Katherine, Mataranka, Cape Crawford, Barkly Homestead , Corella Creek

                      

                                            Black Cockatoos at Daly Waters. 

Katherine was a stopover to do grocery shopping and have a night at the caravan park. 

Mataranka was an oasis in the dry. Lovely hot springs and palm trees. We stayed one night and moved on while Bob and Elaine relaxed for a second night. John and I called into Daly Waters pub to take a few photos and saw a flock of black cockatoos having a good old feed in the trees.

         

                                                                       Mataranka 

John and I stayed at the Hi way roadhouse before heading onto the Carpenteria Highway to Cape Crawford for one night. The Heartbreak Hotel is an isolated roadhouse and caravan park about 375 klms from the Barkly Highway and 100klms from Booraloora. Both highways into Cape Crawford are mostly single lane roads occasionally spreading out into two lanes. The Tablelands Highway back to Barkly Homestead gave us our best wildlife spotting so far. In the fist hour or so we saw eagles, wild pigs. A brumby, a bustard and a wild dog. 

       

                                              Brumby hiding from us

       

    

                                      An Australian Bustard or plains turkey

        

                                                Wild pig

        

                                               Single lane road, the Tablelands Highway

We met up with Elaine and Bob for one night at Barkly Homestead, saying goodbye again while we went on to a free camp 50 klms east of Mt Isa, after crossing into Queensland near Camoweal. It was a great camp the WW 11 airfield site. It had toilets, a dump point and shade. Lots of caravans and motor homes stayed with us but in no way were we crowded. Cooking on the gas at a free camp has become more familiar and even though it was hot it cooled down at night. A couple that were camped near us owned a coffee truck so we set off the next morning with hot cups of cappuccinos!

                                 

                                                        Coffee on the go!

We tried to book Richmond for a night but the park was booked out. We saw Corella Creek country stay in the camps book and we rang to ask if there was a site available. We got a pleasant surprise when we turned up at an animal rescue cum caravan park. Only three lots of us camped there but probably a good number as there was only one shower and toilet to share. Luckily we have our own on board.

      

                                                        Having a joey cuddle

      

                                                Making friends with Scruffy the goat

       

                                                       Helping hands at feed time

       

                                       The Corella Creek Country Store and Stay

                  

 There were animals everywhere and chooks, geese, turkeys and ducks. They had some goats and little joeys plus a black lamb who was very cute. I had a chance to feed him and cuddle a joey in a pouch. 

       

                                               Baa baa black sheep, this was his name! 

We rang ahead to Hughenden this morning and booked into the park for two nights. We only had a 220 klms drive today so took our time and stopped in Richmond for a morning cuppa at the lake.