06.08.08

CLONCURRY

More blue sky but the wind was cool about 23 degrees. Left the river bank camp with lots of budgies in the trees and drinking in the river. Probably a good spot for fishing if you had the time and equipment.

Not much traffic which was good as it is a single lane bitumen where you get right off if you meet a road train or one wheel if another car, was in reasonable condition. Spoke to a truckie at roadside stop who was going to Boulia to pick up a truck and take it too Cloncurry, saw him later between Mt Isa and Cloncurry.

We got into “The Isa” at 1230 ish and were not able to find a spot in any caravan parks as it is the annual rodeo on this week, apparently the largest in the southern hemisphere. Once again we were not that impressed with it so we decided to go onto Cloncurry. Bought petrol at 122 cents and shopped at Coles. The country around there is very pretty with lots of rugged hills and trees, very different than the barren plains recently traversed.

We called into the old site of Mary Kathleen Township that was quite amazing, it had been a very large town but all that is left is the bitumen roads and the concrete slabs where the homes were. This used to be a uranium mining town that was closed in the 1980’s and all the homes sold off.

When we arrived into the park at Cloncurry and settled in we ran into the couple we had spoken to south of Bedourie, Debbie and Anthony. We had a drink with them and as they are in a Ute with their camper on the back we asked if they would like to have a look around here with us tomorrow.