Mount Isa to Adel’s Grove 30-8-12

We had tea at the Irish club last night, the special for the night (if you buy a drink) was $12.50 for chicken schnitzel, salad and chips.  Tony and Jen got their meals and Tony had finished when I asked the waitress to see what had happened to our dinner.  They had lost the order and we had to  give it again.  SIGH.  We have decided that we will try for motels instead of caravan park  cabins in future.  The cabin at Mount Isa was very ordinary and cost $140 per night, our very nice motel in Boulia was $88.

We had an uneventful trip, the roads were a mixture of gravel roads and tar roads.  The ‘gravel’ at times was the large sharp red rock and Michael was a little worried after our puncture.  He drove a little slower to try to miss them (Tony laughed and said ‘good luck with that’).  Hehe the roads are entirely rock.

We passed a helicopter mustering cattle, it was flying about 50 metres or less above the ground, very skilful pilot. 

The country is harsh, but lovely, red sand, blue skies, wild flowers.  It is hot!

We made good time, arriving at Adel’s Grove about 2ish.  Set up camp and Michael and Tony assemble the Sea eagle to take it for a paddle.

Belle, Mikey, Asher and Jarvis (age order)

Nanna falls into the river

Pa and Granddad, launched the boat and Pa dropped his croc into the water, he scooped it up and threw it onto the bank, but not very high up, he asked me to get it.  I scrambled over to where it was on the steepest part of the slope (with no  footholds) and I slipped.  I was wearing my crocs (no grip) and I rolled 4 metres down the bank and into the water.  I landed on my feet which was good, but I was wearing my good watch and I was worried that it might stop. (it hasn’t, it’s still good).  The most embarrassing thing though, was trying to get me out.  The bank was up to my chest and I couldn't get up.  Granddad jumped out of the boat and told me to stand on his knee, another man camping nearby pulled, and between them they got me out.  Oh dear I was embarrassed.  Granddad gave me 9.9/10 marks for my efforts as he would!  I wasn’t hurt at all.

Tony damaged the strut on the popup roof of the troopie and the strut comes off the bracket.  He and another camper passing by manage to force it back on, but it it not reliable and will have to  be repaired.

It is 34 degrees

 

 

 

We cooked our tea and settled down around our little campfire, the night is quite warm.  Two days ago we were wearing our jackets and hovering over the fire to keep warm at night.

We were nearly ready for bed when Tony called Michael over to their camp, Michael called me.  CANE TOADS big fat mature ones.  Toad hunt tomorrow night. 

David, the lights you installed work very well.

Our camp at night with our lights on (plus flash from camera)