AUSTRALIA...PART 12+1 0F MANY!

1.6.08.
8.05AM...NOT A GOOD NIGHT.
8.15AM...KETTLE ON.
8.30AM...CUPPA TEA.
9.00AM...SHOWER.
9.30AM...PACKING UP...GOTTA BE OFF SITE BY 10.00AM...SO BREAKFAST GONNA HAVE TO WAIT.
9.50AM...OFF WE SET...BYE BYE PORT DOUGLAS...BYE BYE EAST COAST.
10.05AM...HEADING TOWARDS MOSSMAN.
11.00AM...MAREEBA.
12.20PM...RAVENSHOE.
1.30PM...MOUNT GARNET CAMPSITE...HAD ENOUGH DRIVING TODAY.
2.00PM...PREPARING SPAG BOL.
2.40PM...WONDERFUL SPAG BOL.
3.00PM...LISTENING TO TELE...CAN'T WATCH IT...PICTURE ALL FUZZY...DOCUMENTRY ABOUT FLINDERS AND BOWDEN AND THE RACE TO GET TO NEW HOLLAND...AS OZ WAS KNOWN THEN BACK IN THE 18 TH CENTURY.
4.30PM...LISTENING TO IRAQ/OZ WORLD CUP QUALIFIER ON RADIO...COME ON IRAQ!...OZ WON 1-0.
5.00PM...PHONED MOTHER AND PAULINE IN ENGLAND.
6.00PM...SITTING NEXT TO VAN...THIS AS BEEN THE FIRST STOP ON OUR 2,000 MILE TREK TO AYERS...HOPE ITS GONNA BE WORTH IT.


2.6.08.
7.00AM...HERE WE GO AGAIN.
7.10AM...KETTLE ON.
7.25AM...CUPPA TEA.
7.50AM...SHAVE/SHOWER.
8.20AM...WEETABIX...YUMMY...ANOTHER CUPPA.
9.05AM...READY TO ROLL...LOADSA MILES AHEAD.
9.20AM...ON A SINGLE ORANGEY/REDDY DUST TRACK...GOTTA KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR ROAD TRAINS...100 YARD LONG LORRIES...YOU HAVE TO GET OUT THE WAY...THEY HAVE RIGHT OF WAY...I WOULDN'T ARGUE WITH'EM!
11.00AM...MOUNT SURPRISE.
12.10PM...GEORGETOWN...STOPPED FOR A LIGHT BEER...WROTE A CARD TO GEORGE...ALSO HAD A CHAT WITH AN OZ COUPLE GOING OUR WAY.
12.50PM...OFF WE GO AGAIN...BURNING MORE RUBBER.
3.00PM...CROYDON...CAMPSITE.
4.00PM...REHEATING SPAG BOL LEFTOVERS...AWESOME.
4.30PM...COUPLE WE SPOKE TO IN GEORGETOWN ARRIVE...KEN AND JUDE.
6.00PM...IN PUB...KEN RECKONS HE CAN BEAT ME AT POOL...NU HAPPY TO STAY AT VAN...HAPPILY READING.
8.30PM...BEST OF FIVE...3-2 TO YOURS TRUELY...A WELL ENJOYABLE COUPLE OF HOURS...I WAS LUCKY TO WIN.
8.50PM...BACK WITH NU...I'D ONLY GOT 8 DOLLARS LEFT...WENT OUT WITH 35!
9.15PM...HEAD ON PILLOW.


3.6.08.
7.00AM...SLEPT FAIRLY WELL.
7.15AM...KETTLE ON.
7.30AM...CUPPA TEA.
7.50AM...SHOWER.
8.10AM...WEETABIX...YUMMY...ANOTHER CUPPA.
9.00AM...SAID OUR FAREWELLS.
9.10AM...WHEELS IN MOTION.
10.30AM...BY PASSING NORMANTON.
11.00AM..DESOLETE ROAD...HARDLY ANY TRAFFIC...BARREN ORANGE LAND ALL AROUND.
12.10PM...BURKES AND MILLS ROADHOUSE...NEED PETROL...THEY CHARGE LOADS MORE IN THESE AREAS...KNOWING THERES NOT ANOTHER STATION FOR 150 MILES...ITS NOT JUST PETROL...A BACON AND EGG SANDWICH WILL COAST YOU 12 DOLLARS!
12.50PM...WE MADE OUR OWN CHEESE/CUCUMBER SANDWICH....CAN OF GINGER BEER.
1.15PM...ON WE DRIVE.
1.50PM...DROVE OVER A SNAKE...YELLOW AND GREEN...LATER WE FOUND OUT ITS CALLED A CARPET.
3.00PM...CLONCURRY CAMPSITE...BOOKED TWO NIGHTS...WE NEED A BREAK...PLUS THERE IS A COUPLE OF THINGS WORTH VIEWING HERE.
5.00PM...BACON/EGG SANDWICH...CUPPA TEA.
6.00PM...SPEAKING WITH OZ COUPLE...MENTIONED I DROVE OVER A SNAKE ETC.
7.00PM...ALL IS WELL...THINK WE GONNA HAVE AN EARLY NIGHT.


4.6.08.
7.30AM...NO HURRY...NEED A CUPPA MIND.
7.45AM...KETTLE ON.
8.05AM...CUPPA TEA.
8.40AM...SHAVE/SHOWER.
9.05AM...BACON/EGG/MUSHROOM SANDWICH...CUPPA TEA.
10.00AM...WALKING TO THE MARY KATHLEEN MUSEUM...ACROSS THE ROAD FROM WHERE WE ARE CAMPING.
10.30AM...READING ABOUT MARY KATHLEEN...IT WAS ONCE A THRIVING MINING COMMUNITY...MANY OLD MACHINES AND ROCKS TO SCRUTINIZE.
12.05PM...WALKING INTO TOWN.
12.30PM...THE JOHN FLYNN MUSEUM...JOHN FLYNN WAS THE PIONEER OF THE FLYING DOCTORS AND WITH THE AID OF A CHAPPIE CALLED ALFRED TREAGER...WHO INVENTED A PEDAL POWER ELECTRIC BOX...WAS ABLE TO SET UP A NETWORK OF COMMUNICATION ALL ACROSS THE OUTBACK VIA MORSE CODE...IT AS GOT TO BE THE MOST INTERESTING MUSEUM I HASVE EVER VISITED...AND IF YOU EVER COME TO OZ YOU MUST VISIT CLONCURRY!
3.00PM...HEADING FOR PUB...THIRSTY WORK VISITING MUSEUMS!
4.00PM...NU HAPPILY WRITING CARDS...ME HAPPILY TWIDDLING MY THUMBS...RECENTLY I'VE FOUND IT HARD TO FIND A READING BOOK THAT GRABS ME...I OFTEN END UP READING WOMENS MAGS THAT I PICK UP IN CAMP LAUNDRIES.
5.00PM...TIME TO ORDER FOOD.
5.30PM...ROAST BEEF/VEG FOR ME...NU HAVING RED EMPEROR[FISH]/CHIPS/SALAD.
6.00PM...FOOD OK.
6.15PM...WALKING BACK TO CAMP...ITS BEEN A GOOD DAY...I LIKE CLONCURRY...THE PEOPLE ARE FRIENDLY.
6.40PM...POPPED INTO SUPERMARKET...NEED SOME CHEESE.
7.10PM...BACK AT CAMP.



5.6.08.
7.00AM...FEEL GOOD...GONNA GET AN EARLY START...FAIR DISTANCE TO TRAVEL TODAY.
7.10AM...KETTLE ON.
7.25AM...CUPPA TEA.
7.40AM...SHAVE/SHOWER.
8.05AM...WEETABIX...ANOTHER CUPPA.
9.00AM...WHEELS IN MOTION.
9.10AM...POST OFFICE...LETTERS AND CARDS TO POST.
9.25AM...ON THE SAVANNAH WAY...HIGHWAY.
10.30AM...MOUNT ISA.
10.40AM...SUPERMARKET...NEED BREAD...BOUGHT 3 LAMB STEAKS...NICE PRICE.
11.05AM...DROVE OUTA SUPERMARMARKET CARPARK...ABOUT 200 YARDS ALONG THE ROAD THE VAN ENGINE CUTS OUT.
11.15AM...TRYING EVERYTHING TO START HER...NO USE.
11.30AM...CALLED RACQ.
12.05PM...RACQ MECHANIC ARRIVES...SOMETHING TO DO WITH FUEL FLOW.
12.30PM...TOWD TO GARAGE...CHAPPIE THER SAYS HE'LL HAVE A LOOK AND GIVE US A CALL WHEN HE'S HOPEFULLY FIXED IT.
12.55PM...NU AND I START WALKING TO THE UNDERGROUND HOSPITAL...THAT AS BEEN TURNED INTO A MUSEUM.
1.30PM...AT GATES OF UNDERGROUND HOSPITAL...IT WAS ONLY OPEN TILL 1.00PM!2.30PM...PUB...HAD A BET...WON 139 DOLLARS.
2.50PM...LAMB CURRY...WELL HOT.
3.30PM...MECHANIC CALLS...POINTS HAD BURNT OUT...VAN GOING FINE NOW?
4.00PM...COLLECTED VAN...BILL WAS 139 DOLLARS!...EXACTLY THE AMOUNT I HAD WON ON THE HORSES...EERIE!...THAT THE SECOND TIME ITS HAPPENED...THE AMOUNT I HAVE WON IS EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT I HAVE HAD TO PAY OUT...IS SOMEONE LOOKING AFTER ME?
4.15PM...BOOKED IN AT NEAREST CAMPSITE.
4.30PM...HAVING BOOKED IN...RETURN TO VAN TO DRIVE TO OUR PITCH...OH DEAR...ENGINE REFUSES TO START!
4.45PM...PUSHING VAN TO PITCH WITH AID OF OZZIES.
5.00PM...PHONED GARAGE...MECHANIC SAYS HE'LL COME AND HAVE A LOOK TOMORROW.
6.00PM...LAMB/CARROTS/SPUDS...ALTHOUGH WE HAD ALREADY EATEN...WE HAD TO USE THE LAMB...NO WHERE TO KEEP IT COOL...NO WONDER NU AND I CAN'T LOSE WIEGHT.
7.00PM...GLASS OF RED WINE...NOT EASY EASING THE PAIN OF THE STRAIN ON OUR FACES...WE FEEL MAROONED...DEOOMED...WE HATE BEING INTHE HANDS OF OTHERS...OUR INDEPENDENCE GONE...UP AND TILL NOW I'D BEEN ABLE TO FIX EVERYTHING...I FEEL A BIT OF A LET DOWN.
8.00PM...ITS A WARM EVENING...SO WE ARE SITTING...THOUGHTFULLY IN THOUGHT.


6.6.08.
8.00AM...NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO TODAY.
8.10AM...KETTLE ON.
8.30AM...CUPPA TEA...LEMON FLAVOURED BISCUITS.
8.50AM...SHAVE/SHOWER.
9.20AM...BACON/MUSHROOM SANDWICH...CUPPA TEA.
9.30AM...TRY TO START VAN...NO LUCK.
9.40AM...PHONE MECHANIC...SAYS HE'LL BE HERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
10.30AM...MECHANIC ARRIVES.
11.40AM...VAN ENGINE RUNNING.
12.15PM...WE DEPART CAMP.
12.30PM...3 MILES OUTSIDE MOUNT ISA VAN ENGINE CUTS OUT.
12.40PM...PHONED RACQ FOR A TOW.
1.15PM...BACK AT GARAGE...MECHANIC SAYS HE'LL HAVE ANOTHER LOOK THIS AFTERNOON.
2.00PM...PUB.
4.00PM...LEFT NU IN PUB...WALKED TO GARAGE...MECHANIC SAYS HE'LL HAVE TO FIX A NEW CARBURETTOR...TOMORROW!
4.35PM...RETURNED TO NU AND TOLD HER THE NEWS.
5.00PM...LEFT NU IN PUB AND DROVE VAN TO CAMPSITE ON FULL CHOKE TO KEEP HER GOING.
5.30PM...PARKED VAN UP ON SITE.
6.00PM...TOOK FREE CAMP BUS BACK TO PUB.
6.20PM...IN PUB RESTAURANT.
6.30PM...NU ORDERS CHICKEN...I SETTLE FOR THE STEAK.
7.20PM...LEAVING PUB...AWFUL MEAL.
7.30PM...ON FREE BUS BACK TO CAMP.
8.00PM...OPEN A BOX OF WINE...CABERNET SAUVIGNON.
8.30PM...WE HAVE SOME TALKATIVE FRENCH NEIGHBOURS...THE WOMAN IS QUITE THEATRICAL.
9.30PM...CAN TOMORROW GET ANY WORSE?


7.6.08.
7.00AM...ALARM...GOTTA MOVE...GOTTA GET VAN TO GARAGE FOR 8.00AM...FOR CARBURETTOR FIXING.
7.10AM...KETTLE ON.
7.15AM...SHOWER.
7.25AM...CUPPA TEA.
7.45AM...EMPTING VAN...NU STAYING ON CAMP IN SHELTER WE HAVE TAKEN OVER NEXT TO OUR PITCH.
8.05AM...OFF I SET...VAN ON FULL REVS!
8.15AM...GARAGE.
8.35AM...WALKING BACK TO CAMP.
9.20AM...BACK WITH NU.
9.50AM...BACON AND EGG SANDWICH...CUPPA TEA.
10.30AM...READING LAST WEEKS NEWSPAPER.
11.40AM...FREE CAMP BUS BACK TO GARAGE.
11.55AM...MECHANIC SAY'S IT'S ALL FIXED?
12.10PM...OFF I DRIVE.
12.30PM...STALLS AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS!...OH DEAR...OR OTHER SUCH WORDS!
12.35PM...VAN STARTS AGAIN.
12.40PM...AT GATE TO GO INTO CAMP...VAN STALLS.
12.45PM...VAN STARTS AGAIN.
12.50PM...BACK WITH NU EXPLAINING.
1.10PM...BACK AT GARAGE.
1.25PM...MECHANIC...NAMED LAWRENCE...[WELL WE'VE KINDA GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS]...STARTS DISMANTLING CARBURETTOR.
2.10PM...HE CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM...HE'S CLEANED ALL THE PIPES AND MADE SURE THE PETROL IS FLOWING.
2.40PM...THE CARBURETTOR IS ALL BACK TOGETHER AND THE VAN ENGINE SOUNDS GOOD...BUT HE CAN'T PROMISE US ANYTHING...IN 10 MINS TIME IT MIGHT NOT SOUND SO GOOD...LEAST HE'S HONEST!
2.50PM...DROVE BACK TO CAMP...BOUGHT COOKED CHICKEN ON THE WAY...VAN DIDN'T STALL ONCE...OUR FINGERS ARE CROSSED!
3.15PM...I'M NOT A CHICKEN LOVER...BUT WE WERE HUNGRY.
3.45PM...PUTTING EVERYTHING TIDILY BACK IN VAN.
4.45PM...CHECKED OIL.
5.00PM...TURNED IGNITION....SHE STARED OK...FINGERS CROSSED FOR MORNING.
5.30PM...GLASS OF RED.
7.15PM...HAPPILY CHATTING...FRANCINE...OUR THEATRICAL FRENCH NEIGHBOUR POPS HER HEAD ROUND THE CORNER AND DECLARES THAT SHE IS OF TO THE KROAKY KAREOKE...EARLY SHE HAD SAID SHE WASN'T GONNA GO...OBVIOUSLY HAVING HAD A FEW GLASSES OF WINE...SHE HAD DECIDED DIFFERENT.
7.30PM...NU AND I DECIDE TO FOLLOW HER.
7.45PM...I THINK THIS IS GONNA BE A GOOD EVENING.
10.30PM...I DID ATTEMPT TO SING WITH SOME GIRL...BUT I GOT THE WRONG SONG.
11.15PM...THINK I'VE DRUNK TO MUCH.
11.35PM...GOOD NIGHT!


8.6.08.
7.00AM...I FEEL OK...NU SAYS I SHOULD HAVE A SORE HEAD.
7.10AM...KETTLE ON.
7.25AM...CUPPA TEA...WONDERFUL!
7.40AM...SHAVE/SHOWER.
8.05AM...WEETABIX...WONDERFUL.
8.40AM...PACKING UP.
9.00AM...VAN STARTED OK...ON THE ROAD AGAIN.
11.00AM...RED DUSTY ROADS...THE TOWN OF CAMBOWEAL...NEED PETROL...1.89 DOLLAR A LITRE!
1.10PM...BERKLEY HOMESTEAD...GOTTA FILL UP WITH PETROL AGAIN...NOT GONNA LET HER RUN LOW...2.05 DOLLAR A LITRE!...HAD A CHEESE/CUCUMBER SANDWICH...FLIES EVERYWHERE.
3.40PM...TENNANTS CREEK...1.79 DOLLARS A LITRE.
3.50PM...CAMPSITE.
4.10PM...CAMPSITE BAR.
6.00PM...BAKED BEANS ON TOAST WITH MUSHROOMS.
8.00PM...HEAD ON PILLOW...DONE 500 MILES TODAY...I'M TIRED.