26th Sept, Mt Isa to Winton

Well we're still alive, aint fried or anything, so we're gonna try and make up the distance we lost yesterday and move on to Winton, its a bit of a stretch, nearly five hundred km, which means about six hours on the road, so up and at em!!!

The roadblock's gone, just leaving the smoke on the horizen, which looks more like a cloud, so off we go with a smile on our face and spring in our step.

Apparently, we're in the Waggaboonyah (yea, I checked the spelling) mountain range, so that explains all the winding roads and on the Landsborough Highyway, which to those who know, explains the lumpy roads. Christ, these roads are crap. Every so often, the road dips and in these dips is another dip and you cant see them coming, not good. Not only that, the road seems to made up in waves. Riding a bike down this road is not the best experience I've ever had. Riding the bike accross the waves, gives it a boing, boing affect. Worse is the dips, the bike hits the dips and the seat disappears, only to come up with a slap just as we hit the second dip. Lin sitting behind me is not pleased, so I get a whack. It seems like I'm travelling Australia going boing, boing, slap, slap, whack, whack.

 I hate the Landsbrough Highway. The speed limit here is 110k's an hour. No F*@king way, not if I wanna survive this journey, If I live... me rear end would'nt make it and I cant see anyone offering it the kiss of life, so speed's down to around 80/90kmh. Believe me, this was a long day.

Finaly we make Winton. We dont do any looking before we book into the Northern Gregery Hotel, Yea I know it was cheap ($60) , but I thought we just got lucky, just dont happen does it. Room wer'nt to bad as long as you didn't mind the cobwebs round the picture rail and yellow stained sink. The bathroom.. well that was something else. Only one in action, no lock, floor slimy and the walls we're so covered in old soap, someone had written their name in it. Oh well, its only for one night, If we ever come back, we'll camp..

Smoke everywhere but we are still on the road and moving..

Pretty stuff in a shop in Winton...

These are called Vulgars.....

Red dust and sun.... cant beat it...

 ok, yellow dust and sun...

These two emus were made of metal and called Fred and Ginger..

The Northern Gregory hotel...nice 1940's reception, ok room, rubbish bathrooms... met a lovely couple called Maryanne and Stephen here, they have invited us to their mountain retreat in Tasmania next time we are here...saw the piccies  FANTASTIC and we will be going...

This is the town and home of the Waltzing Matilda song.......