, which was a non-event. Had our first meal of Grunter for dinner, which was very nice.

Saturday 16/6/2007 we have been here over two weeks already, the time has gone quickly. I made some changes to the Bimini Cover on the boat today, which has given us a lot more room for casting our rods. Also put two fishing rod holders on the sides of the boat.

Our fishing trip today only produced one Grunter, which Diane caught out in the Gulf at the sand island. Coming back from the island you could feel the difference in temperature, as you got closer to shore. I think it would have been 10/15 degrees warmer.
Met a man from Bourke that had a welder (John), who welded up the broken bracket on the back of the van for me. It was the bracket that held the fold up ladder.

Sunday we pulled up the crab trap, as it was full of weed. Fished up near the wreck and Diane caught a 58cm Grunter. I haven’t caught a fish for a couple of days.

We then went out to the sand island again and saw a Barramundi being caught on a lure. When I was cleaning the fish there was a Spanish mackerel being cleaned. I didn’t think there would be either Barramundi or Spanish mackerel caught with the water so cold.

Diane starts her diet tomorrow so we went out to dinner at the tavern tonight.

The weather today is cool; it rained overnight, about 30mils. No fishing today stayed around the Van Park helping Herman van Essen with his wiring in his van. He had a short in the 12 volt wiring that took a few hours to find. Played bowls on Monday night.

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday were the same as Monday, windy and cold with some rain on Wednesday night Thursday morning. Hopefully it will clear up today (Thursday). Nothing much to do, so I’m writing this Journal in advance it is Thursday morning.

Diane has been on her diet since Monday, which is going good; we don’t know if she has lost any weight yet as we haven’t got any scales.

When it is wet or windy you can’t go fishing in the small boat and there’s not any short tours that you can do, so you have to amuse yourself by reading, (knitting for Diane not Ian) or TV.

My amateur radio is not receiving calls from Arthur Archer in Taree, so I have been reading the Manual and trying to work out why it’s not working properly. I have checked the connections and they seem to be OK but I still can’t get Arthur or the Travellers Net.

The Travellers Net is where you call in once a day and let them know where you are and what you are doing for the day. They will also take emergency calls as well and relay them to the Flying doctor.

Friday 22/7 was an overcast day again but the rain has stopped and the wind was only slight. I went fishing with John Wilson and I caught a sea snake. Some people get fish and others get nothing. You might be fishing in a spot with up to 30 other boats. Watched the games of Football on TV.

Saturday Diane and I went fishing again the weather is still overcast but a lot warmer than the previous few days. Today we went up to the Oaks, which is out into the Gulf and turn left and follow the shoreline for about 8k’s until you turn a left hand corner and you see the Oak Trees. The water is only about 700mm deep at high tide so you have to careful that you don’t run out of water or you will not get back. If that happens you are stuck there for 12 hours.

I caught a catfish before we had to leave. The motor was hitting the bottom until we got up on the plane.

We then went back into the river to the first inlet on the right and found a Croc sunbaking on the bank. We got some close up shots of this Croc; it was about 4 metres long. After that we went up past the wreck and fished in a couple of spots. We caught some small Grunter that we returned to the water.
Saturday night we watched the football on TV.

Sunday, Monday & Tuesday were all overcast, rainy and windy. Not a lot to do other than make some CD’s on the computer. I made a CD of Karumba Photos for Marilyn and Herman adding music to the CD.

I checked the crab trap on Monday and Tuesday, catching 2 males on Monday, one was undersize the other was a beauty. Tuesday there was 2 in the trap but both were undersize. It was hard launching the boat in the wind on both days.

Melissa rang on Tuesday trying to decide what to do with Bushland Drive as Mark is moving out on Saturday. After a few phone calls she decided that the best thing to do was to rent the house out again and to payoff their MasterCard as soon as possible. Both Darren and Melissa have achieved a lot in the past 6 months, paying off one MasterCard and buying the Pajero. Keep going you are doing great.

Melissa had to pick George up from pre-school on Tuesday, as he was sick. Rachel also said that Hannah was getting better.

Wednesday was too windy for fishing, Thursday and Friday we went fishing. Thursday was really cold on the water and we caught nothing. Friday was warmer and it was our last day fishing at Karumba. The fish still refused to bite; we didn’t even lose a bait. So we decided to look for Croc’s. We found one opposite the boat ramp at the entrance to a small creek. We took some really good shots.

Saturday was clean up day and load the boat onto the car as we were leaving on Sunday. We went to the tavern with Marilyn and Herman that night and had a great meal except for Diane as she had to watch us eat. (Di is on her Diet and going well).

Sunday we left Karumba and headed for Gregory Downs where we camped on the Bank of the Gregory River (sorry Greg they didn’t have beer glasses with your name on them). It is a beautiful spot so we decided to have two nights here. We met up with John Wilson and Robyn Astle who were also at Karumba.

GREGORY DOWNS
On Monday we decided to do a round trip taking in Adel’s Grove, Lawn Hill Gorge and Riversleigh Fossil Fields, returning to Gregory Downs via the Camooweal to Gregory Downs road. Well what an interesting day, started out with the roads even though they were gravel were very good until we got to the Century Mine turn off, then they progressively deteriorated from there to the stage where the last forty kilometres were black soil and vehicles had dug groves in the road that were up to 500mm deep. The Landcruiser was hitting underneath on some of the groves where you had no track to get through.

ADELE'S GROVE