11.08.07

NORMANTON

Packed up and left Adel Grove about 1000, road didn’t appear to be as bad on the way out and didn’t have any trouble with road trains as we only saw one on the dirt.

Stopped for toilet break at Gregory River and then went onto Leichardt River where we had lunch. Had at one time thought this may be a good place to camp but there is not any easy access to the river as the banks are very high.

Put $50 petrol in at Burke and Wills Roadhouse and went onto Normanton where we arrived about 1730. There are lots of anthills all over but in one area there were hundreds, quite outstanding.

Stopped in a nice park with good facilities albeit a bit tight. As we came into the town there were locals every where most of whom were black. Everyone was dressed up in their very best and women were carrying presents, the hall was just opposite the park. I made mention of this to the owner suggesting we may have a noisy night, his reply was “last time they had a wedding there the ceremonial knife used to cut the cake was taken away as evidence!”Enough said. Went for a quick drive around in the dusk, appears to be a typical outback town with the normal big wide streets with a big wide tidal river. Maybe promising!