Normanton is ready for the Rodeo

Parade in the town followed by some fun events.
Time trial racing, riders having a few runs at a 200 meter sprint. Winner finishing at 69.9kph.
Cross cut saw racing
Ordinary beer (Great NorthernLäs mer
Normanton Rodeo

Boots.
Big hats
Bling jeans (on the girls)
Lot of steers.
Beer (oh dear - XXXX and Great Northern are dreadful)
Country music
The treasures in the Rodeo crown are the horses. Beautiful.
If youLäs mer
Day 3 of the rodeo

Truth is, some of the events are cruel. I like the events where the horses look like they are loving the chase. Not so keen on bucking broncos or steer wrestling, the animals are clearly distressed.Läs mer
Karumba until Sunset

This is where “the Outback meets the sea”.
Only a stones throw from Normanton but there is a gulf of difference. Big cowboy hats are swapped for costal fisher person vibe.
There are still tooLäs mer
Leichhardt Falls - Bog #1

What an incredible free camp. We will stay 2 nights at least.
There is no water falling at the moment - it is the Dry after all. During the wet season the entire rock shelf where our van is parkedLäs mer
Our neighbours two crocs on a rock

Leichhardt Falls. Great spot overlooking the gorge and a couple of crocs enjoying the sun.
Gregory River

The camp sites we find just keep getting better.
On the swiftly running river, with crystal clear water, shades with Melaleuca and Palms.
NO CROCS SO WE HAVE BEEN SWIMMING!
Very few other campersLäs mer
Not my first Rodeo

Gregory Downs is hosting a Campdraft competition. It’s a much more laid-back event than Normanton. The beer is cheaper and I don’t think the Amulance drivers will have much to do.
There are 127Läs mer
Critter update from the Gulf

Several Crocs - none in our camp sites😶
Great Egret; Little Egret; Pied Egret; Black Necked Stork.
Rainbow Bee-Eater (stunning bird)
Bush Thick Knee (Curlew), Apostlebird, little Wodswallow,Läs mer
Boodjamulla - night walk

If someone is telling you about Boodjamulla gets all dreamy eyed and starts waxing lyrical, it’s because it deserves the wrap.
We did an evening walk along the Gorge, and surprisingly, we were theLäs mer
Boodjamulla - morning paddle

Not quite the crack of dawn, but we were the first people on the water and the snapping turtles were still out as we paddled. The colours were so different from the previous evening.
There is a shortLäs mer
Riversleigh - via Miyumba Bush Camp

As far as World Heritage sites go, to the west of us there is only Kakadu, Uluru, and Shark Bay. Here, we are at Riversleigh (Australian Fossil Mammal Site).
The laying down of vast quantities ofLäs mer
Camooweal

Overnight free camp.
I am getting out the Binoculars. We are on the banks of Lake Canellan which is the most southerly of the two billabongs just south of town. Plenty of bird varieties on show.Läs mer
Mount Isa

Restock.
It has been some weeks since we had a choice of produce in a supermarket. Most of us live in a very luck country. There are however some significant discrepancies. Not just getting access toLäs mer
Damn - Mount Isa

A treasure just 18k out of town is Lake Moondarra . Well used on the weekends.
The Dam has a surface area just slightly smaller than Sydney Harbour.
From a high vantage - the views of theLäs mer
Warrigal Waterhole (Painted Rocks)

A calm energy and peacefulness in this place.
My bicycle seat however, was not calm on the way in here , so we will enjoy a period of reflection before heading back.
#93 - 238.03 U

We are staying in a free camp which is on the site of a former town that was built in rapid time to allow the mining crews to come in and start digging for Uranium.
Ore was discovered by someLäs mer
And just up the road - Turquoise Dam.

7km cycle up the once busy mining road is the Turquoise Dam. A rather romantic name for a big hole left by Uranium miners. But it is pretty.
Why is it so turquoise?
Love our bikes

So good travelling with a bike.
It extends the adventure, and lets you see places that you miss in a car. Riding a previously driven road is often a completely different experience.
We willLäs mer
Free camp

Not sure if this place has a name. Closest thing on Google Maps is Three Rivers.
Gregory River keeps calling.

We have completed the loop from Gregory > Boodjamulla > Mount Isa > Cloncurry > Gregory on our way to Borroloola and then hopefully (COVID permitting) we launch into the NT. Feels like we are on theLäs mer
Rendezvous with the NT

There is a ramrod straight line on the map that we are approaching. It’s now just 50k away. It is in the lap of the (virus) gods if we cross it tomorrow.
For the moment we are campers up in HellsLäs mer
Across the border!

I was mildly surprised that there were no border checks. I had visions of a nurse being there with one of those temperature guns. Nope. Nothing. Road was a bit hectic in parts, was a bit apprehensiveLäs mer
NT Border

We made it across....
There is no wall...
There is no welcoming committee...
There are no worries mate.
There is a sign.
Seven Emu - Day 1

This might be epic. Better do daily updates.
Came in from the free camp at Kangaroo Creek after crossing the Robinson River twice. We encounter the Robinson again where we are camped, high on itsLäs mer