Wednesday...4 August

Ok so we left the Territory via Threeways Roadhouse, windy as all hell and trying to rain. Travelled on to a wayside stop called Avon Downs (windier than threeways), which turned out to be over the road from the last Police station in the Territory. We made camp and spent the rest of the day watching them pull over most of the vehicles passing that way for general vehicle inspections and RBT (it was a public holiday in the Territory). They missed us as we had already parked for the day.

Next day we headed off down the road all the while being bucketed by an incredibly persistant crosswind, crossing  the border into Queensland and onto Camoweal and Mt Isa, which seems bigger than last time we were there. We did not stop as parking for us was near impossible. I would have liked to stop and top up at the local supermarket but signage was minimal thus making it difficult to be in the right lanes at the right time and parking was hopeless. We decided to continue to Cloncurry. Probably Cloncurry is a fine little place but it was ruined for me by the caravan parks attitude. Maybe another day we will look at the sights of Cloncurry, including memorials to the Mary Kathleen mine which was the first uranium mine in Australia (long closed now). I always remembered that mine during history and geograhpy lessons as a kid, given that it contained my name and my sisters middle name. Twice now I  have driven past the gates and wondered if it would be interesting to visit  Maybe one day when it no longer matters if I glow in the dark, I will stop and have a look!!  Cloncurry was the birthplace of the RFDS, and we all know Rev John Flynn had the vision to start it, his pic is on the $20 note. Perhaps it was after that that even he had the good sense to leave Cloncurry as I do know that he went inland and helped to invent and then teach the use of  the pedal radio which was the first version of todays modern two way radio, and such a help to the station people and outback folk of Australia. My luck he did all that first then went to Cloncurry. One day I will google him but for now it suits my purpose to remind you that Flynn of the Inland was an ordained Presbyterian minister who is remembered for his "Mantle of safety over the Outback" (The Pedal Radio and the RFDS). One for my mob!  Cloncurry was full of oversized cattle trucks, three and four trailer roadtrains and we did eventually find a Woollies supermarket and restock the fresh bread and salad vegies.

Today we travelled north from Cloncurry via the Burke and Wills Roadhouse, not surprisingly in the middle of nowhere and full of stuff no one really wants and with nothing of the stuff one really does want!!! (Food for lunch). Maybe this was meant to be, as we then had lunch in our van made with fresh bread and fresh bananas. Healthy and yummy. Much bouncing and breath holding on my part followed, as the road occasionally became one tiny little bit of bitumen to be shared by all, neccessitating the old one wheel on one wheel off when passing oncoming traffic. We arrived in Normanton which is on the Norman River in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Cattle country, big beef cattle all nice and fat ready for market. We are 70kms from Karumba on the coast and will visit it and maybe Burketown further out if we can handle the weather. We think we may have found THE place to sit out winter but the next day or two will decide.......

Tonite we went out to dinner at the famous Purple Pub. I kid you not! It is called "The Purple Pub" and of course it is painted purple purple purple. Meals were reasonable, service was happy, whats not to like? I did not have to cook or wash up so I vote it OK.

John Flynn Memorial near Threeways Roadhouse

Threeways Roadhouse NT