Leaving the East McDonalds and "Spot-ting" the Plenty Highway

Day 16 – 17^th July 07 - We awoke early at Gem Tree to pink and light grey clouds dotted overhead. Looking back towards Alice Springs, drizzle and huge black rain clouds hung over the magnificent East McDonalds and as we packed up, the rain arrived. Gary Hallam’s birthday today and we celebrated with a yummy "Big Breakfast" at Gem Tree. Sadly we wished Bev, Jerry and Len a safe trip home and headed off along the Plenty Highway, dodging kangaroos on the road drinking the fresh rainwater, enjoying the fabulous view of the Harts ranges to our right. We soon left the rain behind and came across an enormous termite mound, over 4 metres high. Along the unsealed highway, George’s vehicle took a large rock, bending a shock absorber. After a light lunch on the side of the road and a brief appearance by the sun, we continued. Dark rain clouds followed us most of the way to Tarlton Downs Station, where we stopped for coffee, a chat and a sharing of IT resources. We said goodbye, and Spot took us on an interesting journey around the station, searching for a very old track. The light began to fade, drizzle and strong winds were setting in so we set up camp near a small river, spending a cosy night stuffed into Gary’s tent, continuing to celebrate his birthday.

Day 17 - Better weather this morning, the sun shining as we left around 9am, continuing to search for the station track that would take us to the Plenty Highway. We travelled around large interesting flat top mountains, along the air strip, through high grass and dry creek beds when to Spot’s delight and I think everyone else’s relief the old track appeared. Sadly it was unusable as after years of not being used, trees were now growing on it. We continued through some very pretty country and eventually reached the Plenty Highway travelling onto Tobermorey Station, arriving around lunch time. A lovely little spot with fairly good facilities, however Herma was very annoyed when the generator was switched off while she was in the middle of washing her smalls! We met a couple who had a broken axle on their Jayco camper trailer and had been stranded at the station for 2 weeks, waiting for a tow truck to come from Mt Isa, however they would not come until the road had dried out. We enjoyed a nice evening chatting with them and each other around a cosy camp fire.

Day 18 – After fuelling up we travelled to Urandangi an aboriginal town and on past Headingly Station, however as we drove by Headingly a person came over the radio saying that the roads were bad with rivers flowing over them closer to Camooweal, that we may not get through. Spot up to a challenge carried on and the gravel road became damper and quite soft until eventually we were confronted by quite a large pool of water covering the road. After some consultations it was decided that we turn around and head for Mt Isa. The road was sandy and damp, with lots of muddy patches which Gary, George, Spot and Bruce had fun dodging or not dodging. By the time we reached bitumen the vehicles and campers were coated with thick red mud. We arrived at Mt Isa late in the afternoon and crammed ourselves into the Mt Isa Caravan Park. We all enjoyed a meal and drinks at a nearby hotel and later back at the park we were entertained by very loud music till late in the night by friendly neighbours outside the park.

Day 19 – We woke to freezing cold weather and drizzly rain, 11 degrees today, coldest day on record in Mt Isa. We all went our separate ways touring, restocking, shopping and for some of us washing off the thick red mud at the local car wash. It was becoming very embarrassing leaving huge clumps of mud all over the car parks in Mt Isa. George bought a heater, they were nearly sold out and Jack bought some jumpers to keep warm, this was not the weather we expected! We ate out again at the nearby hotel and later back at the park the neighbours were at it again, however it began raining heavily, so we could not hear them! Bruce and I, Gary and Jack had brought heaters with us and thankfully we survived the freezing cold nights.

Day 20 – It rained heavily all night, and the campers were holding up well, although I think Gary may have had a little creek trying to enter his tent. Meanwhile a car and camper came into the park covered in mud. We spoke to the owners who said they could not get through the Savanah Way from Bourketown. Now Thursday, we decided to stay till Saturday and make a decision on continuing or parting ways. Gary went looking for a heater for Spot, but by this time they had all gone. More sight seeing, visits to the Underground Hospital, washing clothes, getting updates from the visitor’s centre, purchasing a shock absorber etc. We had tea at the park and later the boys settled into Gary’s tent for a few night caps. Neighbours still going strong!

Day 21 – At last the sun was shining and it was a holiday in Mt Isa so everyone could attend their annual show and of course we all went along. Spot bought a RM Williams waist coat vest thingy like Jerry’s and Georges and looked quite spiffy. Spot checked with Lawn Hill National Park about the roads into Adels Grove and only the one out of Cloncurry was open. After coffee and cake at Maccas and again some consultations with the visitors centre and each other, we decided to leave Saturday morning and head to Camooweal, up the Tablelands Highway to Cape Crawford and on to Darwin. By now the neighbours were getting a little too much to cope with. Spot, George and Herma decided they would continue to Lawn Hill through Cloncurry and then travel onto the Queensland coast. That night, we found the Irish Club – "very flash" and celebrated our last night together with drinks and a meal.

Pat Hosking