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.......

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...)..

24th Sept, Three Ways to Camooweal

Another road trip...... We're spending a lot of time on the road lately, not cos we like the driving, but going across the centre is the only way to go and the ones that know are right, there is bugger all in the middle of OZ and we want to get over to the coast, so once again, we're off.

Out early again, trying to miss the midday sun, those helmets might be a safety thing, but its like putting yer head in a toaster and waiting for it to warm up, which it does. (me ears are golden brown) Anyway, being on the road early's kinda nice. You get the smell of fresh burnt grass and the chance to dodge round all sorts of wildlife you can only guess at as we fly past, that's the small stuff, the bigger buggers are twice as scary and don't squish so easily.

For the first hundred or so kilometres things are just poodeling along fine. The bikes running well (cos I fixed it) And Lin ain't clumped me too much, so alls well. Stop, have a drink, stretch our legs and off again. Got another hundred plus to do before we reach Camooweal, so no hanging round. By now the sun's high in the heaven and even me teeth are sweating, me bum feels like someone kicked it and I can feel Lin squirming about on the back trying to find a bit of bum that can still feel something. Never mind, only another fifty km to go and then we can see if our legs still work. Bugger me, Roadworks, never mind, soon get through, hang on, whats that! "use gravel road" S*@t, the bike don't do dirt, cant go back, got to go forward, so I slow down and give it a go. I can feel Lin fidgeting and I know if I go to slow, she'll make a break for it and I'll be on me own, still, cant be too far. Nearly twenty sodding Km's that went on for, I can hear stones zinging out from under the wheels, me knuckles are white from trying to grip the handlebars and fast going numb, I cant feel me shoulders and me a*@e don't exist. soft whimpering sounds are coming from the back and some dickhead in a UTE, pulling a boat wants to overtake, Well f*@k him!. At long, long last, we finally make it back to the black top. Lin breathe's a sigh of relief.  I try to regain the use of me hands and numb nuts finally gets past. Thank Christ for that, made it and only twenty five K's to go. Huh! whats that???, more roadworks, nah, it cant be. I hear Lin softly say "Oh no" and the next thing we know, we're back on the dirt. We rattle on for just under another twenty K's, by which time we're both wrecks and I find I've been hanging on to the bike with me knees as well, so by the time we get int town, I have to prise me finger off the handle bars just to be able to roll off the bike. I feel really bad for Lin, cos I know she really didn't like it. I could tell by all the dribble and the vacant look. That's my girl, wipe her down. stand her up, and off she go's again (I really do love her to bits).
We end up staying at the post office hotel and get a room. (I don't think me fingers could take putting up the tent) Nice place, who cares, wheres the bloody bed? Night all.

Up and on the road to Camooweal..yes that is a sunrise you can see...and we have crossed the border and are now in Queensland..yippeeeeeeeeee

See more big un's.....again we have to pull over..

Yes John.... It may well have 5 flippin wheels but we aint buying it !!!!!

Happy chappy...

The detour from highway to dirt track, we ended up travelling 40km on this stuff! and no i wuz not a happy bunny...

ahhhhhh....back to tarmac....

This is on the garage wall as you enter Camonweal.... nice little town , population of about 20....not much there but the people were lovely and the place clean...

And this chap had his anti fly hat on... got to get me one of them...lol....

These were free home baked muffins the lady in the post office coffee shop gave us....pretty and yum yum..

 The post office hotel where we stayed, basic but spotless...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KELLY, HAVE A GOOD ONE XXXXX
So thats all for today...byeeeeeee, love to all x

23rd Sept. Daly Waters to the Three Ways Roadhouse

Road trip........ We're travelling cross country, making our way over to Queensland and as the Ozzie's say " its all on the outside"  just scenery as we travel through. So here we go with more of what its like.
We're getting use to the bush fires now and see a couple every day, some worse than others. The smell of burning can drift for miles and some of the smoke looks like clouds in the distance, some of the animals that didn't make it can be seen at the edge of the road, cant say its to nice seeing a big bloated crispy bull laying on the roadside..... As we pass, some of the fires are in full swing and the local feathered predators ain't daft and learned quick. As we drive down the road, we can see about twenty plus birds, eagles, ravens, hawks all sitting together on the road, at the edge of the fire, giving the smaller wildlife a choice, them or the fire. Suppose it saves having to look for food, it comes to you medium rare..... We found slowing down as we pass these fires ain't a good idea, its hot here at the best of times, add the fire and sitting by an oven with the door comes to mind. On the whole, the roads out here have been pretty good but you do get the odd stretch that makes up for the good stuff and without warning we find a hidden dip, bums leave seats and John gets a clump from the navigator.

Driving a bike is defiantly not for the faint hearted, heavy road trains let you know they've been this way and leave their mark. So now you've got a choice, drive in the dip on the nearside and risk Skippy making a dash across the road, drive on the raised ridge in the centre and spend the journey just keeping the bike going in one direction, then theres the outside dip. While driving here you've got to keep very aware as road trains are coming straight at you and are wider than their lane, sometimes to the point were even our bike has only a foot or so to spare.

Oh well ya pays yer money and takes yer chance, it certainly keeps you awake. Me, I drive on the outside, when a car or caravan comes along, I nip onto the centre ridge, then back as it passes, lorry or road train, grip the handlebars for all I'm worth, nip over to the inside dip, wait till after the wind smacks you like an invisible pillow, then back to the outside, all the while keeping an eye out for roo's bulls, eagles, possums and anything else that fancies ending life as a hood ornament.

We finally arrive at Three Ways, hot and bum wearie. As we get off the bike, we bump into a couple we met back at Exmouth, say no more, into the bar to catch up. A few beers later, their off and we book in just as the bikers we met at the last stopover turn up. Right, catch up with the road news (that was s**t, bounced everywhere) and we're heading for our cabin, air con and a fridge and all for the sum of $113.

Sod that, but Lin's bums worth it.....

Ok, just a bit more background, so you understand where we are...., we are on our way to three ways, which is actually the three way junction, one of which used to be known as Halls Creek (dont watch the film, it will worry the bejesus out of you and in its time did as much for Australian Tourism as a good smack in the face would do.The local area is now called
Tennant Creek, but it is still having problems and suffers a high crime rate and quite a violent environment, most of which is alcohol related.

 Here we go.....

Another stop another roadhouse, ....

Blimey...here we go....here comes the smoke...

Flippin ell !!!!! We canfeel the heat...

 Blimey... more ????

Wow.. they are getting to closer to the edge of the road, bet they close the road off soon...

Road trains, road trains and .....

Yes well, think its best to pull over for this one!!!!

And definately for this one !!!

Think you have the gist.....Big country, big roads and big things on big roads !!!!

Love to all, take care and be safe... xxx

22nd Sept The invasion and Katherine to Bitter Springs and Daly Waters

OK, now I know why they call the French frogs, they bloody croak all sodding night.
The camp uses backpackers as a cheep source of labour and at the moment, the've got an influx of French (aka, the frogs). They work in all areas round the camp and in the kitchen. Well last night they must have been working in the restaurant. 3.40am, they must have finished and decided it would be fun to make a bit of food in the campers kitchen which is only thirty or so yards from were we're sleeping. Not content to bang a few pots and pans around, their talking to each other as though across a football field. Now me and Lin are laying there, waiting to see which of us will blow first. I won, Lin go's bang and the next thing I know, shes climbing over me and unzipping the tent. I must admit, I lay there with a smile, while Lin rips the frogs a new a**ehole, I don't think they knew what they were taking on, never mind, I'll help housekeeping sweep up the mess in the morning..... Oh wait, they are housekeeping.
After Lin's few words of wisdom, things quieten down and we finally sleep all the way to 6.30. Gonna be on the road today so the packing ups gotta be done and Lin keeps popping off to see if the office's open yet. Listen, when Lin ain't happy, everyone's gonna get some, that includes management. She finally gets the manager and gets offered a full refund for our stay and free breakfast. (Lin declines the breakfast, the frogs work in the kitchen and we don't fancy any added ingredients). At last, we're packed and ready to go. Lin pops into the office for the refund and bumps into the owners daughter. (lucky Lin, unlucky owners daughter). When she comes out, we've been offered the rebate, our stay again in an en suite cabin, all meals and huge apologies. We just take the rebate.

Look at this flippin mess... I can tell you the owners daughter 'copped' it and rightly so... We had 4 days and three nights of this mess...and noise and crap.!!!!!

Knotts Crossing is behind us and we leave for Madiranka...empty roads, sunshine and ease... on the road again..

At last we're off. Half way we reach Madiranka ('Bitter Springs'). Theres a natural spring there, so we decide to give it a go. It's beautiful, never seen water so clear. No messing here, off comes the kit and in we go. The waters 33 degrees plus and so welcome to two weary travellers. We get in at one platform and the current gently carry's the pair of us a couple hundred yards to another, Out we get and do it all over again.

So here we are at Bitter Springs, Madiranka... The piccies say it all...Enjoy x

Refreshed and still wet, its back on the bike and off to our destination. An hour and half later, we pull into tonight's stop at Daly Waters. Off the main road and 3klm down to the end is the wackiest place yet. A bar, gas station and little else. The owner of the bar and attached restaurant has saved money on decoration by getting the customers to do it for them, using signed clothing, anything from flip flops to hats and everything in between, yep, everything, its its the only time Lin's let me check out someone else's knickers, mind you, I did spot her paying a lot of interest in a rather large pair of "y" fronts. Theres money signed and pinned to the wall, ID cards, driving license, student cards, if you could pin it on something, it was there. A couple of ice cool beers, half an hours reading the messages and its off with the kit again and into the pool. (Gonna get Lin to put elastic in everything to make things easier). Chilled and refreshed, a quick nap and its off to the restaurant for barra bites and chips, not forgetting the help yourself salad bar. Its been a long happy day and didn't get to much sleep last night, so its off to bed so we can do it all again tomorrow.

Inside Daly Waters pub and restaurant...hahahaha

Where do you start lookin ????

The thong tree...

Well.. thats what you call a landing..

The petrol station...

The only lights in Daly Waters...

Parked up outside the pub...

Ozzie humour.....

Girls, Steven, Family, Friends. Row. We're now travelling from the middle of nowhere to the middle of nowhere and seem to be having problems getting both a phone or wi-fi signal. I'm trying to update this day to day, but sometimes it just wont work that way, but I'll catch up when I can so keep checking. Don't forget, the clocks out here have gone forward an hour and half, making us eight and a half hours in front (i.e. 5.00pm for you is 1.30AM (the following day for us), but we'll work something out and phone soon. Love and miss you all. (OK, you to Row) xx