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Our last episode ended when we arrived at Longreach. Here, we had lunch at a pub which we visited last time we were
here. Did some shopping .. came across a large open wire bush grill at a camp shop .. this was something I was going to make
(never having seeing one in a shop), but didn't get around to it! Problem solved! We continued west to the popular camp spot
on the bank of the Thompson River. It is "legal" to stay four nights at this spot.
Continuing on towards Winton, we overnighted about half way. At Winton we had previously stayed at the rear of the
North Gregory Hotel. The owner of which is a motorhomer who advertises free camping in the "Wanderer" .. our motorhome
magazine. Space was somewhat limited there on that occasion, so we were concerned that now, with the trailer, we could have
a problem parking there. So we sought out other places. We did learn, quite some time later, that the area at the rear of
that hotel has been somewhat expanded.
We travelled a short way down the Jundah Road, checked out Long Water Hole, but continued further south to the Cragg
Family Bridge across Mistake Creek. History informs us that this spot where we spent the night, had been a Chinese market
garden.
About six km west of Winton is the junction of the Kennedy Development Road (also known as the Min Min Way) leading
to Boulia .. which we took. There is some interesting "mesa" type hill formations midway along this section. About half way
to Boulia is the Middleton Hotel and opposite it is a large "bush built" structure with a rough handpainted sign naming it
"Hilton Hotel". It contains rough seating and a bush fireplace. The passengers from an "adventure type" tour bus were having
lunch when we stopped for the rest of the day and that night.
We continued on to Boulia and parked at a spot on the Bourke Rives as suggested by council workers. After an hour or
so, we were visited by a woman (we think from a house we had passed on the way in) informing us that camping wasn't
permitted .. so we left. A second camping spot was located, also with assistance from council workers, at the rear of the
rodeo grounds. This spot was on the opposite side of the river to the initial spot, but we had to park quite some distance
from the river due to overhanging branches on the entrance road. By the way, we later learnt that the local caravan park
was trying to stop free camping around town and we suspect the woman who "hunted us" from the first spot may have some
association with the caravan park.
Before leaving town, we visited the Min Min Centre which proved extremely interesting. I would describe it as a
series of active, animated displays portraying the "old days" of the district. From Boulia, we continued north
overnighting at one rest area, to Dajarra where we camped, with power, in front of the old railway station. In the old days,
Dajarra was the terminus of the railway line to the east. A fee is normally applicable to the camp spot, but no body came to
collect it .. nor was any other method of payment apparent.
We continue north, noting two possible roads west about 90 km to Urandagi. Approaching Mt. Isa, and civilisation, we
noted white lines on the road. We commented, "long time since we had seen lines painted on a road". Camp spots near Mt. Isa
seem to be difficult to find. We had patronised the bottle department of a hotel west of the city and noted a large sealed
parking area adjoining it. As we couldn't find anywhere else we later returned with the idea of parking the night. A little
while after we had parked an interstate coach arrived and the driver suggested that, as a number of others would soon be
arriving, we should go and park in the corner out of the way. We complied, and later learned that around 6 pm and 6 am, that
area beside the hotel was the interstate coach stop/interchange.
Woolworths, in Mt. Isa, is in the centre of the city with no parking area suitable for us. So we went in early to get
a parking spot on the road close to the store. After this exercise, we were glad to leave town and head west. We did note
another possible overnight spot between the highway and the airport boundary fence on an old section of highway. Continued
westwards as far as a rest area known as World War Two airstrip. No sign of the airstrip, but descriptive signs relating to
the construction of the original highway .. the rest area is essentially on a section of that original highway.
The Mt. Isa to Camooweal section of highway has had a bad reputation for many years being narrow and having bad
irregular edges with sharp drop offs in many places. It is now being rebuilt into something reasonable. Lots has been
finished, but the full completion date was still a couple of years away. We arrived at Camooweal where we parked for lunch
in the "no camping" rest area on the eastern side of the town. What follows is a short poem I wrote after hearing a "tall"
story from a local publican.
KIDS AND DUST IN CAMOOWEAL.
When it last rained in Camooweal,
from the school the kids ran with great zeal.
Upon seeing and feeling rain,
the kids fainted in great pain.
Experience of old timers was heeded,
many buckets of dust were needed.
Advice from teachers was also known,
upon the kids this dust was thrown.
Camooweal kids need dust not rain,
in order to survive again.
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