Thursday 31st May, Mango Farm, Daly River Northern Territory: Last week-end here was a “Re planting the Daly River” effort in which volunteers using some funds from the Australian Government Recreational Fishing Community Programme, co-ordinated by Greening Australia and the Wangamaty Land Care Group, worked to plant native grasses and plants along the high banks of the Daly River in particular where there have been large land slips, exacerbated by two consecutive wet seasons of high stream levels. (flooding). Some worked on foot, but others had to work from boats to plant at water level and above. With mosquitoes the size of military aircraft and humidity that “melts” human beings, the participants deserve maximum praise for tackling an important ecological problem in a practical manner.
This weekend at the Nauiyu Community across the river there is a Festival of Aboriginal Art that is attracting people from all over the place. This is a very big event, and there will also be aboriginal football teams playing so there will be lots of supporters travelling to be here, as well as Art lovers, some of whom will be staying at Mango Farm.

Back at Winton Queensland, the dinosaur footprints have been a unique challenge for scientists to try and preserve. They presently consist of 3000 prints that are believed to have come about during a dinosaur stampede across a muddy river flat when a large carnivorous species (Carnosaur) chased a tasty looking group of several hundred assorted smaller dinosaurs. Discovered by a gemstone fossicking station manager in the 1960`s, there has unfortunately been some deterioration once the protective mudstone was removed. The current housing has utilised the old timers’ ways of maintaining stable temperatures without air-conditioning. Rammed earth walls were constructed to provide insulation then with special aluminium insulation, a large sheet metal building erected over the entire site, using metal louvres on the outsides. A metal catwalk connects the rammed earth waiting & toilets area which is alongside the car park for easy access by most persons. The road in is well maintained, road trains not permitted, and many sections of bitumen, a standard vehicle is quite suitable, but a tour bus trip from Winton was also available.
We haven’t accessed the website, but it is www.dinosaurtrackways.com.au

Lark Quarry Winton area Queensland

Lark Quarry Winton area Queensland

The rammed earth inner wall is in the background, the type of material that has to be removed is also in the backround, and in the bottom left a concrete pad that once supported an earlier catwalk.

Lark Quarry Winton area Queensland

View from building housing dinosaurs foot prints back towards the carpark

Winton Queensland

It is amazing the things to find in the sheds behind the Winton Information Centre.
Takes hours!

Yep, all wheel drive!

Moisture laden cloud, some smoke, and the sun.

Arriving for a "Camp Kitchen Dinner"

Sunday 27th Northern Territory

Sunday 27th May, and a Tropical Top End day after overnight rain which dropped from the sky once the air was too saturated with moisture to stay up. So relief from humidity was short lived. This is the down side of all the green lushness written of previously. There was a large group attending the birthday “Camp Kitchen Dinner” with the yellow fluorescent lights, intended to discourage insects, providing an eerie light, and the overhead fans thrashing the air in an effort to create enough turbulence to disrupt insect dive bombing accuracy, all helping to create a “tropical paradise ambience” . Like most times people get together “on the track” everyone came intending to enjoy themselves and did, laughing as they ducked for cover when the rain came down. These informal “BYO and bring a plate to share” evenings are something quite special at the Mango Farm, and always great for meeting people.
Yesterday morning I was woken at 3.15am as a twin engine aircraft zoomed above the palm trees taking off from Nauiyu Catholic mission across the river, most likely the Royal Flying Doctor transporting someone to Darwin Hospital. That’s good service.
The neighbours on their way into Nauiyu on Friday had to stop and wait while a ten foot python struggled across the track with a large swollen belly of tucker, but Jeanette and I didn’t see it when we went in. We goofed going in anyway, as the newspapers arrive on the Monday plane!

Still the way it was then!!

Ward space, Underground Hospital Mt Isa

Medicine cabinet in Underground Hospital Mt Isa

Underground Operating Theatre, Mt Isa

An entrance to the underground hospital at Mt Isa, built during WW2

Daly River Mango Farm

Friday morning 25th at The Mango Farm Daly River.N.T. Driving from Katherine yesterday the vegetation is greener than green, waterholes, creeks still retain water and some larger bodies of water as well, clearly highlighting two consecutive wet seasons with adequate rain. So the palms and other tropical plants at the Mango Farm are looking at their best, as are the grassed areas. Added to that when we stopped briefly outside the Daly River Police Station, Gary & Rhonda our Hosts & friends pulled alongside, on their way back from Darwin with supplies, so we had the warmest of welcomes back to the Top End. At the Mango Farm more greetings from others “of those who stay”! made our arrival and feeling of being at home, complete.
Our intention was to get here soon after the water stopped flowing over the crossing, which it again was last week with the advent of some high tides, so our timing was fine, particularly as there is a combined meal night Saturday night, outside the camp kitchen, to celebrate a birthday.

Photos taken by others at South West Rocks

South West Rocks Show and Shine
South West Rocks -
May 20, 2007by Dennis
International Scout Owners Club meeting
View Album

Also for photos at South West Rock, from ISOCQ, www.internationalscoutownersclubofqld.com

Oasis Caravan Park, Cloncurry Queensland

A fridge and micro wave for the use of tenants housed out of the weather in a Telephone Box?????, it is near where Jeff and Christine held happy hours and sausage sizzles, so perhaps the fridge was handy there!!!

Mary Kathleen Open Cut Uranium Mine

A section of unmaintained road between the township site and the mine site

The next flood may be the end.

Access road into Mary Kathleen township site and mine

The mine was closed in 1983 and the township etc. auctioned off in 1984, so the bitumen roads throughout are quite obviously no longer being maintained.

Wednesday 23rd at Katherine

Arrived in Katherine Northern Territory yesterday Tuesday 22nd and came to the Red Gum Caravan Park, where they managed to squeeze us in on a vacant section not intended to be a van site, as all designated sites were occupied. They issued us with a double adapter in lieu of a designated power outlet, and told us to share. There were others that came in after us, parked on any vacant piece of ground, and electric leads running in all directions. The previous night we attempted to find room in a rest stop North of Elliot, but with no suitable space had to keep going until South of Dunmarra we spotted a little track in off the road through some light scrub, and there were signs others had used the old gravel scrape before us, so we stayed there.
We are seeing more ordinary sedan cars towing large tandem vans than we have seen for years. The other aspect that has increased is the number of Ford F250s being used.
And the number of times we find fuel pumps out of order is now a talking point amongst those “on the track” with information being regularly sort over the UHF radio. Having filled with LPG at Camooweal we had received a text from another traveller a week before that Barkley homestead did still have supplies of LPG, but once again having travelled over 200km with more than another 200km to go to the next likely available fuel, the LPG pump had that now familiar “Out of Order” sign. In fact fuel pumps have the visible signs of sticky tape on the transparent covers were signs have been stuck on, and at Elliot, the four spots of “Blue Tack” remain on the pump to make easy fixing each time the “Out of Order” is needed!!!!!!!! The Barkley Highway is however in good condition apart from that.

Mary Kathleen Open Cut Uranium Mine

Discontinued in 1983, the open cut today, the very blue colour sometimes causes the unwary to take a swim!!! to the horror of those that learn about it later. There does not seem to be animal or bird life anyware in the near vicinity. Unfortunately all that remains of what was probably warning signs are the carefully placed upright posts, the actual signs are ofcause missing, most likely stolen.

A general clarification ( posting, Saturday 19th May 07 at 0900hrs Queensland time)

Friends, just to tidy up several aspects that may otherwise cause confusion.
In Australia, the day & date shown for when the Posting occur ed is USA time and date!!!!(a later day than in Australia) of particular use for those wishing to know exactly where we are and when, or to contact us!!
Due to not having broadband outside of the Central Business District, despite Telstra advertising
we are reducing the resolution of some photos to reduce upload times which are around 30 minutes for a 2MB image. The latest posting is always the top one, and after the bottom of the current window, to see what has gone before, including the 2006 trip, it is necessary to access "ARCHIVES" which is indicated to the left of the window, and available with some left "clicking"
So if a photo may have some particular merit that would be enhanced if enlarged, then we will upload in high resolution, if normal or reduced resolution adequately displays the item intended, then in will be in a lesser degree of resolution which will not enlarge satisfactorily, nor be suitable for printing. That is at the locations we only have connection through CDMA mobile telephone .
(currently, most of the locations)
Now if you are wondering why we are not using "Next G " it is because even as recently as yesterday, Telstra Country Wide, at Mt Isa, cannot assure us that "Next G" is everywhere that CDMA is !!!!!!! So much for running Australia's Telstra from Mexico????????????????????????

Northern Queensland

This part of Queensland, ie Longreach, Winton, Cloncurry, Mt Isa, has a lot of history and as a result takes longer to explore and examine. So many museums it becomes an "intake overload".
Fortunately there are trips and physical things to do to break the pattern. We have averaged three nights at each location with relatively short travel distances between, camp is set up at the new site before lunch, allowing the afternoon for sight seeing, and booking on trips if required.
Anxious for tourism, many of the caravan parks have evening entertainment, and the two hours of "Bush Poets" at Winton is an excellent example, the laughter echoed around the park each night, and many took the opportunity to enjoy a roast dinner and drinks beforehand, catered for by a Winton Hotel, that delivered the food already prepared and kept hot. The hospitality at Winton Matilda and Cloncurry Oasis caravan Parks was exceptional.
Although we are moving on tomorrow we are monitoring a late season cyclone tracking towards the coast, in case there is a possibility of causing a rain depression inland, that could effect us.
There have been dark threatening clouds for the past three days and with so many floodways over roads, we need to keep alert to any likelihood of sudden downpour even though this time of year it should not happen, but!!!!!
The majority of our fellow travelers are seniors, not many families, no backpackers, and in this part of Australia more small caravans being towed by sedan cars. Another aspect to ponder is from Cloncurry area and around Mt Isa we are not seeing any kangaroos, not as road kill and not in the bush????

A use for wild pigs!

Roadside freezers where the hunters can deliver the wild pigs direct and place the carcasses in themselves.

Winton Queensland

Meteorites, dinosaurs, opals, and water that smells like rotten eggs, a totally different place!!
Very well preserved, interesting history, friendly people.

Yesterday mornings "Road Kill"

One of the mottly coloured wild pigs described previously as road kill. This one was on our way out to track dinosaurs. Put in a hard day, over 3000 footprints and we almost caught up to them, the freshest prints were only 93 million years old.

Outside the QANTAS Hanger at Longreach Queensland

At Longreach this is a little reminder of World War 2, that is outside an original Queensland And Northern Territory Air Services hanger.

Cattle in the Long Paddock

For days past every few km, there are drovers with cattle feeding in the Long Paddock, 5 km at a time, with 5 km between mobs, each mob having it`s own stockmen camps etc. In some areas the roadsides are completely eaten out, but in other sections there is still standing feed.

Road Kill.

Yesterday, amongst the prolific road kill, there were included Wild Pigs!!! We haven't seen wild pigs as road kill for several years, and the last time was also during a drought.
They were big and looked solid to hit. Red to ginger colour matching the soil, and the usual mottled black and white.

Inside the second container

As you can see the ladders and all the tools and equipment to do the setting up is also included.

There are large BBQs, crates of drinking mugs, urns. and goodness knows what else, otr at what value. But is it all justifiable? The men unpacking claimed it was cheaper than trying to hire the gear!!! I would need to see the actual figures to reach a conclusion I think.

Inside the containers

The containers are fitted out with shelves and storage compartments, holding huge electrical cables, fittings, radios, etc. I was told, everything needed to set up a location of powered sites, for a Rally, which they do have twice a year.

Even in the dead of night, it is an International!!!!!!!!!

After dark at Barcaldine Show Grounds!!!!!

The Campervan Motorhome Club of Australia are holding a get-together here, and this mysterious unloading of two marked containers was not only interesting from a Work, and Safety aspect but also from, a "whats in there?" aspect as well.

Dedicated Gas, or Duel Fuel????

We are at Barcaldine Queensland, and the trip from Roma has again shown the need for LPG powered vehicles to be duel fuel. At Roma the BP Service station assured us that auto-gas was available at the BP at Auigathella, however we found the bowser out of service, pushed on to Tambo, and once again, the bowser not working, so we did get LPG at Blackall but at 484 km from Roma, we were waiting for the engine to stop, and would have then needed to run on petrol. At Blackall the BP station had a diesel bowser out of order, and it had been for over a month, so it seems that the problem that existed two years ago, in regard to not enough maintenance crews from the fuel companies, is this something for travellers to be wary of.

Bottle Trees

Individual Bottle Trees in the paddocks alongside the roads are a constant temptation to want to photograph, but they never seem to be anywhere that it is possible to get a caravan safely off the carriageway. This was a very quick snap out the side window. They vary in the canopy shape, and each tree has its own individual features.

Roadside vegetation!

For hundreds of kilometers the roadsides have the weird sculptures of the noxious weed Prickly Pear. It certainly seems to be out of control.

Shearing Shed in NSW

We will publish more about this 20 stand shearing shed built in 1880, and able to hold 2000 sheep under roof awaiting shearing.

Currently in Queensland

We crossed over into Queensland on Sunday and spent the night in a town called St George, where the local show was in full swing. After sunset we heard what sounded like shots which scared the heck out of a huge flock of pink crested galahs that decided to relocate to the trees over our camp. Later when the real fireworks started it frightened them to the extent all our vehicles became "christened" with bird poo! The lowing of cattle started the morning, followed by long queues at the fuel bowsers while lines of cattle trucks and horse floats refuelled.Then when we tried to leave town, I was breathalyzed by to two policewomen.
Then we discovered that most of the show vehicles were "going our way" as we have arrived at the time of the show circuits, so we will try and get ahead of their schedule.

In a old flour mill at Uralla NSW

In the countryside, out from Armidale

Gostwyck Chapel, built in 1921 as a private chapel on "Gostwyck Station" The Chapel is subject to flooding from time to time, and when such an event is immanent, all the furnishings are removed and placed in safe storage.

Ebore Falls, NSW

Although difficult to see through the mists, the falls are running well after overnight rain, and there is a significant drop.
Wonderful scenery with minimal waking.

A wet day at Ebore

Members of the International Scout Owners Club, Victorian Division Inc, making the best of a wet day on the "Waterfall Way" in NSW, at the end of which, they enjoyed a campfire roast dinner, by candlelight!!!!
Magnificent was an expression bandied about.
By waiting until the cloud lifted, the overnight rainfall caused a significant increase in the water rushing of the falls. A wonderfull place to visit, for those who are able to enjoy nature.

Sunrise at the Armidale Showgrounds in NSW

Another beautiful morning across the main arena at the Armidale NSW showgrounds, and after -2 degrees, the days are magnificent.
Autumn colours, and bare branches are part of a European type landscape, and Jeanette and I are heading for more Australian, warm climates????

This vehicle was the winner of the "Best Presented"

After years of restoration work, this Scout Traveller was rushed to be finished a week or two before the gathering.

Scouts on display at South West Rocks

International Scout Owners, at South West Rocks NSW

The weather was great, the social activity great, a very successful gathering.
Several vehicles were outstanding in the restoration that had been carried out, but those that were well maintained and original were wonderful to inspect. Needless to say our hard working Scout doesn't come in either of those catergories.