25th Sept, Camooweal to Mt. Isa

Would you believe it? clouds.... the first we've seen in about two months, almost forgot what they look like. We're off to Cloncurry today, yesterday was a bit of an ordeal, so today's got to be better, right,???? Na, things don't always work that way do they!

Things start off well, not a lot to pack, so a quick getaway. An hour or so on and we stop at a roadhouse for a top up for the bike and and a bite for me and the boss (gotta stop that, people stare).

We're off again, can't honestly say I remember to much of the journey, The road starts taking a lot of twists and turns and really gotta concentrate on the road, not only that, the road is starting to get a little lumpy, still, not to worry, we'll get to Mt Isa soon, grab a little lunch and rest the rear end for a bit. True to form it's not long before we're there. OK, fill up the bike and visit the shopping centre for a look round. It ain't none to cheap here. Its a mining town and the locals like to squeeze a few extra bob out of the 'fly in fly out' culture that exists over here. (even fuel was $2.02 a litre). Don't worry us, we're out of here, so on the bike and off on the road out of town, yer think!, just get to the edge of town and theres a cop car blocking the road, so we pull up. Lin jumps off and go's to see whats up, when she comes back she don't look to happy, apparently Australia's on fire and the roads closed for the next two hours. Well its only 11.00am so not too much of a problem, we'll just go back into town, check out stuff we cant afford , cant carry anyway. 1.00pm and we're back at the road block and have a chat to the cops. Seems like the fires been burning for a week and now reached the road. The cops have been at the road block since 9.00 and been telling everyone it should be open in two hours ever since and realistically should be open by four. That's it, no point in taking a chance so we turn round and book into the nearest camp site.
Tent up, we watch the smoke on the horizon and the cows (the smart ones) gather at the fence line, away from the fire. Oh well, at least the old bum gets a rest.,(so does Lin) and we'll have another go tomorrow.

Well, you would't want to fall out with this guy, look what he's carrying...

That road looks a bit smoky...

The fire......damage, black dust and sad tales of lost wildlife...

Heading in to Mount Isa...

Its a mining town, so quite industrial... and not very homely.

The road leading out of Mount Isa and the smoke is just picking up....

Yep... The road trains are parking up and the queue is backing up into town.. this is going to be a problem....

Well thats one way of keeping the ground watered and the cows that had made their way inland away from the fire loved it....so did we. Our tent was about 10 yards from this lot...

Home sweet home.... again...

The fire is calming, but now its all smokey...

Not too bad for a one night stay... this is also where I had a major wardrobe malfunction in the pool...'one' was in the cozzie and 'one' was VERY out.... (work it out, as I'm not saying anymore...)..