14/3/2012

It was a bit cloudy this morning but no rain as yet. We were on the road by 9.20am and had a hugh distance to travel to make it to our next destination of Mt Isa. A whole 60kms!! We travelled through some of the most rugged and picturesque country I have ever seen. The stoney hills are just amazing. As we drove I kept looking for signs of Mt Isa in the distance but could see nothing man made. Then all of a sudden there was the Mine right in front of us. It's hard to believe a whole city can be hidden from view and in an instance it suddenly appears. We had a drive through town and stopped at a Super Cheap store for some needed items. Mary-Anne needed a 12 volt fan for when we don't have electricity and a few other items. We also bought some gear that we needed. Then it was onto the Information Centre to collect some reading material for the next leg of our journey. No expense was spared with this establishment. It was huge and also conducts mine orientation courses as well as having a mine museum and Riversleigh dinosaur display. The girls collected information booklets about every place between Mt Isa and Perth and all for free. We left the Information centre and found our caravan park on the outskirts of town. It is called the AAOK caravan park. We obtained adjoining sites and quickly hooked up the electricity so the air conditioners could be turned on 24/7. It was about 36 degrees in the shade. After setting up we went back into town so the girls could have some retail therapy. I was lucky enough to find a BCF for some retail therapy of my own. When we were all shopped out we drove out of town some 15kms to have a look at the Moondarra Dam. It is a great spot and would be a tremendous location for a picnic. We ventured back to the caravan park for happy hour or should that be HOURS.  

15/3/2012

It was raining this morning when we got up. Mary-Anne and Karen wanted to wash today and hang all the clothes out in the sun to dry. They are of the adaptive type and the rain did not deter them from their task. All clothes are now squeeky clean and packed away. I amused myself this morning by jacking up the caravan and crawling underneath to try and find out why the water tanks would not fill completely. I have been finding that the air is not escaping from the tanks and the compressed air in the tanks blows out litres of water when it appears they are full. After half dropping the front tank about 120mm I was able to see how the breather system was connected to both tanks. I followed the hose to a small outlet above, but out of sight, of the filler hole. With the assistance of a our wolf eye torch I could see that a mud wasp had built a nest in the hole. After the mud was removed I connected the hose, filled the tanks and the breather hose worked as it should. The result was two completly filled water tanks for the first time since we left home. After a lunch of picklets, jam and cream the girls went shopping and I visited my former District Officer at the Mt Isa Police Station. It was great to catch up!!!! The heavens opened in the afternoon and when we arrived back at the caravan park there was water puddling everywhere. The weather situation here is frustrating for us travellers. We have been told of flooding rains in northern NT and soon in Mt Isa and the Gulf country. It looks like we will travel to Camooweal and then have to turn left at the Three Ways and head towards Alice Springs instead of heading to Darwin. As Ned Kelly once said 'Such is life'. A caravanner's life is so tough but we are enjoying being so adaptable as we can change our plans whenever we want.

Half way between Cloncurry and Mt Isa

The Mt Isa Airport