Daly Waters Pub 30 years on.

Long drive to the Three Ways Roadhouse, where we stayed for the night, but had been advised to bypass Barkly Homestead. It was cold and windy there anyway and driving with a tail wind is always nice. Next morning looped down to Tenant Creek for Provisions before heading north to Attack Creek rest area for lunch and Banka Banka station for the night.

Next day on to Daly Waters Pub. Boy has this place changed. Last time we were here was back in 1979, 30 something years ago, and it was barely staying open. Just shows what a good operator can do.  Its pumping now!

Helicopter?

Daly Waters Pub

That's what attracts tourist?

Northern Territory Border

There are some long stretches of road out here but its easy to be amused.

Stopped at Avon Downs and the local copper put on a show for us doing vehicle inspection right out front. Even stopped road trains, everybody. Glad I was here and off the road before he started as we stopped at Camooweal Pub for a coldie before crossing the border and arriving our camp here for the night.

Some fantastic views to be had at both sunset and sunrise just about every day.

Avon Downs - sunrise

When not everyone wants to listen

Jigsaw junkies do it anywhere

Hey there's a lady stuck in here!

Flinders Hwy westward Oh!

Pentland and Pentland CP nice little park pool and cafe. Happy hour at The Prairie Hotel, nice. Stopped for walk in Hughenden and then for the night at the Lake View CP in Richmond, nice.

Julia Creek FC by the creek just out of town, really lovely spot. These are the spots worth seeking out very quiet and peaceful.

Back to Cloncurry and Top Tourist CP, like this one, third of fourth time here now. Stopped for the night at Mt Isa and met some traveller last seen at Hughenden. Brought a new radio CD for the Motorhome and installed it. Housework, washing, and relaxing. Tomorrow we leave the state.

Pentland - The Prairie Hotel 

Richmond - Sunset

Julia Creek

Julia Creek

Gordonvale to Charters Towers

Toured slowly down from Gordonvale stopped at various beaches to walk and look staying at others like Kurrimine Beach, Googarra Beach, Cardwell and Balgal Beach. Checked out lots of beaches but its all very crowded.  So kept heading south. It was raining when we went through Townsville so kept going to a CP in Charters Towers.

The Plan now: Drive the Flinders Hwy to Cloncurry and continue on to Camooweal and the Northern Territory. Away from the madding crowd, hopefully. 

Balgal Beach

Balgal Beach

Cairns Bramston Beach

Heading south to Cairns had to stop and change a tyre at Mt Carbine, scrubbing and going out of balance.

CP in Cairns for a couple of nights while we had the front end re-aligned then on to Gordonvale as the tyre guy there is the only Michelin dealer in the area and I want quality tyres. As it happens there is a heavy vehicle mechanic workshop next door. Due for a service so ordered six new tyres, couple of days to deliver, and booked in for the service.  Crank batteries were playing up as well and were at the end of there use by so had two new ones installed.  Should be good for a while now.

Spent the days waiting for tyres and service parts at Bramston Beach or Fishery Falls CP, both nice places to hang for a bit.

Mt Carbine - tyre change

Mount Molloy to Mossman

Bramston Beach

Taking notes for her blog?

Cooktown and Helenvale

Headed east from Normanton, destination Cooktown. Stopped in Croydon and the CP there for mothers day and dinner at the pub. Brad rang his mother. That was nice of him to remember or did I text him first?

Georgetown another CP. Then FC at Archer's Creek 16km west of Ravenshoe on the Kennedy Dev Road. Atherton for provisions then FC at Mount Molloy for the night.

Stopped two nights at the Orchid CP in Cooktown then moved to the Helenvale and the Lion's Den Hotel. Friends own this pub and camp ground and we stayed for free. Timed it well arriving on the weekend as they have live bands and its very popular with the locals as well as tourist. Good to catch up but they were very busy keeping things on track.

Molly and Buddy checking a tourist brochure for things to do.

Somewhere on the Mulligan Hwy to Cooktown

Wife-beater, shorts and thongs. Its the uniform up here.

Helenvale south of Cooktown top of the Daintree

The Gulf

FC halfway between Cloncurry and Normanton on the Matilda Dev Road, Bang Bang rest area. A walk around Normanton then on to Karumba. Stayed two nights in a very full CP, right down the back.  Enjoyed a beer and dinner at the Karumba Point Hotel watching the sunset, nice.

It's fishing heaven up here. Lots of tinnies everywhere. The most common rig is 4x4 with tinnie on the roof towing a caravan with a fold up trailer secured to the back bumper bar.

The Pub waiting for sunset

Sunset spectacular!

Tinnies everywhere

Fishing heaven.