Thursday...5 August

Spent this morning wandering on foot around Normanton town looking at seriously old buildings. The town has good signage all around the place pointing out buildings of interest and then giving a bit of information on each as to why it is of interest.  Even the caravan park is of historical interest. Well not the park itself but inside the park is a hot artesian bore that was put down by the govt in 1896. The flow is 140,000gallons a day of hot water that contains natural fluoride. It is used as the hot water supply for the amenities blocks in the park, and you definately need to add cold water for a shower. 
In a local park is a exact replica of the largest crocodile ever shot (recorded by the Guiness Book ppl), and it was a wee slip of a professional girl shooter who got him in 1957 when crocs were allowed to be killed,  this monster was 8.5m with a girth of 4m and weighed 2 tonnes. It is humongous. It looks like one of those oversized "biggest of" things used to highlight some towns. This is no biggest of, this was real. Scary people, real scary.
We came back to camp and then drove down to the local railway station at the other end of town. Once again it was eye popping on the museum side of things. Wandering around the station was a pair of brolgas who come and go but generally call the station their territory.
Beautiful birds, the wife is a bit timid, but of course the male is confident and happy to wander among the tourists and have his pic taken. The local station volunteers sell 'shares' in Mr & Mrs Peck and the money is donated to the local SES. "Shares" are recorded in a ledger and certificates issued!!  A novel way to support the birds and a local group.

Tomorrow we plan to drive the 70kms to Karumba for the day. Karumba is the base for the prawn fleet for the Gulf of Carpentaria and we are told that prawns are a good price. Naturally himself will buy some if they are affordable.