Week 4 & 5 Cloncurry - Karumba - Lawn Hill - Mt Isa

This time our blog covers almost two weeks of our trip around the Gulf Savannah

country as we were without internet for a while and now back in Mt Isa we're online again. After some maintenance to our vehicles and replenishing of supplies we'll be

 on our way towards Darwin on Sat 11th June and should arrive there in about 9-10

days. After being spoilt with weeks of sunshine and 28C, it's suddenly cold and wet

 and only 12-13C so back to warmer clothes for a few days. We'd been used to

getting up each day without checking the forcast as it was the same each day for 

several weeks. So shorts, t-shirts and sandals have been well used. 

Here then are just a selection of the many pics taken . Enjoy!

Enjoying a cuppa and a joke in Cloncurry's Gilbert Caravan Park.

In Normanton (enroute to Karumba) stands this replica of 'Krys the Savannah King'. Krys at 8.63m, was the largest authenticated saltwater crocodile ever captured in the world. It was shot in 1957 in the Norman River by Krystina Pawlowski, one of the many crocodile shooters operating in the area at the time. The name it was given reflects the feats of this lady.

Also in Normanton at the historic Railway Station, the Gulflander runs between here and Croydon. This line was established after gold was found in Croydon. The low cost railway line with steel sleepers was designed to be submersible, allowing flood waters and debris to flow over the line leaving it intact when the water subsides. Today over 120 years since
 construction, most of the original steel sleepers are still in place.

Karumba

What a welcome to the Karumba Point Caravan Park toilet block with this sign on
the cisterns. We kept checking the toilet bowls before use however one time when 
Gerry flushed the toilet, he discovered a frog hanging on for dear life under the rim
of the seat. It's legs were frantically moving about but apparently that's their usual
behaviour when caught in this situation. Frogs reside at several caravan parks in
the Gulf Savannah country and sometimes can be found showering with you!
One was in the laundry sink when I did some handwashing and it didn't budge!

Beautiful Cooktown Orchids growing at the Karumba Point Caravan Park.

From one ocean to another - we've come from Ocean Grove, on the southern point
of Australia  (on Bass Strait) to the northern point on the Gulf - Karumba Point.

So boys what's on your minds?

Richard observes a 95cm Queen Fish being gutted at Karumba! Louise Fossey

(known in the park as Seagull) is in the background collecting fish scraps.

 Karumba sunset over the Indian Ocean with wine, fish & chips and good company.

    

Departing from Karumba - L-R Ray & Barb, Gerry & Maria, Kath & Keith (staying)

Richard & Marg and continue our journey....Thanks for your hospitality Kath & Keith.

Termite mounds - some as high as one metre are common in the area.

On the 95km gravel road from Gregory Downs to (Boodjamulla) Lawn Hill National Park we had several creek crossings and here's Ray just about made it through this one.

Here's Ray again - thought you'd help with the muster did you?

 Ray looks like the cattle are mustering you! Can just see top of your canopy!

First view of the Lawn Hill Gorge - WOW!

Indarri Falls in the Lawn Hill Gorge

View of the Lawn Hill Gorge and Indarri Falls from the Lookout

Jim and Caroline you swam in a gorge on your Oz trip and now it's us. What an experience! Canoeing was also available. Gerry enjoyed his swim but I just lazed at the water's edge which was refreshingly cool on a hot day- a bit of heaven on earth!

Oh nearly forgot - the sign did say "Freshwater crocodiles inhabit this area -

Do not approach or interfere with these animals! Take care if swimming!

Just spotted this dingo as we were leaving the park heading back to Gregory Downs.

Sign on the roadside leaving Gregory Downs followed by the Airstrip Runway

Nestled in the trees is our free camp site at Terry Hill Lookout between Burke & Wills Roadhouseand Cloncurry. Once we set up camp others soon joined us. 

In the outback on a clear and moonless night, the sky is ablaze with stars. 

Quamby Hotel (the only building) with its mural and rusty ute! 

On the Barkly Hwy heading west - the sign at the Fountain Springs Rest area -

'You are halfway through one of the most amazing drives in Australia....Enjoy!'

Mt Isa 60kms ---/---Cloncurry 60kms

 Heading to Darwin and that's where our next update will be posted.